HCUW honors top donors

By Sherrie Norris

Some of the area’s most notable donors and community leaders were recognized Sunday evening during the High Country United Way’s Fourth Annual Leadership Appreciation Celebration at the Blowing Rock Country Club, sponsored by First Citizens Bank, Wachovia Bank and Shelton’s Vineyards.

In addition to honoring six Alexis de Tocqueville Society members - those who have given $10,000 or more during the last fundraising campaign - the event paid tribute to the 154 members of the High Country Leadership Society and other individuals and businesses that have made significant contributions to the organization. It was simply a night to say “thank you” — no fundraising, raffles or auctions involved, though there was plenty of food and music by Silvio Martinat’s Swing Band.

A winning team — Linda Slade, Danny Greene, Jenny Miller and Patrice Auspitz — following Sunday’s Leadership Appreciation Celebration at Blowing Rock Country Club. Photo by Sherrie Norris

Danny Greene, chair of HCUW board of directors, “counted it a privilege,” he said, “to address a room full of HCUW leadership donors, just as I consider it a privilege to represent the HCUW board of directors,” fellow members of which he also recognized.

Greene introduced Linda Slade, the agency’s new director, who in her third week on the job expressed excitement at the opportunity given her and spoke of her eagerness to get settled in her new home and community and begin building upon the successful foundation that has already been laid at HCUW. Slade came to Boone following seven years with the Community Foundation of Gaston County, the last two spent as director of resources development and marketing with Gaston United Way.

Immediate past director Jenny Miller, who left office at the end of May, and CFO/office manager Patrice Auspitz, who tendered her resignation effective July 31, were given “the lion’s share of credit” by Greene for the agency’s current success.

In their five years of joint leadership, the “fully committed, dynamic duo” helped lead the agency in “unprecedented growth,” Greene stressed, as he compared the most recent campaign of approximately $625,000 to that of six years ago, “when we struggled to raise $160,000.”

“Jenny and Patrice have been a tremendously effective team and I really do not have the words to express my gratitude for the success they have brought to this organization,” Greene said.

On behalf of United Way, Greene presented Miller and Auspitz with gifts of appreciation, telling them, “We are looking forward to continuing to utilize both of you as volunteers.”

Both Miller and Auspitz referred to the occasion as “bittersweet,” as it represented their last “official” milestone in their administrative capacities. They each shared words of gratitude for the support they have received and the meaningful friendships they have formed with United Way friends.

Greene noted, “This year alone, we enjoyed the support of 154 leadership donors. It’s hard to believe this was just the fourth year of our leadership giving program, which started out with 89 leadership donors.”

When the leadership program began, there were also no Alexis de Tocqueville givers of $10,000 or more, compared to the current six.

The leadership level giving ($1,000 or more) from the entire community (gated communities, businesses, Avery and Watauga residents) accounted for more than 50 percent of total giving to the 2007/2008 campaign.
To his audience, Greene said, “Each of you has made a commitment to improving lives in Avery and Watauga Counties, utilizing the HCUW as the conduit through which to put your financial gifts to work. We recognize the trust you have put in us, the expectations that accompany that trust and the responsibility we have to be the best stewards of your dollars. That said, you should think of this organization not as the HCUW, but as your HCUW.”

He added, “We are working to become the community leader in the non-profit realm. We would like to see maximized impact by reducing duplication of services and we are working to develop the resources necessary to assist partner agencies beyond the allocation of funds when that assistance is asked for and needed.”

By improving the agency’s capacity “to be the best stewards of your donations,” Greene further noted, “We are implementing a plan that will allow us, through our volunteers, to better measure the impact of our allocated dollars by engaging in a thorough mid-year reassessment of the programs that were funded.”

Greene announced also that the board of directors is working toward the creation of a HCUW endowment “through which we will be able to facilitate the desires of those who would like the opportunity to make a permanent contribution for the betterment of our community and in doing so, helping to ensure the long term financial viability of your HCUW.”

Campaign chair Jason Triplett was singled our for his successful leadership efforts, as were HCUW administrative assistant Susan Stuber and Catherine Scantlin, coordinator of the High Country Women’s Fund.

Scantlin spoke to the audience regarding the accomplishments of the nearly three-year-old HCUW initiative which continues to empower women daily to improve their lives and those of their children. She reminded everyone of the upcoming Power of the Purse luncheon, the fund’s signature annual fundraiser, on Sept. 12 at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center. She explained that the money raised is allocated to various nonprofit agencies in Watauga and Avery counties that serve women and help them bridge the gap between crisis and self-sufficiency.During the recent campaign, donations through the Women’s Fund initiative accounted for more than 20 percent of all leadership giving.

Greene added, “Through initiatives, we believe we can make a more focused impact on areas of specific concern while increasing our donor base and providing a channel for individuals to become directly involved through hands-on community service. We continue to analyze the needs of our community and will be utilizing this format again in the future.”

He emphasized a shift in the agency’s focus “from a reactive posture to a more proactive one.”

“We certainly recognize there will always be a need to address current crisis circumstances, whether it be homelessness, hunger, domestic violence or emergency assistance and we are committed to continue to address those issues.” But, he added, “We are also more focused than ever on making a deliberate effort to understand and address the root causes. We believe it is time to get ahead of the curve as this is the only way we can make a lasting change for our community as a whole. We are and will always continue to be a work in progress and a catalyst for change. Make no mistake that we are committed to our mission and with your continued support, we will continue to succeed. Changing lives, it’s what we do.”

Miller, Slade and Auspitz shared in the presentation of the following awards for outstanding contributions in volunteer support and fund raising efforts during the 2007-2008 Campaign:

Mountain Spirit Award - (Avery County) - Elk River Club (accepted by Hal Fenner and Rick Foster)

Mountain Spirit - Watauga - Blowing Rock Country Club (accepted by John and Merida Steele)

Community Service - Randy Ross

Vision Award - Kim Kincaid (accepted by Catherine Scantlin)

Top Business and Employee Campaign - Mast General Store (John and Faye Cooper)

Outstanding Citizenship - William L. (Bill) Sax

Commemorative Award - in memory of Ann B. Turner was accepted by Ruth Turner Camp, daughter. Jim and Ann Turner were members of Elk River Club and permanent residents of Raleigh. Jim served as treasurer and Ann as secretary of the Josephine S. Leiser Foundation in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. which supported HCUW, at their encouragement.

Camp, who also resides in Raleigh with husband Steve and children, continues to carry on the legacy of her parents through the Foundation with her ongoing support to the High Country through United Way. Prior to her death, Leiser was also a part- time resident of this area.

For more information on how you can be involved in the upcoming 2008-09 Campaign, contact High Country United Way, P.O. Box 247, 671 West King St., Boone, N.C. 28607; (828) 265-2111.