CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SPIRIT OF NC AWARD WINNERS!
The Spirit of North Carolina Award offers United Ways in North Carolina communities an opportunity to honor organizations and individuals who exemplify the “spirit” of their community. Winners meet specific standards of achievement and are nominated by their local United ways. United Way of North Carolina leads the award nomination and process and presents the award annually.
On March 11, 2025 (Central Region), March 19, 2025 (Western Region), and March 25, 2025 (Eastern Region), United Way of North Carolina recognized 62 Spirit of North Carolina Award winners for the 2024 year, representing 17 local United Ways. These companies and organizations not only demonstrated excellence in their United Way campaign but are building a philanthropic culture community-wide.
|
Nominating United Way |
Winner |
Category |
|
United Way of the Greater Triangle |
AmeriHealth Caritas of North Carolina |
Leaders in Volunteering |
|
United Way of the Greater Triangle |
Cameron Bryant |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way of Lee County |
City of Sanford |
Sustainability Through Engagement |
|
United Way of Greater High Point |
D.J. Seneres |
Community Ambassador |
|
United Way of the Greater Triangle |
First Citizens Bank |
Community Resiliency: Disaster Relief and Recovery |
|
United Way of Lee County |
FirstHealth of the Carolinas |
Sustainability Through Engagement |
|
United Way of the Greater Triangle |
Glenn Turk |
Community Ambassador |
|
United Way of Greater High Point |
Guilford Technical Community College |
Community Resiliency: Disaster Relief and Recovery |
|
United Way of Greater Greensboro |
Heather Milligan |
Community Ambassador |
|
United Way of Greater High Point |
High Point University |
Leaders in Volunteering |
|
United Way of the Greater Triangle |
John Atkins & Dot White |
Sustainability Through Engagement |
|
United Way of Greater Greensboro |
Kathryn Ashby |
Community Ambassador |
|
United Way of Chatham County |
Laura Mendelsohn |
Community Ambassador |
|
United Way of Greater Greensboro |
Syngenta |
Campaigns of Impact |
Western Ceremony - March 19, 2025
|
Nominating United Way |
Winner |
Category |
|
Western Local United Ways |
Catawba County United Way |
Community Resiliency: Disaster Relief and Recovery |
|
United Way of Forsyth County |
Cheryl Lindsay |
Community Ambassador |
|
United Way of Gaston County |
City Church |
Sustainability Through Engagement |
|
United Way of Greater Charlotte |
City of Monroe |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way of Greater Charlotte |
David Morton |
Community Ambassador |
|
Eli Lilly and Company |
Eli Lilly and Company |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way of Forsyth County |
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office |
Community Resiliency: Disaster Relief and Recovery |
|
United Way of Gaston County |
Gaston County Schools |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way of Gaston County |
Gaston Literacy Council, Inc. |
Intentional Inclusion |
|
United Way of Greater Charlotte |
GreerWalker |
Sustainability Through Engagement |
|
United Way of Gaston County |
GSM Services |
Leaders in Volunteering |
|
United Way of Iredell County |
HandsOn Northwest North Carolina |
Leaders in Volunteering |
|
United Way of Forsyth County |
Hanesbrands |
Sustainability Through Engagement |
|
United Way of Iredell County, Inc. |
Iredell Health System |
Sustainability Through Engagement |
|
United Way of Iredell County |
Iredell Statesville Schools |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way of Greater Charlotte |
ITW Vulcan |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way of Gaston County |
John Forgan |
Community Ambassador |
|
United Way of Lincoln County |
Lincoln County Airport Disaster Relief |
Community Resiliency: Disaster Relief and Recovery |
|
United Way of Iredell County |
Marlene Scott |
Community Ambassador |
|
United Way of Greater Charlotte |
National Gypsum |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way of Forsyth County |
Piedmont Federal Bank |
Intentional Inclusion |
|
United Way of Greater Charlotte |
Raj Natarajan |
Community Ambassador |
|
United Way of Gaston County |
Rochling Industrial |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way of Rutherford County |
Spokes of Hope |
Community Resiliency: Disaster Relief and Recovery |
|
United Way of Lincoln County |
The Timken Company |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way of Iredell County, Inc. |
United Carolinas Cavalry |
Community Resiliency: Disaster Relief and Recovery |
Eastern Ceremony - March 25, 2025
|
Nominating United Way |
Winner |
Category |
|
United Way Tar River Region |
Boddie-Noell Enterprises |
Sustainability Through Engagement |
|
United Way of Wilson County, Inc. |
