25-03-2025
Taking time to give back, Gaston organizations recognized for contributions to United Way
For the first time, The United Way of Gaston County hosted the organization's Spirit of North Carolina Awards Ceremony to recognize community service and relief efforts from organizations in the Western North Carolina Region.
At the ceremony held at the Gastonia Conference Center Wednesday, March 19, six local organizations and one Gaston resident received awards for their contributions to United Way Gaston.
Recipients included:
Gaston County Schools, nominated for raising more than $130,000 in donations for United Way Gaston County. To incentivize students to donate, Robinson Elementary School Principal William Winston even offered to go up onto the roof of the school if its fundraising goal was met, according to United Way spokesmen at the ceremony.
Rochling Industrial, nominated for donating more than $60,000 in 2024 after running a fundraising campaign that highlighted real stories about how the United Way had offered aid to its employees at different times of need in their lives.
Standard Distributors Incorporated, which strives for 100% employee participation in community service endeavors, donates financially, and sends volunteers to events when possible, according to the spokesmen.
John Forgan was nominated for a community ambassador award for long-time work with the United Way of Gaston County and for more recently organizing a fundraiser at First Horizon Bank. Forgan was formerly a board member at United Way Gaston and spearheaded the creation of Jingle Bell Gents, an event that has raised more than $100,000 in total since it began over three years ago.
The Gaston Literacy Council, nominated for its work in the community teaching English as a second language and its Reading Soul Mates program which is a preventative program that offers extra support to children who need help improving their reading and literacy skills.
GSM Services, nominated for its employee presence on the United Way Gaston board and for raising more than $1,000 for Alzheimer's research at last year's Alzheimer's walk.
City Church, nominated for inviting non-profit leaders to Sunday service throughout the year to encourage its congregation to get involved or donate to local causes.
United Way Gaston President Andrea Stephens said 26 organizations from the western region of North Carolina were recognized.
Brittany Pruitt Fletcher, the president and CEO of the United Way of North Carolina, who spoke at the event, said that during award ceremonies, the audience hears a lot of numbers associated with the work nominees are awarded for.
"All of those numbers, there are people behind those numbers," she said.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Seven recognized for service by the United Way in Gaston County
