By Amanda Raymond

amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

Denise Hallett, former vice president of planning, has been named president of the Rowan County United Way board of directors.

The United Way held its 2016 Annual Meeting of Membership on Wednesday at the American Red Cross.

Wideman’s Catering provided lunch for the crowd of city and county officials, community agency representatives and organizers, United Way volunteers and other community members.

During the meeting, Hallett, government and business relations manager at Vulcan Materials Company, was voted in as the new board president.

Hallett said she felt confident in the board that was chosen.

“I know we’re in good hands because everybody that is serving on this board are such compassionate, loving people about the United Way,” she said after the meeting. “It’s going to make my job so much easier.”

The United Way works to improve the education, income and health of local community members. The primary focuses of the Rowan chapter include education and personal empowerment, medical and dental care accessibility and job creation and retention, according to the Rowan United Way website.

The goal of the 2015 campaign was to raise $1,999,999.99. The divisions ended up raising about $1.7 million.

Though the goal was not met, Penny Greer-Link, chairwoman of the 2015 campaign, said she is still optimistic.

“Though we did not meet goal, I can take comfort in the fact that God’s plan is always bigger and better than mine,” she said.

Greer-Link said the campaign was record-setting because many divisions raised more than 100 percent of their goals.

Steve Fisher, president of the board of directors for the 2015 campaign, said Greer-Link ran one of the most organized campaigns he could remember.

“We are so blessed as a community to have someone like Penny who is willing to get in the trenches and get the work done,” he said.

Fisher also said everyone involved played an important part in completing the campaign.

“All of these components come together to make up the way – the United Way, the only way, the way that we define our community,” he said.

Numerous individuals and groups were recognized during the event, and the United Way leaders thanked the room for the efforts put forth in last year’s campaign and urged them to continue support for the year to come.

This year’s Helping Hand Award went to Greg Dunn, who is currently serving his fourth year on the campaign cabinet and his third term on the board of directors. Dunn has also been president of the board of directors and campaign chairman.

“This is an individual who loves to work from behind the curtain and, wow, does he do it with grace and elegance,” Fisher said.

Dunn accepted his award over FaceTime.

As the audience prepared to leave, Hallett charged them with two goals: share the United Way story with a friend and continue supporting the United Way in order to serve those in need. The audience responded to both charges with resounding yeses.

“I am ready to grow our United Way. We’re going to get started and we’re going to get started today to make it the very best it can be for those in our county,” Hallett said.

Officers for the upcoming year are: Denise Hallett, president; LeeAnna Hoskins, vice president of allocations; Henry Diggs, vice president of public relations; Jeanie Moore, vice president of agency relations; and Gary Blabon, treasurer.

Award winners included:

Most Employee Spirit – City of Salisbury and Rowan County

Chairman’s Achievement Award – Gerry Wood Auto Group

Best Overall Campaign:
Less than 100 employees: Global Contact Services
More than 100 employees: F&M Bank

Campaign Award for Excellence:
Less than 100 employees: Innospec
More than 100 employees: Dillard’s Distribution Center

Acknowledged for helping with the Day of Caring were Chandler Concrete and Building Supplies, Godley’s Garden Center, L’ll Shavers, PPG Paints, Vulcan Materials and volunteers: Bill Godley and David Freeze.

Last year’s officers and outgoing board members were recognized, as well as the car dealerships that donated a car for the drawing: Ben Mynatt Nissan, Cloninger Ford, Gerry Wood Auto Group and Team Chevrolet.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.