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. Wilson Plant |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way of Pitt County |
City of Greenville |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way Tar River Region |
City of Rocky Mount |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way of Wilson County, Inc. |
City of Wilson |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way Tar River Region |
Cummins-Rocky Mount Engine Plant |
Leaders in Volunteering |
|
United Way of Wayne County |
Eddie Edwards |
Community Ambassador |
|
United Way of Cumberland County |
Fayetteville PWC |
Leaders in Volunteering |
|
United Way Tar River Region |
First Carolina Bank |
Sustainability Through Engagement |
|
United Way Inner Banks |
Illinois Tool Works |
Leaders in Volunteering |
|
United Way of Cumberland County |
Jacqueline Abbott |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way of Wayne County |
Lisa Musselman |
Community Ambassador |
|
United Way Tar River Region |
Nash County Public Schools |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way Tar River Region |
Neill Nelson |
Community Ambassador |
|
United Way Inner Banks |
Nutrien |
Sustainability Through Engagement |
|
United Way of Cumberland County |
Partnership for Children of Cumberland County, Inc |
Community Ambassador |
|
United Way Tar River Region |
PNC Bank |
Leaders in Volunteering |
|
United Way of Wilson County, Inc. |
Purdue Pharmaceuticals LP |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way of Wayne County |
Sentry Insurance |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way of Wayne County |
Walter Krentz |
Community Ambassador |
|
United Way of Wilson County, Inc. |
Wilson County Schools |
Campaigns of Impact |
|
United Way of Wayne County |
Worrell Contracting |
Sustainability Through Engagement |
Western Region - Celebrated on April 9, 2024
| Nominating United Way | Winner | Category |
| Rowan County United Way | Anne Little | Leading through the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lens |
| United Way of Greater Charlotte | Atrium Health Union | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
| United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County | Blue Ridge Power | Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact |
| Rowan County United Way | Catawba College Dead Athenian Society | Building a Legacy of Community Engagement Through Volunteerism |
| United Way of Caldwell County | Cherie Messer | United Way Community Ambassador |
| United Way of Iredell County | City of Statesville & Town of Mooresville | Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact |
| United Way of Iredell County | Doosan / Bobcat | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| United Way of Greater Charlotte | Elliott Davis | Building a Legacy of Community Engagement Through Volunteerism |
| Rowan County United Way | F&M Bank | Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact |
| United Way of Gaston County | Food Lion Feeds | Building a Legacy of Community Engagement Through Volunteerism |
| United Way of Gaston County | Gaston County Government | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| United Way of Greater Charlotte | GreerWalker | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| United Way of Lincoln County | Helping Hands | Crisis Control and Community Resilience |
| Rowan County United Way | Hexagon Agility | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| Rowan County United Way | Into The Light Committee | Crisis Control and Community Resilience |
| Rowan County United Way | Jim Behmer | United Way Community Ambassador |
| Rowan County United Way | Kevin Auten | United Way Community Ambassador |
| United Way of Iredell County | Kim Atwell | United Way Community Ambassador |
| United Way of Lincoln County | Lake Forest Church - Westlake (Pastor Aron Gibson) | Leading through the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lens |
| United Way of Davidson County | Lexington Home Brands | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
| United Way of Greater Charlotte | Little Diversified Architectural Consulting | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| Rowan County United Way | Mark Lewis | United Way Community Ambassador |
| Rowan County United Way | Mark Ritchie | Leading through the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lens |
| Rowan County United Way | Miriam Ramirez | United Way Community Ambassador |
| United Way of Davidson County | Mohawk Industries | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| United Way of Iredell County | Mooresville Graded Schools | Leading through the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lens |
| United Way of Lincoln County | Natalie Graham | United Way Community Ambassador |
| Rowan County United Way | Peter Franzese | Building a Legacy of Community Engagement Through Volunteerism |
