• By Todd Luck
• Posted Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Forsyth County employees raise $20,593 for United Way

Forsyth County employees raised $20,593.71 for the United Way of Forsyth County during a month-long virtual workplace campaign in October.

The county normally holds its United Way campaign in October, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, employees couldn’t hold the usual lunchtime bake sales, hot dog cookouts and other department fundraisers that had become the norm. The campaign moved mainly online with donations made through a website, though paper pledge forms were still available for those who needed them. Despite the challenges during this busy time for county employees, the campaign was a success.

“I can always count on Forsyth County Employees to come through with determination and enthusiasm – and this year was no exception,” says United Way Director of Donation Relations Suzanne Isenberg. “I so appreciate each and every Forsyth County employee who pledged this year because now, more than ever, our United Way needs support as we strive to bring the community and its resources together to solve problems that no one organization can address alone.”

Instead of employees gathering for a finale event, the campaign ended with the announcement of the results for an online Halloween costume contest and art auction. The costume contest winners were Community and Economic Development’s Taylor Hutchins, whose dog Beau wore a Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg costume and the Tax Department’s Tasha Coleman, who dressed as a scarecrow. Community and Economic Development’s Bryn Lenkaitis won the art auction with her piece “Unity Across 52.”

United Way of Forsyth provides funding for various local non-profits like Experiment in Self-Reliance, Crosby Scholars, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Family Services, the Salvation Army, Second Harvest Food Bank and many others.

“Forsyth County employees really pulled together and made this campaign a success,” said Forsyth County Human Resources Director Shannon Hutchins. “This year's campaign was important in so many ways, especially as the community continues to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A special thank you to Kyle Haney, Campaign Chair, Gerri Brooks, Janice Hillanbrand, Penny Efird and all the department representatives who worked to make this creative and fun!”

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