Dec. 12, 2024
BY JOHN BAILEY
Tanya Miller from Shurtape Technologies is the 2024 Catawba County United Way’s Car Giveaway winner.
She was one of 10 finalists drawn each week since September by Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, P.A. for a chance to win a new car donated by Paramount Automotive Group in Hickory. Each finalist had a chance to start the car with a key pulled at random and it was Miller’s that cranked the engine.
“I have no words to express how I feel right now,” Miller said. “But the big thing is I just love giving to the United Way to support our community. It’s what means the most to me. I would rather help others than help myself.”
The car giveaway was open to employees of companies who pledged a minimum of at least $100 a month during their company’s CCUW workplace campaign. The winner was chosen during a special event at Paramount Automotive in Hickory on Dec. 12. This year there were more than 2,700 entries for the car giveaway.
“We’re just so excited to be involved with the United Way because you help so many people,” Nick Kincaid, Chief Operating Officer at Paramount Automotive said. “And we feel like we have a responsibility being part of the community here in Catawba County to do just that.”
Kincaid announced that Paramount Automotive will give away a car again next year.
The finalists who didn’t win a car received special gifts donated by local companies to help show their support of the United Way.
These companies included: RLI-CPA Certified Public Accountants PC, Patrick Harper & Dixon LLC, Cargo Transporters Inc., Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Hickory, Martin Starnes & Associates CPAs PA, People’s Bank, Truist Bank, Morphis Law & Mediation, Susan Williams PLLC.
The CCUW Fair Share Car Giveaway tradition was started 13 years ago by Benny Yount, owner of Paramount Automotive Group. Yount wanted a way to help support the annual Catawba County United Way campaign and it’s outreach to local individuals and families in crisis.
The United Way’s work is focused on the building blocks for a good life: education, income and health. In 2023, local agencies who received funding from the CCUW helped improve the lives of more than 13,000 individuals in these areas.
Donor gifts helped fund tutoring programs for at-risk youth, provided shelter for the homeless, provided crisis assistance counseling for families, provided sexual assault services, supported emergency and disaster services, supported services for seniors and provided help with primary healthcare.
2024 Catawba County United Way Car Giveaway Finalists
- Kindra Daves - Publix at Lake Hickory Crossings
- Holly Hunsucker - Century Furniture
- Jackie Anderson - Century Furniture
- Gary Hamblin - Shurtape Technologies
- Jimmy Miller - Shurtape Technologies
- Stacey Eckard - CertainTeed
- Tanya Miller - Shurtape Technologies
- Roxana Fulton - Corning
- Darrell Joyner - Corning
- Carl Mascroft - Shurtape Technologies
For more information, call the Catawba County United Way at 828-327-6851 or visit ccunitedway.com.
