United Way campaign kicks off

October 4, 2011

President Nathan Hatch

Wake Forest’s motto, Pro Humanitate — for humanity, is a defining and distinguishing characteristic of the university. One of the best ways to demonstrate our commitment to Pro Humanitate in our community is to participate in the United Way campaign.

This year, Wake Forest is kicking off the annual United Way campaign virtually. Visit unitedway.wfu.edu to learn more about United Way, view videos from your friends and colleagues, and make your pledge online.

These are difficult times for many in our community because of job loss, health issues and other financial challenges.  The problems are not simple and the solutions will not be either. United Way is there to help. The United Way does not simply collect funds and then distribute the results. It assesses the needs of our community, both immediate and long-term, to determine how to best invest your contribution. That is where your contribution to the United Way of Forsyth County makes a difference.

Our local United Way has seen some remarkable results within the past few years. The United Way collaborated with its’ partner agencies and other organizations to address our community’s most critical needs:

• Since the United Way began working with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools three years ago, they targeted Parkland High School and have seen the overall graduation rate improve from 65 percent to 74 percent. They are on the way to reaching our community goal of 90% by 2018.

• Partnerships to improve financial stability helped save more than 2,000 homeowners from foreclosure last year. In just the first six months of this year, 1,631 more were saved.

• In the area of healthcare, United Way partnerships enabled local people without health insurance to obtain critical prescription medications valued at over $10.7 million at no cost from pharmaceutical companies.