The United Way of Wayne County thanked investors and supporters for a successful year of improving lives on Tuesday morning at their Annual Meeting held at First Baptist Church.

Bernadette Dove, Board Chair, started the program by welcoming everyone and recognizing the 2024 Board Members.

Then she kicked off the 100 Year celebration with a piece of United Way of Wayne County History starting in 1925. Many past and present leaders from UWWC’s century of service followed her, sharing their own or their family’s piece of United Way history.

These speakers included Dr. Dave Tayloe, Steve Bryan, James Jones, Eddie Edwards, Jimmie Edmundson, Preston Comeaux, David Perry, Bob Logan, Lynn Williams, Marlee Ray, Mary Bartlett, Christina Watts, Geoff Hulse, Jimmy Ford, Bethany Perry, and Donna Phillips.

This year’s meeting featured many accomplishments from 2024, shared by Executive Director, Sherry Archibald. Archibald then recognized one special Committee Member from 2024, Dr. Dorothy Moore (Community Impact Committee), who displayed exceptional leadership, organization, and communication while serving the United Way message.

Moore was presented with the Committee Member of the Year Award.

“Our committee members impact our work by sharing their time and resources. We rely on them heavily and would like to thank and recognize all of them,” Archibald said.

After a review of the 2024 Community Campaign results by Resource Development Director, Savannah Lambert, Campaign Chair, Selena Worrell, stepped up to the podium to recognize three vital Campaign Volunteers.

Maggie Lattin, Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County, and Jonathan Holland, Goldsboro Builders Supply, were awarded the Campaign Chairman’s Award for their dedication to sharing the United Way mission and motivating others, attending dozens of presentations, and sometimes stepping in at the last minute.

They made it a priority to share the message and their experiences with every presentation they attended.

Allison Herring, Southco Distributing Co., was awarded the Campaign Coordinator of the Year Award.

This award recognizes an employee of one of United Wayne of Wayne County’s Major Investors who goes the extra mile to influence their employee team.

Herring not only exceeded multiple goals but also met with each of her peers individually, to share the importance of the resources in our community. Her enthusiasm for United Way and serving the community was contagious.

In addition, board members Bethany Perry and Beverly Durham presented local companies and organizations with specific awards in recognition of their successes during the 2024 Campaign.

The County of Wayne received the Spirit of Wayne – Innovator Award for efforts put forth by employers to impact the lives of others through their investments in United Way of Wayne County.

This company “lives united”, meaning they embraced the concept that it takes all of us, doing our share, together, to impact lives here in this community.

Eastern Wayne Middle School received the Spirit of Wayne – Changed Lives Award for having the highest percentage increase in the total investments made from the previous year. This also reflects the increase in lives changed.

The City of Goldsboro received the Spirit of Wayne – Investors Award for having the highest increase in the number of fair share donors from the previous year. They embraced the idea that when we give our fair share, one hour of pay per month, we can impact more lives.

Wayne Realty & Insurance Co. Inc. received theSpirit of Wayne – Per Capita Award for having the highest combined employee and corporate dollars per capita in the current year.

Sentry Insurance received the Spirit of Wayne – Special Events Award for raising the highest amount of dollars at one or more special events outside of employee or corporate investments.

Six investing companies or organizations were also recognized for investing in United Way of Wayne County at 100% participation.

Those are as follows: First Bank, Mount Olive Builders Supply, Partnership for Children, Nunn, Brashear, & Uzzell, P.A., Wayne Realty and Insurance, and Worrell Contracting.

Following the Spirit of Wayne Awards, Bernadette Dove stepped back up to the podium to recognize the outgoing Board Members. Dove thanked Donna Phillips, Walter Krentz, David Perry, and Liza Govan for their commitment to United Way of Wayne County.

Each year, in addition to the Spirit of Wayne Awards, United Way of Wayne County chooses a volunteer to receive the Emil Rosenthal Award.

For almost 100 years, the United Way of Wayne County has been a volunteer-based organization with direct results coming from a fantastic group of volunteers, committed to our mission.

Beginning as the Community Chest, evolving into the United Fund, and elevating to the United Way of Wayne County that you know today; Emil Rosenthal was a recognized leader with a strong ability to motivate others to serve the needs of Wayne County.

Before the prestigious award winner was announced, the 2023 recipient of the Emil Rosenthal Volunteer Award, Ken Derksen, spoke about the history of the award and his disbelief at being recognized last year.

“To be added to the past recipients list with so many prestigious names, I assure you that last year’s experience was one of the most humbling and honoring moments of my life,” Derksen said.

As Derksen concluded his experience, he was ready to announce this year’s recipient.

“In honor of Rosenthal, The 2024 recipient has served this community for multiple decades,” Derksen said. “As a former teacher, she is an advocate for our youth, as a business owner, she takes the responsibility of being a leader with stride and holds herself to a standard that represents service.  Creating events and supporting others, she finds ways to advocate for the needs of our community.  When approached to step in and serve as Campaign Chair, she did not hesitate; however, it’s her CAN-DO attitude and tireless efforts to create meaningful change in Wayne County that truly reflect the spirit of Emil Rosenthal’s legacy. Please join us in congratulating Selena Worrell on this well-deserved honor. We are grateful for her commitment to making Wayne County a better place for all!.”