WakeUnited: Live United John Champlin

October 9, 2014

John Champlin, manager of recruitment and organizational development for human resources, volunteers for organizations including the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, a partner agency of United Way of Forsyth County.

“There are so many individuals who go hungry in our community, and it is a privilege to work with institutions that help to provide food to those most in need,” says Champlin. “Most recently, I enjoyed serving on the WFU Pro Humanitate Day with alumni from the area at the food bank.”

Champlin is entering his second year on the WakeUnited Campaign Cabinet, and he co-chairs the Wake Forest Young Leaders United (YLU) group with Brooke Brown, an Alumni Giving Fellow in University advancement.

YLU is a program within United Way that encourages individuals below 40 years old to become more active in the community by combining a minimum giving limit ($250) and an hourly volunteering requirement (24 hours). “Members are invited to participate in leadership lunches, community volunteering activities and social events,” says Champlin. “Joining this group is a great way to network with other young people in the community and find new ways to volunteer.”

For Champlin, it is the opportunity to volunteer in the community that is most appreciated about this type of pledge. “While I would love to give more monetarily, it is comforting for me to know that I can support the community by giving my time as well. It is a nice reminder to young people to get involved and put your talents to use outside of the workplace.”

The impact of United Way on our community is evident in tangible and personal ways to those who volunteer through YLU, through other groups such as the Women’s Leadership Council, and through working on their own as individual volunteers.