LEWISBURG, WV (WOAY) – United Way of Greenbrier County has a new executive director, and she couldn’t be happier to be in the role.
Melanie Taylor is ready to start meeting people and getting more involved in the community.
“I was doing a lot of travel around the state and getting to meet some incredible people who I love to work with and still have great contacts around the state,” said Taylor. “But I was missing that link here back at home.”
The new executive director is from the area and graduated from Greenbrier East.
“So it just felt like a great move for me to bring my talents back and the things I learned in this incredible organization and really help drive this mission forward,” she said.
Taylor was previously the Generation West Virginia Career Development Program Director, connecting young Mountaineers with key skills and career opportunities.
UWGC has a strong foundation of its 32 partner agency network organizations.
“Just want to dive deeper into supporting them, being a sounding board for resources they may need in terms of thinking about business operations or how their nonprofits are running or how we build a project,” said Taylor. “I think I can go beyond just providing funding and really be a resource and a strong partner for them.”
They also have a great group of young leaders (from Greenbrier, Monroe, and Pocahontas counties) ready to raise money for United Way’s campaign season.
“Each of them is challenged to create their own fundraising events or run their own silent auction or whatever they choose to do to raise money for us. They are a huge champion of ours right now,” the executive director said, adding that campaign chairs Dr. Kyle Falk and his wife are also great about getting the word out.
According to Taylor, she loves making a difference and changing lives.
“I feel like it might not be common knowledge that everybody truly understands that we’re directly funding, sourcing, and doing all we can to support these partner agencies,” said the executive director. “They are doing grassroots work in our community, boots on the ground. They’re helping the people who need it, providing basic needs.”
UWGC focuses on healthcare, education, and low-income families through its nonprofit, Our United Way.
“It’s incredibly rewarding work,” Taylor said. “I am so excited to be a part of that and make an impact in that way.”
TO LEARN MORE
https://www.unitedwaygreenbrier.org
