Cary, NC – On Tuesday, September 23, United Way of North Carolina (UWNC) President and CEO Brittany Pruitt Fletcher spoke at and attended Duke Energy Foundation’s Helene Recognition Lunch in Asheville, NC. In attendance were representatives from 37 nonprofits around the state who played a part in Helene relief and recovery efforts. UWNC is proud to have been one of those recognized, as well as the following Local United Ways: Burke County United Way, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, United Way of Caldwell County, and United Way of Haywood County.
The event was kicked off by Amy Strecker, President of Duke Energy Foundation, who made the announcement that each of the 37 nonprofits received a surprise grant worth $5,000 to use towards their staff to say thank you for their dedication and hard work in providing support to those affected by Helene.
As a statewide disaster response partner, UWNC was recognized by State President of Duke Energy North Carolina, Kendal Bowman, alongside the following organizations: American Red Cross North Carolina, MANNA Food Bank (and all food banks serving NC), Baptists on Mission, and Samaritan’s Purse. Bowman emphasized to the leaders that Duke Energy Foundation’s philanthropy has been around for 40 years, being effective because of the leadership and impact of organizations such as these recognized. Bowman brings it home by passionately sharing “we were a part of this community long before the storm hit, and we’ll be here for a long time to come... Serving our customers and the communities of Western North Carolina for years to come.”
Pruitt Fletcher gave a moving speech on behalf of United Way of North Carolina, bringing to attention the extensive Helene recovery work conducted by UWNC, Local United Ways, and our community partners all around the state. She started off by recognizing Duke Energy, which was one of the first calls UWNC received. Their swift response and generous contribution of $100,000 in matching funds played a pivotal role in accelerating our relief efforts and inspiring other donors to step forward. Their partnership exemplifies the power of corporate responsibility in times of crisis.
She shared with the crowd how over the course of the response, NC 211 handled more than 30,000 calls and processed nearly 16,000 welfare checks via phone and text. “They were moments of connection in the chaos” Pruitt Fletcher says. “And they were made possible by the tireless efforts of our staff, volunteers, and partners”.
Transitioning into our fundraising efforts, Pruitt Fletcher told the story of how UWNC launched the UW Helps NC Fund. In just weeks, we raised over seven million dollars, immediately distributing $3.3 million directly to 20 local United Ways and additional funding to nine of the most impacted counties. These funds weren’t just financial support—they were fuel for recovery. She also touched on our announcement of an additional $4 million to support long-term recovery efforts for ALICE (asset-limited, income-constrained, employed) individuals. She explained how this group is vulnerable to unexpected crises that impact their ability to meet basic needs, resulting in having to make impossible decisions – like needing to choose to put food on the table or pay for their car insurance. It’s important to highlight that ALICE members are our essential workers who kept our economy alive during COVID-19 and continue to be economic support in our communities.
Some examples of how the UW Helps NC Funds were used by the following Local United Ways who received the funds:
- In Haywood County, families returning to their homes found not just shelter, but dignity—thanks to partnerships with Baptists on Mission and the local United Way, which provided furniture, washers and dryers, and household essentials.
- In Burke County, relief came in the form of food ministry support, electrical inspections, and even fence repair equipment for local farmers. United Ways in Burke County and Caldwell County worked to collect and distribute humanitarian aid to the residents of these counties.
- United Way of Asheville Buncombe provided direct assistance to individuals by funding organizations equipped to manage long-term recovery and unmet needs.
From left to right: Brittany Pruitt Fletcher, President and CEO of UWNC; Celesa Willett, Executive Director of United Way of Haywood County; Mo Schwind, Executive Director of Burke County United Way; Dan Leroy, President and CEO of United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County; Sarah Roth, Senior Director of Community Resiliency and Interim Executive Director BCLTRG
Pruitt Fletcher lastly gave a thank you to all Local United Ways, donors, partners, and staff members who made this Helene response possible to restore housing and basic needs to folks, reunite families, and rebuild hope. She recognized that we’re not out of the woods yet -- there are still many, many people who are needing support even a year after Helene, and that United Ways are here for the long haul to continue providing that support as quickly and efficiently as possible.
United Way of North Carolina would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Duke Energy Foundation for their continued support of our efforts and in rewarding us with a surprise $5,000 grant! And thank you to the following nonprofits who committed to Helene relief and recovery work:
- All Souls Counseling Center
- American Red Cross
- Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
- Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity
- Asheville GreenWorks
- Baptists on Mission
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina
- Burke County United Way
- Camp Grier
- Community Focus Foundation
- Community Foundation of Henderson County
- Community Housing Coalition of Madison County
- Eblen Charities
- Feeding Avery Families
- Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina
- Haywood Waterways Association
- Heart of Brevard
- Henderson Housing Assistance Corporation
- Interfaith Assistance Ministry
- MANNA FoodBank
- McDowell Chamber of Commerce
- Mitchell County Development Foundation
- Mountain Aid Project
- Mountain Housing Opportunities
- Mountain Strong: Yancey & Mitchell County Relief Team
- RiverLink
- Rutherford Housing Partnership
- Samaritan's Purse
- Transylvania Habitat for Humanity
- United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County
- United Way of Caldwell County
- United Way of Haywood County
- United Way of North Carolina
- W.A.M.Y. Community Action
- Western Carolina Rescue Ministries
- WNC Communities
- YMCA of Western North Carolina
About United Way of North Carolina
United Way mobilizes communities to action so all can thrive. For almost 50 years, United Way of North Carolina (UWNC) has been a statewide organization, partnering with 47 local United Ways to co-create solutions to people’s most pressing challenges. We take a comprehensive approach, listening and responding to statewide needs, including but not limited to, strengthening local resilience and advancing health, youth opportunity, and financial security in our state. UWNC bridges and mobilizes people, local United Ways, and resources so individuals, families, and communities thrive in North Carolina. We are committed to four core areas of work: Member services, NC 211, Disaster Response, and Advocacy.
About Duke Energy Foundation
Duke Energy Foundation powers the vitality of the communities we serve by building vibrant economies; strengthening climate resiliency; and promoting opportunity and inclusion. More than $30 million in charitable grants each year drives impact and improvements in our communities. Additionally, Duke Energy volunteers donate nearly $4M worth of their time in nonprofit service. For more information, visit https://foundation.duke-energy.com/