United Way celebrates donors

Cinde Ingram, The High Point Enterprise, N.C.
·3 min read

Mar. 9—HIGH POINT — The United Way of Greater High Point recognized its Top 10 donors and announced the more than $4 million total raised by its 2020 campaign on Monday afternoon outside Congdon Yards.

The campaign awards, finale and reveal were recorded and will be revealed March 25 on UWGHP's social media.

Rob and Donna Blakely of Blakely Consulting were recognized as the first husband and wife to co-chair the campaign.

"After doing this position we realize how important, how vital this United Way and United Way staff is to this community," Rob said.

The 28 agencies UWGHP helps to support would not be able to raise those funds on their own, he said.

"We just want to say we're humbled and we're honored to be part of this year's campaign," Donna said. "Thank you to everyone who gave."

She specifically thanked all CEOs, employees and volunteers who supported the United Way during the ongoing pandemic.

Old Dominion Freight Line was recognized as the campaign's top contributor for its donation of more than $506,220. Other companies awarded as Top 10 contributors included:

—High Point University

—Marsh Furniture Co.

—City of High Point

—Thomas Built Buses

—Mickey Truck Bodies

—Guilford County Schools

—Kao Specialties Americas

—Vann York Auto Group

—Cross Company

Jane Liebscher, UWGHP president, said the couple was not only the first husband and wife duo to lead a United Way campaign. "Little did they know when they graciously agreed to chair the 2020 campaign that their year would be another first—the first campaign conducted during a pandemic," Liebscher said. She recalled March 16, 2020, when Gov. Roy Cooper announced business restrictions and school closings to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

"The shock and surrealness of the situation hit us all," Liebscher said. "Remote work became the standard and virtual meetings commonplace. And suddenly, masks became a part of our wardrobe."

Liebscher described how her staff changed directions to reach the agency's goal and not allow COVID to diminish their efforts. She celebrated the efforts of Matt Thiel, who put on his United Way cape and served with passion as campaign chair for the 2019 campaign. Thiel's efforts led to the UWGHP's first CEO Breakfast and its first Leadership Breakfast early last year. Under Thiel's leadership, the 2019 campaign raised more than $4.3 million.

Again wearing his cape, Thiel compared learning more about the UWGHP to peeling back layers of an onion and becoming increasingly more excited.

"We clearly have one of the best, if not the best, United Way staff, campaign and programs in the country," Thiel said. "We've got one of the great United Way communities in the nation. What's special about High Point? We are not just United Way, we are way united."

Liebscher thanked more than 6,000 donors and volunteers for their continued support. She also thanked the United Way team for being committed, professional and caring while "working tirelessly to make a difference."

cingram@hpenews.com — 336-888-3534 — @HPEcinde

cingram@hpenews.com — 336-888-3534 — @HPEcinde