By Kathryn Kennedy
The Daily Reflector
Wednesday, January 27, 2010

By Kathryn Kennedy
The Daily Reflector
Wednesday, January 27, 2010

United Way of Pitt County board members and partners celebrated the present while facing an uncertain future at their annual meeting Wednesday afternoon.

The Student Success Academy was awarded a $50,000 grant from AT&T to continue combating the rising dropout rate. Hundreds applied nationwide and only 15 United Way organizations — two in North Carolina — received a portion of $2 million, said John Lyon, AT&T’s regional director for external affairs.

Lyon passed the oversized check to United Way of Pitt County Executive Director Cecelia Scott, flanked by a number of educators and elected officials. He noted that much of his company’s giving is focused on educational programs.

The Student Success Academy monitors academics, attendance and behavior among participants as they enter sixth grade, said coordinator Robin Dailey. It also forms connections with parents.

N.C. Sen. Don Davis and Sen. Clark Jenkins applauded the work of both the Student Success Academy and the United Way as a whole.

“There is really no reason for a young person to think they can’t get a job ... with the proper amount of education,” Jenkins said.

He emphasized Greenville’s role as a hub in eastern North Carolina, anchored by the school system, Pitt Community College, East Carolina University and Pitt County Memorial Hospital.

Davis noted that aside from dropout prevention being “the right thing to do,” it also is important to the future of the county and state.

“This is a matter of economic security and public safety,” he said. “Try to go through a deep recession ... without a diploma. Think about that.”

Rep. Marian McLawhorn and Rep. Edith Warren also attended the meeting, as did Greenville Mayor Pat Dunn and City Councilman Calvin Mercer.

United Way cabinet co-chairman John Pierpont spoke to the future of the nonprofit as it continues implementing a new business model and seeks “lasting improvement.” He said coming days may be filled with uncertainty, but he has faith in the vision and partnerships cultivated by United Way.

“There’s nobody that’s not needed,” Pierpont said. “We need everybody. We’re daring to think we can improve the status quo, that the future could be better than the present.”

The meeting concluded with the recognition of outgoing board members Michael Aichinger, John Bacon, Monica Carrion-Jones and George Perry and welcomed new board members Paul Anderson of Bank of America, Tommy Baker of NACCO, Mike Grizzard of The Daily Reflector, Denisha Harris of the Pitt County Economic Development Commission, and John Pierpont and Beverly Wright, both from ECU.