| United Way of Greater Charlotte | Randy Souther | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
| United Way of Greater Charlotte | Ron Messenger | United Way Community Ambassador |
| Rowan County United Way | Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| United Way of Greater Charlotte | Terrence Smyre | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
Eastern Region - Celebrated on April 17, 2024
|
Nominating United Way |
Winner |
Category |
| United Way of Wayne County | Bethany Perry | United Way Community Ambassador |
| United Way Tar River Region | Boddie-Noell Enterprises | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
| United Way of Wilson County, Inc. | Bridgestone Americas, Inc. - Wilson Plant | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
| United Way Tar River Region | City of Rocky Mount | Crisis Control and Community Resilience |
| United Way of Wilson County, Inc. | City of Wilson | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
| United Way Tar River Region | Cummins-RMEP | Leading through the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lens |
| Lenoir/Greene United Way | Danny Rice | Building a Legacy of Community Engagement Through Volunteerism |
| Lumber River United Way | Deborah Lennon | United Way Community Ambassador |
| United Way Tar River Region | Envolve | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
| United Way of Cumberland County | Fayetteville Public Works Commission | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| United Way Tar River Region | First Carolina Bank | Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact |
| United Way of the Cape Fear Area | First National Bank | United Way Community Ambassador |
| United Way of Wayne County | Franklin Baking Company | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| United Way of Wayne County | Jackson & Sons | Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact |
| United Way of Cumberland County | Kathy Mathis | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| Lenoir/Greene United Way | Lee Albritton | Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact |
| United Way Tar River Region | Nash County Government | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| United Way Tar River Region | Nash County Public Schools | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
| United Way Tar River Region | PNC Bank | Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact |
| United Way of Wilson County, Inc. | Purdue Pharmaceuticals L.P. | Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact |
| United Way of Wayne County | Sentry Insurance Company | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| United Way of Wilson County, Inc. | Towe Insurance Service | Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact |
| Lenoir/Greene United Way | UNC Health Lenoir | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
| United Way of Wayne County | US CARGO | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
Central Region - Celebrated on April 23, 2024
| Nominating United Way | Winner | Award Category |
| United Way of Alamance County | Alamance County Government | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| United Way of Greater Greensboro | Beacon Technologies | Building a Legacy of Community Engagement Through Volunteerism |
| United Way of Chatham County | Carolina Meadows | Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact |
| United Way of Greater Greensboro | Carter Bank & Trust | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
| United Way of Lee County | Caterpillar | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
| United Way of Chatham County | Chatham County Government | Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact |
| United Way of Greater High Point | Chief Tommy Reid | United Way Community Ambassador |
| United Way of Greater High Point | Computerway Food Systems | Building a Legacy of Community Engagement Through Volunteerism |
| United Way of Forsyth County | David P. Barksdale | United Way Community Ambassador |
| United Way of Greater Greensboro | Electric Supply and Equipment Co. | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
| United Way of the Greater Triangle | Elliott Davis | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| United Way of the Greater Triangle | EY | Building a Legacy of Community Engagement Through Volunteerism |
| United Way of Chatham County | Governors Club | United Way Community Ambassador |
| United Way of Forsyth County | Inmar Intelligence | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| United Way of Greater Greensboro | Jamiah Waterman, Esq. | United Way Community Ambassador |
| United Way of Forsyth County | LEAD Girls of NC | Leading through the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lens |
