Henderson Co. United Way Raises $1.76M in 2018 Campaign

United Way of Henderson County recently celebrated the results of its 2018 campaign and thanked leadership donors and key volunteers at an event at Hubba Hubba Smokehouse in Flat Rock.

Denise Cumbee Long, Executive Director of United Way of Henderson County, and John Bryant, Chair of the Board, thanked individuals and organizations for their strong support of the campaign and announced that the 2018 campaign raised $1.76 million from individual donors and businesses, and resulted in a total of more than $2.1 million dollars in cash and in-kind value that will be invested in the local community.

Signature Sponsors of the 2018 campaign were AdventHealth Hendersonville and Wilsonart. Additional campaign sponsors included Current powered by GE, Kimberly-Clark, Morrow Insurance Agency, Cooper Construction, Four Seasons Compassion for Life, BGW CPA, Edward Jones – Ken Adams, Edward Jones – Keith Johnson, First Bank, Goldsmith Molis & Gray, PLLC, Haynes Wire Company, Self-Help Credit Union, Southern Alarm and Security, and United Community Bank.

Awards were presented to Meritor for the most outstanding overall campaign, and to Wilsonart for the highest employee giving results. Kimberly-Clark received the Corporate Engagement Award and Current powered by GE the United Way Good Works Award. The Edward C. Brisley, Jr. Award for outstanding volunteer service was presented to Susan Towe. Tanya Blackford and Scott Treadway were recognized as 2018 campaign co-chairs.

The Rob and Ginger Cranford Community Service Award went to Paige Posey and Mark Warwick and was presented by Charlie Cranford, son of the late Rob and Ginger Cranford. This prestigious award, sponsored by Morrow Insurance Agency, recognizes Henderson County residents who support United Way of Henderson County and other local nonprofit organizations, and who best exemplify the generous spirit demonstrated by Rob and Ginger Cranford.

United Way’s community investment is not only defined by funds raised during the campaign but also includes the value of hundreds of volunteer service hours for Days of Caring and Action, food, clothing and school supply drives initiated by United Way, and the value of programs such as 2-1-1, Rising Leaders, Girls EMpowered, Henderson County Youth Council, Charity Tracker, and other programs benefiting the residents of our local community. The community investment value of all United Way initiatives is over $2 million.

Of the total investment, $650,012 was recently approved for allocation through funding awards. These awards were determined through a rigorous application and review process conducted by trained community volunteers. Grants were awarded to 39 programs at 19 local agencies. Henderson County agencies will support initiatives that align with United Way’s strategic goals in education, financial stability, health, and basic needs/crisis services. A full list of funded programs can be found on the United Way website, www.liveunitedhc.org. In addition to grant awards, United Way honors donor designations directly to chosen agencies and will distribute $390,407 to funded partners and other agencies, foundations, and United Way organizations.

John Bryant, Chair of the Board of Directors, expressed gratitude for the work of the recipient agencies. “The hardest work is never done alone. Through our annual campaign, United Way is proud to help target community resources, empowering our partner agencies to improve the lives of our loved ones, our neighbors, and those in need.”