By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY – When Paul Fisher opened his hand after talking to a woman about charitable giving, he discovered she had placed $2 into it.
Fisher, the board chairman of F&M Bank, shared a story of giving during the Rowan County United Way campaign report meeting.
The meeting was held Wednesday at Gerry Wood Auto Group.
Fisher told those gathered about a fundraising meeting at the time regarding the building of the East Rowan YMCA. The woman gave despite being on a fixed income and barely being able to afford her medication.
“Some people give out of abundance and some people give out of their poverty,” Fisher said.
There was also good news from some individual campaigns, like Henderson Independent High School.
Principal Chris Vecchione said this year the staff has gone more than $2,000 above its goal last year, and this year they have already collected $4,600.
“This year we thought we could do better,” he said.
The Rowan County United Way has reached 44 percent of its $1.78 million campaign goal. During the meeting, campaign volunteers reported the community has brought in $784,542. The amount has grown by nearly $500,000 since the last report meeting two weeks ago.
“We have a long way to go,” said Denise Hallett, chairwoman of this year’s campaign. Hallett said a number of big individual campaigns are still under way. The work lies in seeing that everyone has an opportunity to give, she said.
“The need is great,” Hallett said.
Four Salisbury automotive dealers – Ben Mynatt Nissan, Team Chevrolet, Gerry Wood Auto Group and Cloninger Ford/Toyota – team up to award a new car to a United Way contributor.
The totals so far are:
• Presidents – $89,150 or 23 percent
• Chairmans – $90,907 or 22 percent of goal
• Industrial 1 – $10,034 or 21 percent
• Industrial 2 – $35,532 or 74 percent
• Commercial 1 – $17,006 or 21 percent
• Commercial 2 – $74,639 or 79 percent
• Commercial 3 – $29,295 or 47 percent
• Public Employees – $82,970 or 54 percent
• Education – $149,416 or 77 percent
• Community Business – $2,124 or 42 percent
• Special Gifts – $98,500 or 68 percent
• Professionals – $42,985 or 39 percent
• Miscellaneous – $61,981 or 131 percent
Three meetings remain. The next is noon Oct. 24 at Team Chevrolet. Organizers drew three names of people who will be in the running to win a car at each meeting. This week’s names were Donnie Talley and Jennifer Cline, both of Freightliner, and David Ramsey of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.