| United Way of Greater Greensboro | Lincoln Financial Group | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| United Way of Greater Greensboro | MG Newell | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| United Way of Greater High Point | Mickey Truck Bodies | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
| United Way of Greater High Point | Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. | Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact |
| United Way of the Greater Triangle | Phillip Graham | United Way Community Ambassador |
| United Way of the Greater Triangle | RTI International | Leading through the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lens |
| United Way of Forsyth County | Texwipe, an ITW Company | Building Momentum and Sustainability Through Engaged Leadership or Employees |
| United Way of Greater High Point | The Arc of High Point | Leading through the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lens |
| United Way of Greater High Point | The City of High Point | Impactful and Engaging Campaign Event or Activity |
| United Way of Chatham County | The Preserve | United Way Community Ambassador |
| United Way of Greater High Point | The Salvation Army of High Point | Crisis Control and Community Resilience |
| United Way of Forsyth County | Truist Bank | Building a Legacy of Community Engagement Through Volunteerism |
| United Way of Greater Greensboro | Truist Bank | Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact |
| United Way of Forsyth County | Wells Fargo | Investment in Long-Term Sustainable Impact |
| United Way of Forsyth County | YWCA of Winston Salem | Crisis Control and Community Resilience |
- Andy Brown - United Way of Forsyth County
- Atlantic Casualty Insurance Company - United Way of Wayne County
- Barbara Yarbrough - United Way of Gaston County
- Boddie-Noell Enterprises - United Way Tar River Region
- The Book Club - United Way of Gaston County
- Bridgestone Americas, Inc. - Wilson Plant - United Way of Wilson County
- Brooks Pierce - United Way of Greater Greensboro
- Carolyn Justice-Hinson - United Way of Cumberland County
- Caterpillar - United Way of Lee County
- Chatham Hospital - United Way of Chatham County
- City of Greensboro - United Way of Greater Greensboro
- City of High Point - United Way of Greater High Point
- City of Lexington - United Way of Davidson County
- City of Rocky Mount - United Way Tar River Region
- City of Thomasville - United Way of Davidson County
- City of Wilson - United Way of Wilson County
- City of Winston-Salem - United Way of Forsyth County
- Coastal Credit Union - United Way of the Greater Triangle
- Commissioner Judy Klusman and Desiree Dunston - Rowan County United Way
- Computerway Food Systems - United Way of Greater High Point
- Cross Company - United Way of Greater High Point
- Davidson County Schools - United Way of Davidson County
- Donna Phillips - United Way of Wayne County
- Ecolab - United Way of Greater Greensboro
- Electrolux - Kinson Site - Lenoir/Greene United Way
- Fayetteville PWC - United Way of Cumberland County
- First Carolina Bank - United Way Tar River Region
- First Citizens Bank - United Way of the Greater Triangle
- Franklin Baking Company - United Way of Wayne County
- Gart Evans - United Way of Greater High Point
- Gaston County Schools - United Way of Gaston County
- George Evans - United Way of Chatham County
- Governors Club - United Way of Chatham County
- Grant Thornton - United Way of Greater Charlotte
- Guilford County Schools - United Way of Greater High Point and United Way of Greater Greensboro
- Healthy Rowan - Rowan County United Way
- Hoffman & Hoffman - United Way of Greater Greensboro
- Iredell County Government - Health Department - United Way of Iredell County
- Iredell Health System - United Way of Iredell County
- Iredell-Statesville Schools - United Way of Iredell County
- ITW Textwipe - United Way of Forsyth County
- Jerry Hunt Supercenter - United Way of Davidson County
- John Deere Kernersville Construction Machinery Corporation - United Way of Forsyth County
- Lowe's - United Way of Greater Charlotte
- Marian Steele Clark - United Way of Iredell County
- Marsh Furniture Company - United Way of Greater High Point
- McGuireWoods - United Way of Greater Charlotte
- Micah Ennis - Rowan County United Way
- Moen - United Way of Lee County
- Mohawk Industries - United Way of Davidson County
- Nash County Government - United Way Tar River Region
- Nash County Public Schools - United Way Tar River Region
- Pitt County Government - United Way of Pitt County
- Publix - United Way of Greater Greensboro
- Purdue Pharmaceuticals, L.P. - United Way of Wilson County
- RSM US - United Way of the Greater Triangle
- New York Air Brake - Rowan County United Way
- NGK Ceramics USA Inc. - United Way of Iredell County
- Owens & Minor - United Way of Davidson County
- Peggy Brookhouse - United Way of Greater Charlotte
