• By Todd Luck
• Posted Friday, June 19, 2020

Forsyth County employees raise nearly $10,000 for Arts Council in virtual campaign

In its first-ever virtual workplace fundraising campaign, Forsyth County employees raised $9,704.55 for the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County.

May is traditionally when the county holds its Arts Council campaign, filled with numerous festive fundraisers, but with COVID-19 the usual lunchtime bake sales, hot dog cookouts and art activities weren’t possible. So the campaign moved mainly online, with an online art auction and donations made through a website, though paper pledge forms were still available for those who needed them.

“Forsyth County's 2020 Arts Council campaign was both unique and successful,” said Forsyth County Human Resources Director Shannon Hutchins. “Employees really stepped up and were able to participate and have fun with this virtual campaign. I give special thanks to those who worked to put this campaign together and the employees of the county who made it a successful one!”

Instead of employees gathering for a finale event, the campaign ended with the announcement of the results for the county’s first-ever online talent show contest. The winner was Tax Department employee Jonathan Williams, who submitted a performance of "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" in which he played a church organ and a violin simultaneously. The winner of the art auction was also announced, which was Betty Vetter, who is also with the Tax Department, for her painting, “Spring Planting.”

The Arts Council is the biggest driver of cultural investment in Forsyth County. The Arts Council provides operational support to a broad range of partner arts organizations that provide 800,000 experiences a year, including music, visual art, theater, festivals, film and independent bookstores. Forsyth County is one of 54 workplace campaigns that help fund the Arts Council.

“The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County would like to thank the County employees for such tremendous effort in hosting our first virtual campaign for the 2020 Annual Fund,” said Aliza' Diggs-Bailey, Arts Council Vice President of Fundraising. “The creativity and enthusiasm shown to raise money for the arts during such a difficult time for our community and the nation was stellar!”

The Arts Council is one of only two organizations the county participates in fundraising campaigns for, the other being the United Way of Forsyth County.