Dr. Ralph Bentley to lead United Way's 2005 Campaign
August 22, 2005

The United Way of Iredell County Board of Directors announces Dr. Ralph Bentley as the volunteer chairman of the 2005 United Way Community Campaign. "Having Ralph Bentley lead this critical community-wide effort is such a great thing for us because of his experience in fundraising, but also because Ralph knows so many, many people in Iredell County," says Vince Cherry, president of the United Way board of directors.

Bentley has recruited a talented team of volunteers to serve on the campaign cabinet. "I wanted people who really care about this community and people that I know I can count on. I feel great about the team we have. They have been hard at work since February recruiting their own volunteers for their divisions and we are ready to go," reports Bentley.

Pat Stewart, local United Way Executive Director, says that managing a full community-wide campaign is a BIG job and Ralph Bentley has what it takes to get the job done. "Our community has a long tradition of supporting United Way. In our local research, we find that donors highly value our citizen-review process where each year 50-60 volunteers study and evaluate the use of United Way contributions. They know that we are accountable and that they get a lot of bang for their charitable buck."

The United Way Community Kick-off is scheduled for Wednesday, September 7 and will conclude in mid-November.

Dr. Richard Boyd Named 2005 United Way Benefactor Club Honoree
July 25, 2005

Vince Cherry, president of the board of directors with United Way of Iredell County Board of Directors enthusiastically announces Dr. Richard A. Boyd as the 2005 Benefactors Club Honoree. Cherry says, "The UW board selects one individual each year to honor and thank for their longtime volunteer efforts . Dick Boyd has had a very positive impact on Statesville and Iredell County. He has had significant leadership in numerous organizations and we are proud to honor his great giving of himself."

Dr. Boyd came to our community in 1962 after completing his residency at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, GA & a three year stint in the Navy as a Medical Officer. He dedicated his rewarding medical career to the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Many local organizations and our community as a whole have benefited greatly from his leadership and congenial, encouraging guidance talents.

Dr. Boyd has been a member and former president of the Kiwanis Club since 1963. Known for his love of horses, he was actively involved in the horse shows sponsored by Kiwanis for many years. He gave his time to the youth of our community through his leadership of a Boy Scout Troop and as Youth Leader for the young people of his church, First Presbyterian. Dr. Boyd has also served his church as deacon and Elder, Sunday School teacher and has sung in the sanctuary choir for forty-two years.

Boyd was instrumental in establishing our community's daycare for seniors, ElderCenter. His warmth and personal approach to leadership influenced the inviting & home-like atmosphere at ElderCenter. He served on ElderCenter's board from 1986 through 1994 with a term as chairman. Dr. Boyd has had significant involvement with United Way of Iredell County over the years in the roles of chairing the Professions Division in campaign & as a member of the board of directors. Boyd also was Medical Director for the local American Red Cross, on the board of Salvation Army and a member of the Chamber of Commerce. He was a former, longtime board member of the Allison Woods Foundation and chairman of Wachovia Bank board since 1986. He has also served on the board of Davis Regional Medical Center and the Lillie Norket Foundation.

Dr. Boyd has been married to Elizabeth Stimson Boyd for 51 years and the couple has three children and four grandchildren.

United Way Completes UW of America 2005 Membership Requirements
July 22, 2005

Pat N. Stewart, Executive Director, announced that the United Way of Iredell County successfully completed all of the United Way of America membership requirements satisfactorily and on time.

The requirements include: Membership Requirements Certification, Membership Investment and the Database 2 Survey of Total Resources Generated (a survey that captures the full extent of a community's resource development efforts during the year).

"It is important for us to maintain a high standard of accountability and this is part of the process to document that our operations are transparent and meet or exceed United Way membership criteria requirements," stated Stewart. "The membership standards must be certified annually in order for us to remain a member of the United Way system."

The Executive Committee of United Way of Iredell reviewed and approved the Membership Requirements Certification on May 24, 2005. The certification mandates completion of 13 requirements for United Way of America membership along with verification of the status of 44 indicators that demonstrate a United Way embodies the intent of the membership requirements.

"It is critically important that all United Ways meet the highest standards and verify on paper that they have conformed to the stringent requirements of membership in the United Way system," stated Brian Gallagher, President and CEO, United Way of America. "We applaud and congratulate United Way of Iredell County for demonstrating their commitment to the mission and ideals of United Way by completing the recertification process."

