United Way of the Midlands honors top volunteers for 2019

United Way of the Midlands announced the recipients of its annual Volunteer Awards honoring local community members for their outstanding volunteer efforts.

“United Way is proud to serve as a connection between our community partners and agencies to build a stronger Midlands for every person,” said United Way of the Midlands President and CEO Sara Fawcett. “Dedicated volunteers like our award winners make it possible for us to continue making long-term impact through services and programs that fight for the education, health and economic mobility of everyone in the Midlands.”

This year, Nancy Stoudenmire received the Alyce Kemp Dewitt Award, United Way’s highest recognition for volunteerism in the Midlands. Stoudenmire has been a tireless advocate for homeless and housing work through community service and as lead for homeless programs at the Columbia Housing Authority for over 40 years.

“Growing up as the oldest of seven children, I heard at a young age the famous Audrey Hepburn quote: ‘You were given two hands. One to help yourself and one to help others up,’” said Stoudenmire. “The thing I like the most about United Way of the Midlands is that it is the best way to find ways to help others and make positive changes. I was honored to meet Alyce Kemp DeWitt in the early ‘90s, and she epitomized what volunteering at United Way is all about. It’s an honor to receive an award in her name because she was all about making a difference. I hope that’s what I’ve done.”

In addition to her professional association with United Way, Stoudenmire has served United Way as a volunteer in multiple capacities. Stoudenmire has dedicated years to serving in leadership positions including six years on United Way’s Financial Stability Council where she served as chair, its local homeless coalition chapter for five years and the local Emergency Fund and Shelter board for four years. She has also served on the board of directors and community impact committee.

In addition to her leadership service, Stoudenmire is an active Midlands Reading Consortium (MRC) volunteer tutor working with elementary students to improve literacy skills, promotes the organizations mission as a United Way Storyteller and is a member of Always United, United Way’s affinity group for retirees or those nearing retirement that wish to remain active supporters, as well as maintain the relationships created while participating in the employee giving campaigns at their former workplace.

The LIVE UNITED volunteer awards are received by members of the community nominated for their spirit of volunteerism and service to United Way. JaQuan Riley and Brittany Owen of Elliott Davis received the LIVE UNITED awards for positively impacting local agency programs and projects that support human service needs in the Midlands.

United Way’s Community Impact Award honors individuals or groups nominated by United Way’s certified agency partners for demonstrating a commitment to volunteering and positively impacting causes, programs or projects led by United Way’s Community Impact Partners that support human service needs. Recipients of the 2018 Community Impact Awards were Elbert Pearson, who was nominated by the Columbia Urban League; Ruthie Saunders, nominated by MIRCI; and Linda Salane and Sharon Bramlett, who were both nominated by Transitions.

United Way of the Midlands thanks Wells Fargo for its investment and support of the Volunteer Center that connected over 3,700 area residents with volunteer opportunities in the Midlands over the past year; these volunteers committed over 12,100 service hours estimated at $265,000. In addition to Wells Fargo, United Way is grateful to Dominion Energy and Enterprise Holdings for their investment in this important resource.

About United Way of the Midlands

United Way of the Midlands is the most organized, efficient and accountable system for investing in the community. With more than 70 Community Impact Partners, United Way works to identify and respond to the critical human service needs of Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Richland counties. Funds are raised through workplace campaigns, grant writing and individual donations. For more information, please visit www.uway.org.

About United Way of the Midlands Volunteer Center

United Way of the Midlands Volunteer Center acts as a resource for the community to find volunteer opportunities that fit with their schedules, skills and passions throughout Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Richland counties. Over 100 nonprofit organizations post a variety of volunteer projects and opportunities for all ages, abilities and passions. To learn more and find volunteer opportunities, visit volunteer.uway.org.