News
Sept. 29, 2026
Congratulations Angela Simmons at Hickory City Schools.
Angela’s name was drawn as the first finalist for the 2026 Catawba County United Way Car Giveaway.
Thank you, Paramount Auto Group in Hickory for donating the vehicle, and thank you Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, for overseeing this year’s drawings. New names will be drawn every Thursday through Dec. 3 (we skip Thanksgiving Day).
The Car Giveaway winner will be…
Sept. 29, 2026
Catawba County United Way wants to thank everyone who attended Race United at the Hickory Motor Speedway’s Championship night on Sept. 19.
Nearly 2,000 race fans came out to enjoy a fee night of racing, fireworks and an opportunity to meet more than a dozen local nonprofits who participated in this year’s Resource Fair.
The United Way also hosted a Food Drive prior to the start of racing and collected almost a ton of non-…
Aug. 25, 2026
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
Public school students are back in the classroom and thanks to the generosity of everyone who supported this year’s Catawba County United Way School Supply Drive, more than 20,000 items were collected.
These donations mean hundreds if not thousands of students in all three local districts - Catawba County, Hickory City and Newton-Conover City - head back into the classroom with the tools…
Aug. 19, 2026
The cost to feed a family of four (two adults and two children) is more than $1,400 a month in Catawba County, according to recent United Way ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) data, sourced from the USDA.
This is a growing impact on families from all socioeconomic backgrounds and requires a community response.
United Way Catawba County is hosting a Food Drive at the Hickory Motor Speedway during Championship…
Aug. 17, 2026
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
How many chances does anyone deserve to have in life?
For Exodus Homes Chief Operating Officer and CFO Carol Vandergrift, the answer is as many as you need.
In fact, she recently shared a story with the United Way about a resident who went out one weekend and the temptation to use again was too much. He overdosed. What’s significant about this story is how Exodus as an agency responded…
Aug. 11, 2026
In response to the continued need, the Catawba County United Way worked with its community partners to create a list of local food resources.
The Catawba County United Way will continue to updated this list throughout the year. If you would like to add or update a resource call 828-327-6851 or email jbailey@ccunitedway.com.
Click on the message to the lift or at THIS LINK to see the updated list.
Aug. 3, 2026
Mark Bumgarner - Executive Director of United Way Catawba County
Hello friends,
Recently, someone made a comment along the lines of “United Way only helps government agencies”. Now, it’s is hard to leave me speechless, but this did for a hot minute. It would be easy to dismiss this comment as ignorant, but it did make me realize that many don’t understand our funding model or that of well-functioning nonprofits. It is incumbent…
July 24, 2026
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccuniedway.com
“Open the pod bay doors Hal.”
“I’m sorry Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
So…anyone who knows me, knows I’m a longtime Science Fiction nerd of the highest degree, and that scene with Hal 9000 from “2001: A Space Odyssey” is the epitome of how wrong things can go with an Artificial Intelligence platform.
But then “Star Trek: The Next Generation” gave us Data.
As AI became more of a…
July 23, 2026
The Catawba County United Way recently finalized its list of nonprofits receiving 2027 grants through the agency’s main Request for Funding cycle.
The process started in February and recently wrapped up with the CCUW’s board voting to accept the recommendation from the Community Investment committee to fund $223,000 distributed to 15 programs from 13 agencies. Collectively, these programs provide various assistance to individuals…
July 20, 2026
BY JOHN BAILEY
jbailey@ccunitedway.com
Week 2 of the United Way School Supply Drive and we continue to pick up speed.
Our goal – collect classroom supplies to help local public school students get the tools they need to succeed.
And…there is still plenty of time to jump on board and help with the collection.
Drop off donations at the United Way office – 2760 Tate Blvd SE in Hickory – or host a drive of your own through your…