WakeUnited: Live United Stephen Edwards

October 1, 2015

Stephen Edwards, assistant director for alumni engagement, knew that he wanted to make a positive impact on his community from the time that he started at Wake Forest as an undergraduate.

During his four years as a student he volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters, one of the partner agencies of the United Way of Forsyth County. Now, almost a decade later, he continues to be matched with the same young man, a senior at Mount Tabor High School.

“Being given the opportunity as a freshman in college to have this impact on a ‘little brother’ in the community,” said Edwards, was empowering for the both of them.

Now an employee of the University, Edwards serves on the Wake United Way campaign cabinet leading efforts for Young Leaders United (YLU), the young professionals giving group of the United Way. YLU not only provides an opportunity to give back to the community financially, it also encourages deep connection through volunteering and leadership development.

“YLU has given me the opportunity to meet fascinating people at other employers in Winston-Salem, learn from phenomenal speakers at monthly lunches, serve alongside peers in the community, and give back to the great work of the United Way in the community, through the support of my employer,” Edwards said.

Edwards encourages every Wake Forest employee to consider making a gift to the United Way.

“It’s not the size of the gift that matters, but the heart behind the gift,” Edwards said. “For me, knowing that my contribution each year to the United Way of Forsyth County through WakeUnited goes towards the work of partner agencies like Big Brothers Big Sisters, makes all the difference.”

For more information about the WakeUnited campaign, visit http://unitedway.wfu.edu.