“Thanks to our city team effort, and with Chief Bob Parnell leading the way for the entire Rowan County effort, we were able to help further Rowan County United Way’s mission,” said City Manager W. Lane Bailey. “A challenge was issued and city employees fired it up to go above and beyond in their giving. Employees’ participation in the campaign displayed our commitment of wanting to be involved and give back to not only Salisbury residents but to everyone in Rowan County. Way to go, Team Salisbury.”
Rowan County Emergency Services responded to 963 substance abuse and mental health emergency calls from January to September, which prompted the city to change its goal from $50,000 to $50,963. Once the goal was set, department directors and department liaisons encouraged fundraising efforts through payroll deduction, fundraising events and donation challenges spanning weeks. City employees increased their pledge donations and raised more than $53,000 for United Way.
The department liaisons who were influential in this campaign included:
- Sam Wilborn – Parks and Recreation
- Candice Brown – DSI
- Linda McElroy – Communications
- David Morris – Fire Department
- Jay Baker – Fire Department
- Joe Miller – Police Department
- Patrick Kennerly - SRU
- Jim Behmer – SRU
- Kimberly Bell - Transit
- Vickie Eddleman - Engineering
- Hannah Jacobson - CPS
- Mark Pullium - Public Services
- Craig Powers - Public Services
- Jennifer Silvia –Human Resources
- Wade Furches –Finance
- Connie Snyder –Administration
- Atalie Bare - Administration
- Dennis Winston – I.T.
- Claire Karriker - I.T.
During the United Way final report meeting, one person who donated to the United Way campaign was selected to receive a new, free car from Team Chevrolet. The winner of the car giveaway was Salisbury Fire Department recruit Quinzavious Sands.
The city’s internal campaign co-chairs were Communications Specialist Kaisha Brown and Transit Director Rodney Harrison. For more information about Rowan County United Way, visit rowanunitedway.org.