FirstHealth Wins Sixth Consecutive United Way Spirit Award

Four members of the organization’s United Way Planning Committee accepted FirstHealth of the Carolinas’ sixth annual Spirit Award during the United Way of North Carolinas’ Annual Meeting & Spirit of NC Awards Luncheon at the Pinehurst Resort on Feb. 10. Pictured (from left) are Katie Van O’Linda, FirstHealth Campaign Chair Wes Cowell (FirstHealth campaign chair), Christine Keyton and Chris Miller.

PINEHURST – For the sixth time in as many years, FirstHealth of the Carolinas has received a Spirit of North Carolina Award from the United Way of North Carolina (UWNC) for its successful annual fundraising campaign.

The statewide award, which recognizes companies and their employees that demonstrate United Way campaign excellence and community commitment, was presented Feb. 10 at the UWNC’s Annual Meeting & Spirit of NC Awards Luncheon at the Pinehurst Resort.

“FirstHealth of the Carolinas’ United Way campaign is a prime example of caring about the community in more ways than one,” says Linda Pearson, executive director/CPO of United Way of Moore County.

“The people of our region are fortunate that we have this first-rate health care facility located here, and the United Way of Moore County is fortunate that FirstHealth’s leadership, staff and employees understand the importance of having a local United Way. We could never thank them enough for all they do to support our mission in the community, but I hope they know just how important their giving and advocacy for our work is to so many people. This statewide award is well-deserved.”

FirstHealth’s 2015 United Way campaign was the organization’s most successful ever with a final pledge total exceeding the $200,000 goal and an average pledge that increased from $82.88 per participant in 2014 to $92.16 in 2015.

Thirteen FirstHealth employees also joined the Leadership Society, indicating a minimum pledge of $1,000, for the first time.

FirstHealth’s annual employee giving effort benefits all four counties in the organization’s primary service area through its support of the Montgomery County Crisis Fund and the Hoke United Fund as well as the United Way programs in Moore and Richmond counties.

Campaign Chair Wes Cowell, administrative director of Pharmacy/Respiratory, praised his FirstHealth colleagues for their continued willingness to support the communities in which they live and work through their contributions to the annual fundraising effort.

“Our employees demonstrated their dedication to our local communities again by opening their wallets and making the 2015 employee giving campaign our best yet,” he says. “With local community members and leaders participating directly in the allocations process, FirstHealth givers can rest assured that their pledge money is never wasted and that every dollar is accounted for.”