Vince Cherry, president of the local United Way board of directors stated, "On behalf of all the volunteers with United Way, our professional staff, the agencies we fund and the thousands of people United Way helps each year, our board is proud to receive this well-earned recognition. As a charitable organization dependent on community trust, United Way of Iredell County cherishes this bond and holds itself to the highest ethical measurements."

United Way of Iredell County has been serving the community for 51 years.

Bill Leach to Chair United Way of Iredell's 50th Anniversary Campaign
August 18, 2004

Bill Leach, Senior Vice President & Market Executive of First Citizens Bank, will lead the 50th Anniversary Community Campaign for United Way of Iredell County. Leach is a long-time volunteer for United Way, having served as past president of the board. He has been at the helm of the fundraising effort since January.

A member of the Rotary Club of Greater Statesville, Leach was raised in Littleton, NC and has lived in Statesville for 30 years. He graduated from the University of North Carolina and has been with First Citizens Bank for 35 years. He is married to Carol Horner Leach and they have a daughter, Meredith. The Leach family attends Trinity Episcopal Church.

Leach is a runner and his experience in two marathons will pay off in guiding such a huge communitywide effort..

"I have lived and volunteered in Statesville for 30 years and I believe in United Way," explained Leach. "I've seen the impact that United Way and the services provided by the agencies have on our community."

Leach continued, "It's a way for me to give back to this community and help improve the quality of life for everyone here. United Way makes such a difference in our community. Without United Way, the people of our community would suffer greatly."

"We are fortunate to have Bill Leach as the chairman of our 2004 Community Campaign because he is a great supporter of this community as a whole," declared Pat Stewart, local United Way Executive Director. "Bill has assembled a great Cabinet of experienced and energetic division chairs and we have been at work since January in planning this year's effort."

United Way's goal this year is $1,551,000. It is the minimum needed to fund the 24 United Way agencies that helped over 86,000 people in Iredell in 2003. Last year's campaign raised a total of $1,520,000 so this year's goal represents a 2% increase over last year.

Executive Director Pat Stewart Celebrates Twenty Years at United Way
August 18,2004

As the community celebrates 50 Years of United Way Caring, local United Way Executive Director Pat Stewart celebrates 20 years of service as leader of the community impact organization.

Stewart is a native of Statesville, graduated from East Carolina University and taught Spanish, French and math in the Iredell-Statesville school system prior to joining United Way in August of 1984. Stewart served as President of the NC United Ways Professional Association in 1995 and was a member of the Statesville All-America City team in 1997.

"I consider myself a very blessed person because I have been able to spend my working life in two careers I absolutely love. In teaching, I found such reward in the privilege of helping to shape the skills & awareness of students. In my 20 years with United Way I have experienced such joy in working with terrific volunteers of all walks of life to address community needs and the needs of individual citizens," say Stewart.

Stewart says that United Way work enables her to live out her faith. "When we gather as a community, the diverse community that we are, and look for our commonalties& focus on working collaboratively for the good of all, I think we come closer to what God has in mind for us as the brothers and sisters He created."

Stewart has two grown daughters, Michelle and Robin, and three grandchildren. She is a Paul Harris Fellow in the Rotary Club of Greater Statesville and a member of First Presbyterian Church.

Edie Holland Named 2004 UW Benefactors Club Honoree
August 10, 2004

It is with great joy that the United Way of Iredell County Board of Directors proudly announces Edie Holland as the 2004 Benefactors Club Honoree. Holland is a native of Statesville who returned to our community in 1982. She immediately reconnected with numerous community organizations through which she has had a very positive impact on our community and its citizens. United Way honors Holland's significant volunteer leadership roles in local organizations and what the gift of her leadership continues to accomplish for our community.

Edie Holland served on the Statesville City School Board from 1985-1991 and as Vice-Chair of the Iredell-Statesville School Board from 1991-1992. She was a founding board member of Keep Iredell Clean/Keep America Beautiful in 1993. Holland has served on the boards of Iredell Developmental Day Centers, YMCA of Iredell, Mitchell Community College Endowment for Excellence and Iredell Community Foundation.

She has had significant involvement and leadership with both the Iredell Museum of Arts & Heritage and United Way of Iredell County. She has served on the museum's board for six years, as President in 2001-2002, and on the museum's Art in Bloom Committee since 1993 chairing it for three years.

Edie Holland is a United Way campaign and allocations volunteer, member of the Board of Directors and successfully led the 2003 Community Campaign as chairperson.

She is married to Dr. Walter Holland. They have three children and one grandson. She is a member of First Presbyterian Church where she has been Youth Advisor, Sunday School teacher, Elder and President of the Women of the Church.

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