- The Salvation Army of High Point - United Way of Greater High Point
- Scott Baker - United Way of Greater Greensboro
- Scott Vaughn - United Way of Greater Charlotte
- Sentry Insurance Company - United Way of Wayne County
- Southco Distributing Company - United Way of Wayne County
- Stephenson Millwork Co. - United Way of Wilson County
- Syngenta - United Way of Greater Greensboro
- Thomasville City Schools - United Way of Davidson County
- Town of Mooresville - United Way of Iredell County
- Triangle Community Foundation - United Way of the Greater Triangle
- Truist - United Way of Forsyth County
- Wayne County Public Library - United Way of Wayne County
- Weatherby Healthcare - United Way of the Greater Triangle
- Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools - United Way of Forsyth County
- Alamance Burlington School System - United Way of Alamance County
- Bank of America - United Way of Central Carolinas
- Bernhard Furniture Company - United Way of Caldwell County
- Boddie-Noell Enterprises - United Way of Tar River Region
- Carolina Meadows - United Way of Chatham County
- Caterpillar - United Way of Lee County
- Caterpillar/Progress Rails - United Way of Forsyth County
- City of Greenville - United Way of Pitt County
- City of Rocky Mount - United Way Tar River Region
- City of Wilson - United Way of Wilson County
- City of Winston-Salem - United Way of Forsyth County
- Cleveland County Schools - United Way of Cleveland County
- Clinton City Schools - United Way of Sampson County
- Coastal Credit Union - United Way of the Greater Triangle
- Computerway Food Systems - United Way of Greater High Point
- Cone Health - United Way of Greater Greensboro
- Cross Company - United Way of Greater High Point
- Cummins - Rocky Mount Engine Plant - United Way Tar River Region
- Davidson County Schools - United Way of Davidson County
- Deere-Hitachi Corporation - United Way of Forsyth County
- Elliot Davis - United Way of the Greater Triangle
- Encore Community at Briar Chapel - United Way of Chatham County
- Envolve - United Way Tar River Region
- EY - United Way of the Greater Triangle
- Facility Logistics Services - United Way of Davidson County
- Fayetteville PWC - United Way of Cumberland County
- First Bank - United Way of Cumberland County
- FirstHealth of the Carolinas - United Way of Lee County
- FirstHealth of the Carolinas - United Way of Moore County
- Golf Pride, a division of Eaton - United Way of Moore County
- Governors Club - United Way of Chatham County
- Greenheck Fan Corporation - United Way of Cleveland County
- Guilford County School District - United Way of Greater High Point
- High Point Housing Authority - United Way of Greater High Point
- Hubbell Industrial Controls, Inc. - United Way of Greater High Point
- ITG Brand - United Way of Greater Greensboro
- Jerry Hunt Supercenter - United Way of Davidson County
- Kontoor Brands - United Way of Greater Greensboro
- Lexington Home Brands - United Way of Davidson County
- Lincoln Financial Group - United Way of Greater Greensboro
- M&F Bank - United Way of the Greater Triangle
- Microsoft - United Way of the Greater Triangle
- MOEN - New Bern Facility - United Way of Coastal Carolina
- Mohawk Industries - United Way of Davidson County
- Nash County Government - United Way Tar River Region
- Nippon Electric Glass - United Way of Cleveland County
- Nippon Electric Glass - United Way of Davidson County
- Novant & Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist - United Way of Forsyth County
- Owens & Minor - United Way of Davidson County
- PepsiCo/Cognizant - United Way of Forsyth County
- Pitt County Schools - United Way of Pitt County
- Prestage Farms Inc. - United Way of Sampson County
- Publix at Three Creeks - High Country United Way
- Publix Supermarkets - United Way of Pitt County
- Purdue Pharmaceuticals L.P. - United Way of Wilson County
- Redwoods Group - United Way of the Greater Triangle
- Regions Banks - United Way of Central Carolinas
- RTI International - United Way of the Greater Triangle
- Sampson County School - United Way of Sampson County
- Sampson Regional Medical Center - United Way of Sampson County
- SCOR - United Way of Central Carolinas
- Smart Choice - United Way of Greater High Point
- Smithfield Foods - United Way of Sampson County
- Southeastern Container - United Way of Cleveland County
- Summit Rotary Club - United Way of Greater Greensboro
- Syngenta - United Way of the Greater Triangle
- The City of Shelby - United Way of Cleveland County
- The Fresh Market - United Way of Greater Greensboro
- Trane Technologies - United Way of Central Carolinas
- Truist - United Way of Central Carolinas
- Truist - United Way of Forsyth County
- Wayne County Health Department - United Way of Wayne County
- Xtern Software - United Way of Greater Greensboro
- YWCA of High Point - United Way of Greater High Point
