Your local United Way has been here for Cape Fear since 1941. Our organization formed in response to Pearl Harbor, and has continued to fight for a healthy safe and prosperous community for all ever since. Our partners stand for that vision, and will not relent regardless of the challenges we face.

COVID-19 has been a unique disaster for our community, which presents many challenges.  There have been many changes since 1941, but one thing that has not changed is the need for heroes. The United Way relies on heroes like you to step up every day to lend your time, talent, and treasure to improve lives. Together, we look at a challenge and find opportunity.

Two programs have been created in effort to look out for our neighbor’s health during COVID-19. The first program that was necessary was assisting those who tested positive for COVID-19 and did not have shelter where they could safely quarantine. The second program was the Healthy Hotels Initiative, which was created to decompress homeless shelters for safe distancing and to handle the Domestic Violence Shelter overflow.

No one agency can solve the complexity of these challenges. The quarantine program took a collaborative effort of New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC), New Hanover County (NHC), and the Salvation Army. The Healthy Hotels Initiative was a partnership between City of Wilmington, New Hanover County, Good Shepherd Center, nCino, and the Cape Fear Collective. All of these solutions required a community working together in a united way.

We persevere in our efforts to raise funds for the 43 Community Impact strategies we invest in each year to secure the Education, Health and Financial Stability of our community. While we continue to rebuild after Florence and respond to the Pandemic, the United Way maintains its dedication to programs we need every day, regardless of which disaster we encounter.

I want to remind all of us that Hope is Not Quarantined. Your United Way will not falter in the face of any attack, pandemic, or storm. We will continue to stand for a safe, healthy and prosperous community for everyone. As CEO of the United Way of the Cape Fear Area, I ask you to stand with us.
 
 

 

Tommy Taylor, born in Mansfield, Ohio, achieved his Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Guilford College, and most recently achieved his Masters in Public Administration from UNCW in 2019. Tommy’s career started as a Crisis and College Counselor at Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia. After 4 years, Tommy moved to his favorite vacation spot, Wilmington, North Carolina, and started his new career as the Regional Development Manager for Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC. Six years later, after tripling food distribution and doubling revenues, he accepted the Vice President of Community Impact position at the United Way of the Cape Fear Area. Now serving as the CEO, Tommy is thankful to be able to see the good side of the world that many people do not get a chance to experience and to be able to be part of the solutions to our community's deepest problems.