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Small businesses love big with United Way initiative

- BY JOHN BAILEY CATAWBA COUNTY UNITED WAY

The Catawba County United Way (CCUW) recently launched a new initiative – Small Businesses Love Big.

This will be an opportunit­y for small companies in Catawba County (50 employees or less) to invest back into their communitie­s by supporting local nonprofit programs.

“We know that our small businesses understand and see the needs in our community from a unique perspectiv­e and giving them the opportunit­y to invest in their community not only makes sense but honors the contributi­ons of both small business and non-profits,” Catawba County United Way Executive Director Mark Bumgarner said. “We’re thankful to have the opportunit­y to create this exciting opportunit­y.”

Each participat­ing business will contribute $365 a year, which will be used to fund a second CCUW allocation process focused on small and start-up local non-profits. Representa­tives of the businesses will then meet to review the grant applicatio­ns and decide what programs to fund.

The first local business to join this initiative is Keever’s Key and Repair Service, Inc. in Hickory.

“We’ve been a part of the community for over a hundred years, since 1920, and we feel a certain obligation to the community,” Dan Causey, co-owner of Keever’s Key and Repair Services, Inc. said. “We’ve been loyal to the United Way during that time, and this is an opportunit­y to take it a step further.”

To learn more about the CCUW’s Small Businesses Love Big initiative call Sylvia Long at 828-327-6851 or email slong@ ccunitedwa­y.com.

The mission of Catawba County United Way is to increase the organized capacity of people to help others by mobilizing the caring power of our community. The CCUW strives to be the most effective and efficient organiza

tion that identifies and prioritize­s the greatest unmet human needs in our community.

To accomplish this, the United Way collaborat­es with individual­s, other non-profits and local resources to build a safety net to help meet those needs. Learn more at www.ccunitedwa­y.com.

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PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE O-N-E

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