Steve, daughters Lindsay (age 33) & Christina (age 37), and wife, Sharon, in their Brevard home
Where do you work & what do you do? I’m Executive Director of United Way of Transylvania County.
How exactly does Transylvania County United Way help in our community? Simply put, it boils down to this….We advance the common good by creating and supporting programs that empower people in our community to improve their lives. The question that follows, of course, is, “How does United Way TC do that? ”The simple answer is, “We collaborate.” United Way TC defines collaboration as two or more agencies working together to break through one of the “defined barriers to success. …and barriers to success are “gaps in services” or “dysfunctional systems” in a community. By “dysfunctional systems,” I mean systems that deal with symptoms rather than actually addressing the “root cause” of an issue. We take investments of resources—people, agencies, funds, systems, structures—and enable them to work more efficiently to produce higher rates of return for our neighbors here in Transylvania County. United Way TC focuses its efforts on collaboratives that holistically address removing those “barriers to success” in at least one of our three focus areas: education, health, and financial stability. Health, education and financial stability are closely inter-connected issues. In fact, separating issues in these three areas is often a challenge in itself. If there is a barrier to success in any one of those areas, then the other two will be impacted in some way. For example, we support the Connect collaborative, which has used United Way TC donor investments of $43,000 over 18 months to save Transylvania County an estimated $116,280 per year in foster care costs by helping 209 children avoid child protective services involvement. That’s a 170% return on investment… with the most important result of all being the families that remain stable and whole.
How did you first become involved with United Way? After leaving my first career at General Electric and having made the decision to move to Brevard in 1993 for my wife to start a business (leaving me to be Mr. Mom for our 2 daughters then in 7th and 11 grades), I did some business brokering/consulting and even owned a video store in Candler for a few years. I wanted to get more involved in the community since my previous job required so much travel that was really not possible. So when the part time position came available in 1999, I applied and got the then part time job. Then Ecusta, then AGFA, then Coates American, then other businesses who represented over 2/3 of our donations closed within the next 2 years. That led to the need for a full-time position since it takes a lot more time to connect with 3000 individuals than it did going to three employers to make the same connections. I’ve stayed involved for 15 years now because the organization has been willing to change; to get more focused in creating sustainable improvements in the conditions of our citizens from bringing 2-1-1 help-line to the county to the creation of TRAIN (Transylvania Resource, Access & Information Network) and the Get Connected volunteer website. Creating these efforts and seeing the positive changes they generate are what energizes me to keep working.
How can all of us best lend support to United Way locally? (money, time, other ways?) Certainly your dollars help us increase the number of citizens who are financially stable, reach their educational potential, and participate in healthier behaviors like the examples mentioned above and below. Volunteer to help UWTC or one of our partners. Most importantly, if you know about our work or know someone who has benefited from our work, share your stories. We feel that more would give if they knew all the special and somewhat unique things we do. Picture below is of me with Stoney Blevins, County DSS director giving a presentation at a United Way Worldwide conference this May about our work in Transylvania County. We were the only UW our size invited to give a workshop. 
Do you have any good stories of how United Way has helped people?
1) The Hopewell* sisters of Transylvania County are all smiles about report cards since they enrolled in a school-based behavior incentive plan. The collaborative ‘Connect’ helped make it all possible. Mr. and Mrs. Hopewell* have health issues that make parenting a challenge, and as a result, their two daughters have been placed in foster care more than once. The family was referred to Connect to help prevent another foster care placement. When the school system suggested a behavioral incentive program to help the girls learn positive coping skills, Mr. and Mrs. Hopewell were hesitant. Thanks to the positive relationships the Hopewells enjoyed with the Connect Outreach Coordinator, they agreed to try the program…and thanks to their parent’s support of the program, the girls are experiencing improved social and academic successes at school.
*name changed to protect privacy
2) Brevard native Opal Golding* reviews information about area resources. She selects what best meets her needs with help from the collaborative ‘TRAIN.’ Opal Golding* is a lifelong resident of Brevard. When she needed help, there was a whole team available to her… Opal was referred to TRAIN (Transylvania Resource Access and Information Network), a network of health and human service agencies serving Transylvania County. Making valuable connections outside the scope of crisis assistance ultimately led Opal to evaluate options regarding her health. TRAIN network agencies collectively helped Opal make the decision to move into a skilled nursing facility. Her stress level is down, and her safety is up!
