Editorial: Horry United Way hits goal on last day of drive

Fund-raising volunteers for the United Way of Horry County wanted a date set for the end of the annual campaign. An April 30 deadline was set and leaders of teams, board members and Community Outreach members were mobilized.

At the start of “April 30, we were $500 short” of the $1.275 million goal, says Genie Sherard, United Way president. Industry Division chairman Gregg Turbeville secured a $1,000 corporate contribution that “brought us over the finish line,” according to the final 2015 Campaign Newsletter. The contribution put Turbeville’s division at 101 percent.

The Black River United Way (Georgetown and Williamsburg counties) has two months to go on its fundraising campaign. Executive Director Lucy Woodhouse says “we’re fine, moving along,” with 76 percent of the $500,000 goal. Black River has raised almost $50,000 in new money through a Bunnelle Foundation matching grant program. “We’re going to push it all the way to the wire.”

“These last two weeks have been fantastic,” Sherard says. In the final days, contributions included $5 or $10 donations online, to $1 per-pay-period on payroll deductions, to larger contributions, such as the $1,000 that put them over the top.

Setting a deadline had its risks, but Sherard feels “it added energy ... it made a lot of things happen.” She noted that the campaign needed about $24,000 three days before the deadline. The four United Way staff persons, including Sherard, joined the team leaders and others in calling and following up with potential contributors.

“That whole last week was pins and needles,” says campaign chairperson Lisa Bourcier. She estimates perhaps 50 people were actively seeking contributions to meet the goal. Bourcier and Sherard both say a letter (by Sherard) to the editor in The Sun News triggered several contributions. Bourcier feels the firm deadline was a positive for volunteers. “A deadline is always good to work off.”

In addition to the Industry Division going over 100 percent, the Myrtle Beach Division, chaired by Collier Schettig, achieved 101 percent with 102 percent from business and 103 percent from residential subdivisions. South Strand Division, chaired by Lynn Carmon, reached 100 percent, with Woody Ford raising 106 percent of the goal in Surfside Business and Sherry Maloni 105 percent in South Strand Residential.

Some 40 nonprofits are community partners of United Way of Horry County. These include Boy Scouts of America; Girl Scouts; Boys & Girls Clubs (Grand Strand and Salvation Army in Conway); Claire Chapin Epps Family YMCA; Help 4 Kids; Tara Hall Home for Boys; Coastal Samaritan Counseling Center; Disabled American Veterans (DAV); A Father’s Place; and South Carolina Autism Society. Other partners include Freedom Readers; Horry County Literacy Council; Council on Aging; Prosperity Center and the 10 “basic needs safety net” nonprofits such as the area American Red Cross chapter; Community Kitchen of Myrtle Beach; three Helping Hand organizations and CAP in Conway; North Strand Housing Shelter; the Salvation Army.

Strong communities have strong United Ways. That sums up why donating is so important, and why it is such an achievement for the United Way of Horry County to meet its goal for the first time since 2011. Hats off to Bourcier, Sherard and staff, all the United Way volunteers – and to individuals, businesses small and large and their employees. As Bourcier says, “This community amazes me every day with its generosity.”

Another United Way success story is that of the annual project of filling May Day bags with personal items delivered with meals to homebound seniors.

“It was awesome,” says Tracy Vreeland, marketing and communications coordinator. “We needed 600 bags and had about 635.” The extras will be distributed through senior centers. Vreeland says several new groups filled bags this year. The Loris Chamber of Commerce had a service project that produced about 160 filled bags.

This story was originally published May 5, 2015 at 1:36 PM with the headline "Editorial: Horry United Way hits goal on last day of drive."