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Elizabethton Star
United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County is pleased to announce that Dr. Bill Greer, president of Milligan College, will be the campaign chair for 2012-13.
Greer has served as Milligan’s president since July 2011. Prior to that, he was vice president for institutional advancement at the college. In this role, he was instrumental in fundraising efforts, including the successful Forward Ever: The Campaign for Milligan College fundraising initiative, which surpassed its initial $25 million goal, raising approximately $28 million for scholarship, community and wellness initiatives.
Previously, Greer served for 12 years as a member of the college’s faculty and was the chair of the business area for many years. As founding director, Greer also led the efforts to develop and establish Milligan’s Master of Business Administration program, which is built upon the philosophy of ethical decision making from a Christian perspective.
Greer is a 1985 Milligan graduate and completed an M.B.A. from East Tennessee State University. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He and his wife, Edwina, live in Johnson City, and have two sons, Logan and Jeremy.
A native of Mountain City, Greer is actively involved in the community and serves on numerous corporate, educational and community boards. As campaign chair for United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County, he will be responsible for guiding fundraising efforts and educating the community about United Way. The 2012-13 campaign begins in August 2012, and its goal is to raise $ 182,000.00 to assist non-profit community organizations.
“The campaign chair is an important component to the United Way model,” said United Way Director Debbie Guy. “For the past several years, United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County has raised only 70 to 80 percent of its goal for the local agencies. Even though the local agencies have continued to provide services to our citizens, it is imperative that we raise 100 percent of our campaign goal to help them meet their critical financial need. With the campaign chair’s expertise, we are optimistic that this year’s goal will be met.”
United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County will assist with the following agencies in 2013 to help meet the needs of Carter County:
• Adult Day Service provided service for more than 5,000 individuals in 2011. This is a quality, community-based adult day care for clients who are low to moderate income and are physically, mentally or emotionally challenged. The program provides family members a respite from constant care giving or allows them to continue to work while keeping their loved ones safe.
• American Red Cross served more than 5,000 individuals in Carter County during 2011. An emergency response organization, their primary focus is serving individuals who have been impacted by a disaster, whether due to a fire, flood or other natural disaster. The organization also helps educate communities to be better prepared for emergencies or disasters.
• Assistance & Resource Ministries, or ARM, served more than 16,000 families in 2011. They provided monthly food boxes, clothing and household items, as well as gave vouchers to children needing shoes, coats and school supplies. A.R.M. also provided emergency financial assistance for electric, water and rent.
• Boys and Girls Club of Elizabethton/Carter County served over 1,100 children in 2011. Their main focus is to provide an after school program to assist children with their homework in hopes that they will reach their full potential academically. They also provide a summer program, as well as an athletic program, which includes tee ball, basketball and football.
• Community Day Care & Learning Center served over 60 children in 2011 on a monthly basis. The center provides a safe, caring environment and helps assist low and modest income families’ work toward self-sufficiency. Their primary objective is for each child to be prepared when they enter into the public schools.
• Contact Ministries provided service for more than 1,200 individuals in 2011. A telecommunications ministry, Contact Ministries helps people who are lonely or hurting, in emotional crisis, or simply in need of companionship by connecting them to agencies and programs designed to help meet their needs. For example, the program allows senior adults to retain a level of independence by receiving “reassurance” calls on a daily basis.
• Elizabethton Neighborhood Service Center provided service for over 2,000 individuals in 2011. The funding that is received through United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County helps to address the gaps in services and needs of citizens by providing assistance with utilities, medical/dental care, shelter and other needs such as diapers, baby formula, shoes, clothing and eyeglasses.
• Elizabethton Senior Citizens Center served more than 500 clients over the age 60 in 2011. The services provided are transportation, daily nutritional meals for congregate and homebound, educational programs, health screenings, recreational activities, physical fitness programs, fellowship and homebound services.
• Sequoyah Council-Boy Scouts served over 300 individuals in 2011. The Boy Scouts helps instill values in young people and prepares them to make ethical choices in order to achieve their full potential.
“United Way of Elizabethton/Carter County historically has been relatively silent in our efforts to raise funds for our non-profit agencies,” Guy said. “If we continue to be silent and not educate our community about the services provided, our campaign goal will never be met and the services these agencies provide will continue to decline.”
Guy added that when the new campaign kicks off in August, everyone needs to pull together as a community to raise 100 percent of the goal. “We can make a difference in our community by ‘Living United,’” she said.
The kickoff luncheon for the United Way’s 2012 campaign will be held in McCormick Dining Center in Milligan’s Sutton Hall on Friday, Aug. 17, at noon. For more information about United Way or the campaign kickoff, call 543-6975 or email elizabethtonuw@embarqmail.com.