Local Leaders and Corporate Partners Honored for Their Support of United Way 

United Way of North Carolina recognized Spirit of North Carolina Award winners on March 19. United Way of Greater Charlotte is proud to recognize seven award winners in multiple categories. Each award celebrates individuals and organizations for their exemplary partnership demonstrated through fundraising and volunteer efforts, outstanding leadership and creative team building.  

Local awards categories include: 

United Way Community Ambassador 

• Raj Natarajan, McGuireWoods LLP 

• David Morton, Fifth Third Bank 

Sustainability through Engagement 

• GreerWalker 

Campaigns of Impact 

• City of Monroe  

• National Gypsum 

• Eli Lilly and Company 

• ITW Vulcan 

Each honoree has modeled a dedication to community service through their fundraising, volunteerism and advocacy efforts. 

“The Spirit of North Carolina Awards celebrate our outstanding partners who help drive United Way’s mission to strengthen communities and create pathways to lift children and families out of poverty,” said United Way of Greater Charlotte Interim Chief Development Officer Leanne Skipper.  “Congratulations to this year’s winners, whose dedication has made a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of our neighbors. 

Raj Natarajan was recognized for being a dedicated advocate and ambassador for United Way of Greater Charlotte; he has served on United Way’s Board of Directors for five years and most recently served as Board Chair in 2024. Raj leads McGuireWoods’ employee giving campaign, raising awareness of community needs and generating over $2.5 million in charitable contributions since he joined the firm in 2010. Raj also leads his firm’s volunteer efforts, providing free legal services to residents in one of Charlotte’s most under-resourced neighborhoods. 

David Morton has been a committed champion of United Way throughout his 18-year tenure at Fifth Third, where early on he organized employee events to raise awareness around community needs and the importance of giving back, which propelled him to lead Fifth Third’s workplace campaign for several years, significantly increasing participation. David’s personal giving journey evolved as he embraced United Way’s mission, increasing his contributions to a leadership level and striving to give more each year. Beyond financial support, he serves on United Way’s Regional Development Committee, helping shape strategic initiatives and advocating for United Way within the Bank and the community. 

GreerWalker was recognized for its noteworthy employee engagement and broader community support. Known for their engaging, creative and successful workplace campaigns, GreerWalker achieved a remarkable 92% participation rate in this past year’s United Way campaign. GreerWalker also launched two exceptional initiatives in 2024 – their team made a significant corporate donation to aid Hurricane Helene relief efforts in North and South Carolina and launched their own Community Impact Fund, which aims to enhance education, foster economic mobility, and empower individuals and families to build sustainable futures in the communities where they live and work. 

GreerWalker’s leadership fosters a culture of sustainable corporate social responsibility, emphasizing the importance of community involvement. Employees are deeply engaged by giving their time, talent and treasure, serving as board members and volunteers at over 40 local agencies.  

City of Monroe was recognized for its innovative employee giving incentives as well as their engaging campaign kick-off cookout, which together resulted in a very successful and impactful campaign. In collaboration with community partners such as City of Monroe, United Way can serve the communities of Union County, creating tailored solutions in the selected focus areas of economic stability, access to quality education and healthcare, and support for the Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities community.  

City of Monroe is dedicated to helping give all Union County residents the opportunity to experience a higher quality of life – economically, physically, and mentally.  

National Gypsum was recognized for its longstanding relationship with United Way, having been a steadfast supporter for more than 30 years, contributing more $4.5 million through employee campaigns and corporate gifts over that time. This year, their “United for Our Neighbors” campaign was a standout success, exceeding expectations with $227,000 in contributions and a 75% participation rate, up from 40% in the previous campaign. Their campaign featured engaging company-wide team competitions, and activities like Super Bowl squares, bingo, trivia and team-style competitions fostered a sense of community and excitement while allowing employees to learn more about United Way’s mission. 

This year National Gypsum celebrated 100 years of “building products for a better future.” The success of their campaign, in terms of participation and contributions, positions the activities as a best practice for future campaigns. National Gypsum’s approach to engaging employees and driving contributions makes this year’s campaign a prime example of how creative, well-executed efforts can make a lasting impact. 

Eli Lilly and Company was recognized for an outstanding 46% growth in their workplace giving campaign this past year. Eli Lilly’s commitment to philanthropy shines through their efforts, including inviting United Way-funded agencies on-site to connect employees directly with the impact of their contributions. Their generosity extends beyond United Way, making a difference across Cabarrus County through continued investment in community initiatives to create a lasting impact. 

ITW Vulcan was recognized for bringing new energy to their United Way campaign, ensuring employees felt excited and appreciated for putting effort into giving back. ITW Vulcan turned their campaign into an ongoing event, hosting in-office competitions that sparked engagement and friendly rivalry. Employees were actively involved, resulting in a surge in participation, new donors and a renewed culture of generosity within the company. 

Each winner was recognized at the Spirit of North Carolina Awards ceremony on Wednesday, March 19 at the Gastonia Conference Center.