*name changed to protect privacy
3) Transylvania County resident Phratasia Macon uses the skills she learned in “10 Hidden Rules of Successful Money Management,” a free class offered by the collaborative ‘Families & Money.’ Brevard parent Phratasia Macon needed help making ends meet on her limited income, so she attend “Ten Hidden Rules of Successful Money Management,” a free financial education class offered by Families & Money. “I’m here to learn how to budget and manage my money more…I’m on a fixed income…” explained Phratasia. Using action statements to develop and reach goals that are “SMART” (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely) was one of the class topics. Phratasia plans to share her new skills with her biological children and her foster children, to give them a head start on their financial education. 
How do you spend your free time (what are your hobbies)?
Hiking in these beautiful surroundings, reading thrillers & Sci Fi, listening to or watching music, movies and sports events (college basketball, and college & pro football). I attend my Va Tech alma mater home football games. My recurring adventure is section hiking the Appalachian Trail; my hiking buddy and I have now completed about 1,400 of the 2184 miles of the trail over the last 15 or so years. Pic is of me at the mid-point of the Appalachian Trail.
Click below to read more of Steve’s profile Where did you grow up?
Martinsville, VA, a county very similar to Transylvania in the past; a factory town. My father worked in a furniture factory and mom in knitting mill. I was the fourth of five children with three older brothers and one younger sister with a spread of 20 years and one week between the oldest and youngest.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
My two daughters got me into participating in their dance recitals for 2 years with a group of fathers we called the “Dancing Dads”
What are some items on your bucket list?
Finishing the Appalachian Trail. A road trip visiting the middle to northern of our Western states. Setting UWTC and ultimately our community on a path where our citizens can reach their education potential, be financially stable, participate in healthy behaviors and have access to health care.
What’s your favorite thing about Brevard?
The mountain setting, with all the trees and valley with the French Broad River just lend a very special “energy” to this place that makes it HOME in every sense of the word. Then there are all the wonderful, friendly people. Everyone is here because they really want to be and that reflects in their demeanor and their attitude -whether multi-generational natives or newbies.
What are some popular hit songs from your growing up years?
“My Girl” by the Temptations; “Can’t Get no Satisfaction” by Rolling Stones, “Stay” by Maurice Williams or any good dance R&R dance music, “Stand by Me”, “Leaving on a Jet Plane”
Who was your favorite singer or group while growing up?
Group: Four Tops. Singer, starting in College: Neil Diamond
What’s your favorite music to listen to today?
I am very eclectic today from the oldies to mountain music to classical. I tend to like songs that make me want to move or that convey an important message to me.
Tell us about a very proud moment in your childhood.
Being recognized as the #1 Scholar of my Elementary school in the 7th grade and then leading my peers entering the room to put on a dance performance of old classic dances like the Virginia Reel at the award ceremony.
What was your first job ever?
At the age of 4 yrs. Old, my brother asked me to temporarily take over his small (10 customer) paper route (so he could take on a larger one). I made about $2/week taking the afternoon paper 5 days a week to those customers. Travelled on my 16” bike less than ½ mile from the house. If paper ran late and was getting dark by time I reached last customer, they would put my bike in car and take me back home. First time dealing with money and since I could not count change, just asked customers to take change needed.
What was your most prized possession as a child? Comic book collection
What do you miss most about your childhood? The BFF’s forever with whom I spent most of my time. Included 2 guys and 2 girls.
What’s the naughtiest thing you ever did as a child? Set fire to old couch and some brush at age 5; did this only 100 yards from a fire station. The firemen adopted me after that and one in particular – Ed Barrow – became like a second father of mine.
What important goal do you have for the next three months? Kicking off United Way’s 60th anniversary campaign.
What was the last good book you read? Switch by Dan Heath
If you could meet one celebrity, who would it be? Bill Gates; maybe he would get his foundation to help fund some of our efforts here.
Favorite Brevard locale: Transylvania County Library
Favorite recipe: (please include full recipe if you have one) Making heart shaped meatloaf for Valentine’s Day. No consistent recipe except for ingredients of 1 lb. lean ground beef, saltine crackers, egg, ketchup, onions, peppers, garlic and whatever other spices we have at the time that seem to work.
