WAYNE COUNTY, N.C. – The United Way of Wayne County marked a historic milestone on September 9, 2025, celebrating its centennial anniversary while officially launching its 2025 fundraising campaign with a goal of raising $850,000 to support local programs and services.
The celebration brought together community leaders, business partners, and volunteers to commemorate a century of service that began in 1925 with the establishment of the community chest in Wayne County.
Century of Community Impact
Board member Eddie Edwards highlighted key moments in the organization’s history during the kickoff event. In 1939, Emile Rosenthal led a campaign with a goal of $20,000. The organization evolved from the community chest to the United Fund of Goldsboro in 1954, with Henry Will serving as the first president. His son David Will continues as an advocate and supporter today.
The organization became Wayne United Way in 1974, and in 1989, Steve Parr joined the United Way of Palm Beach, Florida, serving for 30 years and helping establish the current name, United Way of Wayne County. A significant milestone was reached in 1995 when the organization raised over $1 million in a single campaign season.
Strong Campaign Start
Campaign chair and 2024 Rosenthal Award recipient Celina World announced that the 2025 campaign has already reached 26% of its $850,000 goal, with $215,650 raised from early participating organizations. The campaign emphasizes that every dollar raised remains in Wayne County to support local programs addressing urgent needs and helping families achieve lasting stability.
During the event, five fair share investors were randomly selected as finalists for a three to four night all-expenses-paid cruise for two, provided through a partnership with Travelmation travel agency. The winners included Erland Vinson (educator), Vanessa Blizzard (Wayne County Public Schools), Louis Rivera (Jackson and Sons), Terry Williams (Goldsboro Builders Supply), and Michael Marcin (Wayne County Library).
Bold Vision for the Future
Board member Ken Derksen, a longtime United Way advocate and 2023 Rosenthal volunteer award recipient, announced the organization’s Issue Focus Transformation initiative. This ambitious program aims to address the root causes of poverty in Wayne County with a bold goal: empowering 12,000 Wayne County citizens to reach financial stability by 2035.
Community Support
The celebration featured support from various sponsors and partners, including Sarah Carson with United Way of North Carolina, Representative John Bell, Anthony Warren from Senator Don Davis’ office, and numerous city, county, and school board officials. Local food vendors, including Bill’s Grill, Brooklyn Pizzeria, and Great Harvest, provided catering for the event.
The organization recently expanded its services by moving into a new building approximately one year ago, allowing them to offer direct services to community members.
As the United Way of Wayne County enters its second century of service, the organization continues its commitment to mobilizing community resources and volunteers to address local needs and create lasting change for Wayne County residents.
