2 Cited For United Way Campaigns

STAFF REPORTS
SALISBURY POST

Two Salisbury companies have received state awards for conducting ‘exceptional’’ United Way campaigns.

Federal-Mogul Friction Products, formerly Abex, and Piedmont Natural Gas received the United Way of North Carolina’s ‘‘Spirit of North Carolina’’ award, which recognizes companies for campaign excellence.

Federal-Mogul and Piedmont Natural Gas won awards for participation in the United Way campaign in 1998 and were recognized locally during Rowan County United Way’s Annual Awards Breakfast this morning at Holiday Inn.

United Way state officials received more than 60 nominations from companies with 101 to 500 employees.

Awards were based on different criteria, including per capita giving, percentage of participation, corporate support, CEO involvement, leadership giving, Day of Caring participation and special events.

Both companies led the state in all these areas, United Way officials say.

Gov. James Hunt was the keynote speaker during the annual meeting of United Way of North Carolina on Feb. 12 at Research Triangle Park, where the companies received their awards.

For the 1999 campaign, Federal-Mogul exceeded its $28,500 campaign goal by more than 27 percent, raising $39,000.

Piedmont Natural Gas raised $11,206.36, with a 6 percent increase, which is $280 per capita for giving with 97.5 percent participation.

‘‘They exemplify the extraordinary generosity that we enjoy in Rowan County – neighbors helping neighbors,’’ said Bob Lippard, executive director for United Way of Rowan County.

United Way of North Carolina collectively raised more than $135 million to help meet the health and human services needs of the state. The Rowan County United Way was recognized for having a double-digit increase and ranked second nationally among mid-sized campaigns for their fund raising increase of 15.4 percent.

‘‘It’s symbolic of all the good work that goes on here in the county,’’ Lippard added.

Federal-Mogul celebrated by hosting a plant-wide cookout for all employees March 10. First-shift employees will get a special barbecue luncheon on March 23 for the best overall shift campaign at the local plant. Piedmont Natural Gas will also have a recognition event for its employees.

Local awards were presented by Rowan County United Way this morning. Winners were:

- First place, Presentation of Best Overall Campaign Awards: BellSouth, in the less than 100 employees category; F&M Bank, in the 100 employees or more category went to F&M Bank.

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Campaign Award for Excellence: CCB, in the less than 100 employees category, and Federal Mogul, more than 100 employees category.

- Best Corporate Gift Award: BellSouth.

Other local participants recognized included:

- Pacesetters Recognition (companies whose campaigns began in advance of the general campaign): BPI Inc., City of Salisbury, F&M Bank, Freightliner Corp., Imperial Inc., REA Construction, Rowan Regional Medical Center, Rowan-Salisbury Schools, Salisbury-Rowan Merchants Association, Vulcan Materials, Wal-Mart of Kannapolis and Wal-Mart of Salisbury.

- Achievement Award (employee groups with $500 and 15 percent increase): Cloninger Ford, Rowan Regional Medical Center, Southtrust Bank, Swag-Nit, Universal Forest Products and Livingstone College.

- American General Finance, Baja Products LTD., Becon Construction, Fuchs Systems, HBD Industries, Neco, Piedmont Cheerwine Bottling, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Rowan-Salisbury Schools, Salisbury Motor Co., and Silver Eagle Distributors.

- Silver (employee groups with $40-49 per capita giving): Ball Container, Carolina Beverage, Central Carolina Insurance, Colortex, County of Rowan, Hitachi Metals, Norandal USA, Salisbury Post, Wallace Realty and Wal-Mart of Kannapolis.

- Gold (employee groups with $50-$74 per capita giving): Belk Harry Co., Carolina Color, Century 21, City of Salisbury, Coca Cola Bottling, Dillard’s Distribution, Freightliner, Granite Knitwear, Imperial, JCPenney, McKenzie Sports Products, Piedmont Distributors, Rowan Business Forms, Southern Alloy, Wall Industries, and Winn-Dixie.