Dec. 15, 2023
BY JOHN BAILEY
Congratulations to Michelle Lail from Catawba County Government.
On Dec. 14, she became the 12th winner of the annual Catawba County United Way car giveaway.
Lail was one of 10 finalists drawn from CCUW campaign donors this year for the chance to win a car from Paramount Automotive. Each finalist got a chance to try and start a car. Whoever did, would be the 2023 winner.
It’s been another record year for the Catawba County United Way, with more than 2,900 car giveaway cards filled out during this year’s CCUW campaign.
For Lail, giving back and helping those in need has been a lifelong mission, starting from her time as a Girl Scout. She has donated to the United Way as a Catawba County Government employee for 23 years.
The 2023 Finalists:
1: Verna Wilson - Century Furniture
2: Joseph Alexander - Century Furniture
3: Casey Dycus - Newton-Conover City Schools
4: Jennifer McCracken - Catawba Co. Public Health
5: Ryan Pritts - Shurtape
6: Brian Lafone - HSM Wire
7: Nick Faddoul - Corning
8: Michelle Lail - Catawba Co. Government
9: Kelly Benson - Century Furniture
10: Codey Stevenson - Paramount Kia
The names of the CCUW Car Giveaway finalists were picked by RLI-CPA Certified Public Accountants during the weekly drawings that started in September.
For 2023, a tiered system was introduced for donors. This year it was possible to have multiple cards in each drawing, starting with a $100 donation made through your company’s campaign. Learn more at ccunitedway.com/workplace-campaign-portal.
The finalists who didn’t win a car received special gifts valued at $250 and donated by local companies. Those companies included: HSM, Pepsi, RLI, Truist, Morphis Law & Mediation, Martin Starnes & Associates CPAs, Peoples Bank, Design Foundry and Catawba Valley Health System.
The CCUW Fair Share Car Giveaway tradition was started when Benny Yount, owner of Paramount Automotive Group, decided he wanted a way to help support the annual Catawba County United Way campaign.
The Catawba County United Way’s work is focused on the building blocks for a good life: education, income and health. In 2022, local agencies who received funding from the CCUW helped improve the lives of 15,000 individuals.
Donor gifts helped fund tutoring programs for at-risk youth, provided shelter for the homeless, provided crisis assistance counseling for families, provided sexual assault services, supported emergency and disaster services, supported services for seniors and primary care for adults with brain health issues.
For more information, call the Catawba County United Way at 828-327-6851 or visit ccunitedway.com.
Past Car Giveaway winners:
- 2012 – Richard Jennings – Century
- 2013 – Barbara Cromer – The Salvation Army
- 2014 – Cody Myers – HSM
- 2015 – Marcie Boughman – DSS
- 2016 – Deborah Morel – DSS
- 2017 – Fred Roseberry – Century
- 2018 – Susan Estes – Conover School
- 2019 – Danny Miller – Shurtape
- 2020 – Amy Hedrick – Publix Lake Hickory Crossing
- 2021 – Meghan Stripling – Conover School
- 2022 – Margaret Bush – Conover School
See more PHOTOS at THIS LINK.