Williams Companies Inc. will be the presenting sponsor of this year’s Rowan Regional Medical Center Foundation Patrons Ball, scheduled for Sept. 13 at the Country Club of Salisbury.
In a press release, Monica Wray Cameron, special events and gifts coordinator for the foundation, said, “The presenting sponsorship has the highest visibility and greatest prestige of any sponsorship associated with the medical center foundation’s special events. With this sponsorship, Williams Companies Inc. is making a very significant charitable investment in Rowan Regional and ensuring the quality of the Patrons Ball.”
Sponsorships are the major source of income for the ball. The fundraising goal for this year’s event is $155,000. All proceeds will benefit Rowan Regional’s recently approved Hospice House.
Last year, the ball raised $151,000 for the purchase of new wireless, handheld computers for physicians to use in the medical center’s new, expanded Emergency Department. Sponsorship Committee members for this year’s ball include Summie Carter, Thom Dillard and Kenan Smith.
Owned and operated by Elaine and Richard W. Williams Sr., Williams Companies is located at 1310 Richard St. in Salisbury, in the former American Efird building. The business specializes in exporting various products internationally to several African countries as well as Canada, Chile and a number of Caribbean countries.
“We wanted to help the medical center,” Richard Williams, president and chief executive officer, said in the press release. “My family and several employees have used and been helped by Rowan Regional.
“Plus, we really like the foundation’s Patrons Ball which we first attended in 2006. My family, my wife, Elaine, and I are very proud to have the Williams Companies serve as the presenting sponsor.”
At last year’s Patrons Ball, the Williams Companies sponsored the band.
Ronnie Smith, chairman of the foundation’s board of directors, praised the support and participation of the Williamses and their companies. “Since they relocated their businesses to Salisbury about three years ago, they have been strong supporters and new friends of the medical center, the foundation, our Partners in Progress Capital Campaign and the foundation’s special events,” he said.
Williams Companies consists of: International Housing (exporters of paneled homes and buildings); Value Clothing (distributor and exporter of used clothing); Williams Medical Textiles (distributor of medical products); R.J. Transports (commercial freight transportation); and T.R.C. International (exporter of food products).
The Williamses have four adult children: Tina Elaine Williams, Richard Wayne Williams Jr., Candy Williams Trivette and Wendy Williams Workman. Richard Jr., Candy and Wendy have key roles in operating the family businesses.
The Williamses moved their headquarters to Salisbury in October 2005 from Davie County, where the companies had operated since 1971.
Richard Williams’ business expertise has prompted his appointment to several governmental trade groups. He serves on the N.C. Department of Commerce’s District Export Council, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Exporters Textile Advisory Committee and Industry Trade Advisory Committee, Sector 13.
Other Patrons Ball sponsors and patrons, as of Tuesday, include: Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Baker, pewter Patron; Ben Mynatt Nissan, silver sponsor; Carolina Women’s Health Associates, PA, pewter sponsor; Mr. and Mrs. W. Summersett Carter, bronze sponsor; Mr. and Mrs. David S. Clay, pewter patron; Community Bank of Rowan, bronze sponsor;
CommunityOne Bank, bronze sponsor; Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Cook Jr., gold patron; Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Elliott Jr., gold patron; Mr. and Mrs. Keller V. Epting Jr., pewter patron; First Bank, bronze sponsor; Fisher Harris Development Company, pewter sponsor; Food Lion, hors d’ouevres and silver sponsor;
FreemanWhite Inc., dinner sponsor; Mr. and Mrs. William M. Graham, pewter patron; Dr. and Mrs. James C. Johnson, pewter patron; Ketner Center Inc., bronze sponsor; KMD Construction, patron program sponsor; Lyerly Funeral Home, pewter sponsor; Mid-Carolina Cardiology, private dining room sponsor;
National Starch and Chemical Foundation Inc., silver sponsor; Mr. and Mrs. Edward P. Norvell, pewter patron; Piedmont Eye Physicians & Surgeons, bronze sponsor; Piedmont Natural Gas, bronze sponsor; Piedmont Neurosurgery and Spine, menu cards sponsor; Piedmont Radiological Associates, ice sculpture sponsor;
Robins and Morton, gold sponsor; Rowan Diagnostic Clinic, PA, sweet tooth sponsor; Salisbury Anesthesia & Pain Consultants, ballroom bar sponsor; Salisbury Post, media sponsor; Silver Eagle LLC, pewter sponsor; Southeast Radiation Oncology Group, PA, bronze sponsor; Mr. and Mrs. Fred J. Stanback, platinum patron;
Dr. and Mrs. David N. Smith, bronze sponsor; Mr.and Mrs. Miles J. Smith III, pewter patron; Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L. Smith, pewter patron; Summit Developers Inc., invitations Sponsor; SunTrust Bank, main bar sponsor;
Taylor Clay Products Inc., dining room bar sponsor; TEAM Chevrolet, bar tent sponsor; Dr. and Mrs. Willard R. Thompson & Salisbury Ear Nose & Throat, pewter patron; Wachovia Bank, valet parking sponsor; and Robert N. Whitaker Jr., M.D, PA, bronze sponsor.
More individual and corporate sponsorship opportunities are available. Special recognition and incentives are associated with each of them. For more information, contact Monica Wray Cameron, foundation special events and gifts coordinator at 704-210-6881 or mcameron @novanthealth.org.