United Way of the Piedmont’s Paige Stephenson receives Order of the Palmetto

United Way of the Piedmont’s President & CEO Paige Stephenson received the Order of the Palmetto on July 28 for her years of service to the community. The award was presented by State Representative Max Hyde at a surprise event to celebrate Stephenson’s 20-year anniversary with United Way.

The Order of the Palmetto is South Carolina’s highest civilian honor and recognizes a lifetime of extraordinary achievement, service, and contributions on a national or statewide scale. An individual must be nominated for the Order of the Palmetto.

In her 20 years with United Way, Stephenson has made a major impact across the local community and state. Stephenson holds a Master and Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Consumer Economics from the University of Alabama. She joined United Way of the Piedmont’s Resource Development team in 2001 and stepped into her role as President & CEO in 2016.

Stephenson has served in a variety of volunteer leadership capacities, including serving on the Spartanburg County Indicators Project, United Way Association of South Carolina Board of Directors, and Together SC Board of Directors. She is a well-respected leader across the Piedmont’s three counties and South Carolina, known for her caring and collaborative spirit.

“No one is more deserving of the Order of the Palmetto than Paige,” says Kathleen Brady, United Way of the Piedmont’s Board Chair. “She lives out service to our community in every aspect of her life and is deeply committed to building a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”