FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS PROVIDES $10K CHALLENGE GRANT TO UWRA

Support UWRA's Matching Grant

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of UWRA’s Endowment, the Foundation For The Carolinas (FFTC) has approved a challenge grant of $10,000 to UWRA.

The challenge grant builds on the foresight of two of UWRA’s early leaders, Don Morgan and Don Sanders. Morgan, a long-time United Way professional and former UWRA Board Chair, proposed the idea of an endowment fund in 2000 to honor UWRA founder Gordon Berg. Don Sanders, another United Way veteran and the UWRA Board Chair at the time, joined forces with Morgan to co-chair the first campaign, establishing the UWRA Gordon Berg Endowment Fund in 2001.

An unassuming individual, Berg dedicated his life to helping others. He began his career as a social worker and cultivated leadership and community building skills by establishing daycare centers throughout St. Paul, Minnesota, to support women entering the workforce during World War II. Berg later moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he served for 23 years as the director for United Way of Central Carolinas. While in Charlotte, Berg launched the Foundation for the Carolinas, building it into one of the largest community foundations in the United States. He served as the organization’s Executive Director upon his retirement in 1978 from United Way. In the final chapter of his career, Berg paved a path for United Way retirees, officially founding the United Way Retirees Association with Chuck Devine in 1990. Berg passed away on July 2, 2005 at the age of 92.

The UWRA Endowment was launched with seed gifts totaling $20,000 from the two organizations that were beneficiaries of Gordon Berg’s time and considerable talents, FFTC and the United Way of Central Carolinas. The fund’s inception was bolstered by the generosity of close to 100 Founders who made contributions to the Endowment in its early years. Included in the Endowment are five Named Funds established by United Way colleagues, friends, and family members who contributed initial and cumulative endowment gifts of $10,000 or more: Dick and Mary Lu Aft, Tom and Carol Brown, Alan and Selma Cooper, Dan and Kathleen Dunne, and Friends and Family of Bob Beggan. Since its beginnings, the UWRA Endowment has grown at a steady pace and today has over $225,000 in assets. Endowment earnings provide funding for the organization to launch new programs and to expand and sustain existing initiatives.
​
​CHALLENGE GRANT DETAILS
Foundation For The Carolinas will match, dollar for dollar, up to a total of $10,000 of irrevocable, lifetime gifts received into the UWRA Endowment.

Please join UWRA Board members in doubling the impact of endowment contributions through the challenge grant. As of publication, we have already met 30% of the goal through generous contributions from current and former Board members.

Your gift sustains UWRA’s programs and services and honors the United Way system that provided lasting friendships and incredible life experiences that made a difference in the communities you served.
Thank you to former UWRA Board Member Ed John for spearheading this effort. Visit the UWRA website for more information and to make a contribution.

---