GOLDSBORO, N.C. — Community spirit took center stage Tuesday night at the Paramount Theatre as the United Way of Wayne County hosted its annual “A Night Full of Heroes Volunteer Ceremony,” celebrating the exceptional service and dedication of local volunteers.

The April 15 event highlighted the tireless work of individuals who give their time and energy to uplift others, with recognition given to the 2025 recipients of the Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards. The evening opened with a moving keynote address by Donna Phillips, 2024 Medallion Award winner, who spoke on the transformative power of gratitude in volunteerism.

“Gratitude isn’t just a feeling—it drives us to act, to pay it forward, and to make a difference,” Phillips told the audience. She praised the United Way’s century-long legacy of uniting communities through service, closing her speech with a powerful quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

The ceremony, made possible by the Paramount Theatre Foundation, brought together nonprofit leaders, local officials, and community members to celebrate the vital role of volunteerism in Wayne County.

Special guests—including Col. Todd Walker of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Wayne County Commissioner Chairwoman Barbara Aycock, United Way Vice Chair Selena Worrell, and Paramount Theatre Coordinator Jim Grant—presented certificates and pins to this year’s Governor’s Volunteer Service Award recipients.

Established in 1979 by the Office of the Governor, the award honors North Carolinians who exhibit outstanding commitment to community service. A local committee selected this year’s honorees for their exceptional volunteerism throughout 2024:

• Madison Burwell – Mentors students through Communities Supporting Schools and helps combat food insecurity with ADLA.
• Becky and Chip Craig – Serve through the Kiwanis Club, the Salvation Army, and Literacy Connections, maintaining the beloved miniature train and assisting vulnerable populations.
• Cassey Curran – Supports military families and children through a variety of organizations, including Guardian Ad Litem and Kriquette’s Kidz.
• Shirvon Holland – Provides laundry services and supports early childhood programs through Laundry Love and the Partnership for Children.
• Walter Krentz – Dedicates time to United Way, Rotary Club, Skill Creations, and St. Paul Methodist Church.
• Jim Pelech – Assists those in need through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Habitat for Humanity.
• Thomas Robert Supe V – A firefighter and medical responder with the Mar-Mac Volunteer Fire Department.
• Ray Urban – Leads fundraising and community outreach efforts through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
• Jordon Van Camp – Delivers meals to seniors through WAGES and mentors youth through the Wayne County Soccer Club.

Becky and Chip Craig were also named Wayne County’s 2025 Medallion Award winners, one of the state’s highest honors for volunteer service. They will be recognized at a special statewide ceremony on May 12.

United Way of Wayne County encourages anyone interested in making a difference to get involved. For more information or to nominate someone for next year’s Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards, contact [email protected]. Nominations typically reopen in November.