United Way clarifies status of Cherokee County presence

United Way of the Piedmont's (UWP) official introduction to Cherokee County ended in debate as several local officials questioned the organization's presence here.

Interim Cherokee County Administrator Ben Clary along with county council chairman Hoke Parris repeatedly questioned UWP president Kathy Dunleavy and the organization's advisory board chairman Byrd Miller about the matter, wondering why the United Way of Cherokee County was disbanded.

"I see no authority from (UWP) to disband the United Way of Cherokee County (UWCC)," Clary said. "I believe we suffered a discredit by the organization being removed and honestly I feel it is quite embarrassing."

However, according to Margaux Bergen, vice president of field and media communications for United Way of America (UWA), there was good reason for the local branch losing its license to serve the area.

"(UWA) took action pursuant to its membership accountability requirements," Bergen said. "The basis for the revocation is the finding that the UWCC failed to meet our membership requirements of refraining from actions that could harm or damage the interests or reputation of the United Way system."

The UWCC was stripped of its license Sept. 11, prompting UWA to make a request to UWP about the possibility of adding Cherokee County to a coalition that already includes Spartanburg and Union counties. After taking the matter to a vote, UWP decided to assume responsibility for providing funding to support nonprofit and community agencies in the county.

"Such action was at the request of several companies and the UWA," Mark Propst, manager of The Timken Company's Gaffney Bearing Plant, said. "This is not a takeover situation, but it is merely a change of representation."

"(UWP) has a strong track record with respect to delivering community impact on the local level in Union and Spartanburg counties," Bergen said. "If the community is supportive of the organization's efforts in Cherokee County, success will follow - though not overnight."

After a decision was made to revoke the license of the local United Way, local representatives were alerted to the issue. UWCC board chairperson Jayne Cudd and vice chair Tracy Parris were both given notice of action taken by UWA, with the organization also contacting the United Way Association of South Carolina.

Despite being given notice of such issues, Hoke Parris and others still feel slighted.

"We must make all of this work by coming together," Hoke Parris said. "None of this can be done by having any type of separation or negative energy."

"We are currently looking into office space and whether to hire someone full or parttime to serve here," Dunleavy said. "But one thing I can assure is there will be an office in Cherokee County."