A collaboration that emerged during a time of need has developed into an ongoing partnership connecting two organizations with a shared commitment to North Carolina communities.
By NC Positive Editorial Team
Published November 4, 2026 | North Carolina
When Hurricane Helene brought widespread challenges to Western North Carolina in 2024, organizations across the state looked for ways to respond.
Among them were NC Courage and United Way of North Carolina.
Following the storm, NC Courage reached out to United Way of North Carolina to explore how the organizations could work together to support affected communities. That outreach led to fundraising efforts benefiting Western North Carolina and established a relationship that would eventually extend beyond disaster response.
In 2025, the two organizations formalized a broader partnership, creating additional opportunities to engage supporters, encourage community involvement and bring greater visibility to work taking place across North Carolina.
A Partnership Built Through Action
What began as a response to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene developed into a partnership combining the reach of professional women's soccer with United Way of North Carolina's statewide community network.
United Way of North Carolina works alongside 47 local United Ways, while NC Courage brings the visibility of professional sports and an established community of fans and supporters.
Together, the organizations have created additional opportunities to connect North Carolinians with ways to give, get involved and learn more about organizations serving communities throughout the state.
“The North Carolina Courage has always believed a club is only as strong as the community behind it,” said Courage Team President Francie Gottsegen. “Partnering with United Way of North Carolina lets us put the passion of our fans and the platform of professional women’s soccer to work for people across our state, and we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together.”
A New Milestone: $37,500 Raised
This past weekend, United Way of North Carolina received the final check from the fundraising effort, bringing the total amount raised through the initiative to $37,500.
The milestone represents a tangible result of the collaboration and demonstrates how an effort that began in response to a community need developed into a broader relationship between the two organizations.
"Our Community Impact Partnership with the North Carolina Courage has been a powerful example of how sports can bring people together for good," said Brittany Pruitt Fletcher, President and CEO of United Way of North Carolina. "By working together on our commitments to service, we have expanded awareness of local needs, strengthened support for local United Ways across the state, and created meaningful opportunities for communities to connect, engage, and thrive."
From Individual Leadership to Collective Impact
The partnership also holds a meaningful connection for NC Positive.
Francie Gottsegen, President of NC Courage, and Brittany Pruitt Fletcher, President and CEO of United Way of North Carolina, have each previously been featured in NC Positive's Brilliant Minds of NC, where they shared their leadership journeys and the work of their respective organizations.
Now, the organizations they lead are connected through a partnership that offers another perspective on leadership: what can happen when organizations with different strengths and platforms come together around a shared purpose.
Their collaboration demonstrates how professional sports and a statewide community network can work together to broaden awareness, encourage engagement and support communities across North Carolina.
Connecting North Carolina's Positive Stories
The partnership between NC Courage and United Way of North Carolina reflects the purpose behind NC Positive Stories, a new section of the NC Positive website dedicated to highlighting partnerships, initiatives and connections creating meaningful impact across the state.
For NC Positive, this story is about more than a partnership.
It shows how an initial act of outreach during a time of need can develop into a relationship with the potential for continued impact.
It is a story of two organizations bringing different strengths to a common purpose and finding new ways to serve communities across the state.
That is the purpose of NC Positive Stories: to highlight the people, partnerships and ideas moving North Carolina forward.
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About NC Positive Stories
NC Positive Stories is a section of NC Positive dedicated to highlighting partnerships, initiatives and connections creating a positive impact across North Carolina. Through original storytelling, NC Positive explores how people and organizations are working together to strengthen communities across the state.
Related Stories
Brilliant Minds of NC | Francie Gottsegen President, NC Courage
Brilliant Minds of NC | Brittany Pruitt Fletcher President and CEO, United Way of North Carolina
Reporting by NC Positive. Background information about the partnership was provided by NC Courage and United Way of North Carolina.
Photo courtesy of NC Courage.