United Way of Aiken County honors volunteers, donors

Matthew Christian, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·3 min read

Apr. 1—It doesn't take long after meeting Ben Young to realize that he likes to help people.

Young, a retired project manager at the Savannah River Site, quickly introduced himself and offered a stranger actionable advice before the annual United Way of Aiken County meeting.

Helping people is one of the reasons Young won the 2021 Russell A. Foret Volunteer of the Year award at the meeting.

He did not speak after receiving the award.

However, 2020 award winner P.K. Hightower described Young as extremely respectful, thoughtful, a planner and as someone who leads with quiet resolve and compassion.

"He is someone you want to follow and to work around," Hightower continued. "He financially supports our mission as a leadership contributor. He supports our mission on social media. He is simply the best!"

Young has been a board member, executive committee member and chair of the Project Vision program since 2008.

Project Vision works to provide essential home repairs to seniors and people who are disabled so they aren't living in homes that can have ill effects on their health.

The United Way of Aiken County has presented a volunteer of the year award since 1973. In 1985, the award was named after Foret for his service to the organization.

At the end of the meeting, the Burns Dance Studio performed a dance to Great Balls of Fire and then Anderson announced that the campaign raised over $2.4 million.

The 2021 campaign goal was around $2.3 million.

Earlier in the meeting, the United Way also recognized the organizations with employees who raised the most money and the companies that contributed the most.

The top employee fundraiser was Savannah River Nuclear Solutions ($405,821) followed by Amentum and Savannah River Remediation ($208,212), Bridgestone Tire Operations of America ($166,664), Savannah River National Lab/Battelle Savannah River Alliance ($154,310), Kimberly Clark Corporation ($96,173) and Centerra-SRS ($73,057).

The top corporate contributor was Kimberly Clark ($96,173) followed by Centerra-SRS ($87,920), Savannah River Nuclear Solutions ($58,184), Amentum and Savannah River Remediation ($37,500) and Aiken Electric Cooperative ($25,000).

The United Way presented other awards at the ceremony:

—Philanthropist of the Year: Lessie Price

—Project Vision Volunteer of the Year: Robert Abshire

—Agency Campaign of the Year: Children's Place

—Young Philanthropist of the Year: Lizzie Abshire

—Stanley A. Quarles Memorial Community Spirit Award: Savannah River Remediation

—Live United Award: Chris Cady

—Aiken Cup: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions

—Schools of the Year: North Aiken Elementary School, Kennedy Middle School and Wagener-Salley High School

—Community Pillar Awards: SRP Federal Credit Union, Security Federal Bank and Aiken Regional Medical Centers.

Aiken County received special recognition for providing funding for the United Way from its American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Joey Smiley was recognized for coordinating the volunteer efforts of the employees of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions.

Keyatta Priester was recognized for serving as the 2021 campaign chair.

Campaign Professionals Susan Legrand who was sponsored by Security Federal Bank, Cynthia Boler-Melton of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions and Susan Sadler who was sponsored by Jacobs were also recognized.