Dear United Way Friends,
I hope this note continues to find you and yours safe and healthy. We all know that 2020 has been a difficult year, to put it mildly and we have all faced challenges that we never imagined. I’m sure you join me in looking forward to 2021, anticipating when we will be able to gather again.
So, as we look to say goodbye to 2020 in the coming weeks, I’m happy to share some very exciting news with you all!
On November 30th we drew our first three semi-finalists in the Driving Forward Together Car Giveaway. Please join me in congratulating Karen Wiles (Sheffield Financial, a Division of Truist Bank), Scott Lambert (PepsiCo), and Amanda Leftwich (HanesBrands INC.). Our next drawing will take place on Friday, February 26th for our next three semi-finalists. You can find more information about the Driving Forward Together Car Giveaway by visiting our website here. We are grateful to the twenty-one dealerships that made it possible for us to spread some excitement and joy to all the generous donors in our community.
This excitement made me think, what else can we do to spread joy and indulge in the holiday spirit? I came up with three easy ways to do just that and I would like to encourage you to join me.
1. Shop local / support small business this holiday season. A friend of mine challenged me to do my holiday shopping locally through small businesses and local restaurants this year. I am extending that challenge to each of you. Our small business and local restaurant owners have been severely impacted by the pandemic. They also employee thousands of individuals in our community who have seen their income either go away completely or drop dramatically. If we shop at our small businesses, eat at local restaurants and purchase gift cards from them to give, we can ensure that they survive.
2. Contribute to the long-term recovery of our community through our annual campaign: Click here to donate. As I said in my last letter, we know the road to recovery is going to be long, and it will take all of us working and giving together to rebuild our community. I hope you’ll join us as we continue to respond, recover, and reimagine a better Forsyth County for all. For the person who has everything consider contributing in their name. You will honor them by creating opportunity for others.
3. Encourage your friends and family to do the same! We live here and if we invest here, we can all thrive here. We know that 2020 will leave behind some enormous challenges for our community and with your support we will be ready to step up to those challenges in 2021!
I can’t allow 2020 to end without thanking you – for supporting United Way, for contributing to the COVID-19 Response Fund, for caring about our community, for LIVING UNITED. I and everyone at United Way of Forsyth County wish you and yours a peaceful and safe holiday.
Sincerely,
Cindy Gordineer
President and CEO of United Way of Forsyth County