HIGH POINT, N.C., Feb. 18, 2015 – High Point University was honored with the 2014 “Spirit of North Carolina” award in the category for Educational Institution. The award was given by the United Way of North Carolina during its statewide meeting Feb. 13.
The HPU family raised $225,000 in 2014 to support UWGHP and its 28 partner agencies – a 13 percent increase from last year’s donation and a 492 percent increase from 2005. HPU has won the Spirit of North Carolina for the third consecutive year.
Applications for the award were judged in January by a panel of United Way professionals from all over North Carolina. Awards were presented to companies and organizations that held not only a successful and creative campaign, but also practiced leadership giving, volunteerism, year-round education campaign rallies and more.
HPU students, faculty and staff contributed more than 100,000 hours to community service organizations during the past year – and an integral part of the award is volunteer spirit. HPU volunteers at a variety of United Way charities, including the Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Open Door Ministries, West End Ministries, Salvation Army and many more.
“HPU has once again been awarded the Spirit of NC Award,” said Bobby Smith, president of United Way of Greater High Point. “Everywhere I go, I interface with HPU staff, faculty and students. Students packed toiletry kits on MLK Day for us to be distributed to our homeless population; HPU faculty are lead players in the new Hunger Initiative. There is no doubt in my mind the future of High Point will continue to be shaped by the growth and generosity of HPU. It touches every single resident in the greater High Point area.”