The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro

Community Foundation representative receives national award

GREENSBORO, N.C. – A longtime representative of The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro – and one of Greensboro’s most devoted residents – has been recognized by the Greensboro Partnership with one of its highest honors.
 
Donna Newton, director of the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium and the liaison of Building Stronger Neighborhoods, this week received the Athena Award at the Partnership’s Annual Dinner.
 
The Athena Award is a national accolade that recognizes women who have demonstrated excellence, creativity and initiative in their community; have provided valuable service by contributing time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community; and have actively assisted women in realizing their full leadership potential.
 
Newton has long played an important role in Greensboro’s nonprofit sector. As the director of the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium, she has been a pivotal part of helping bring together the county’s nonprofit organizations. Through the Consortium, Newton has helped create an entity that advances the mission and needs of nonprofits, as well as provides education and resource-sharing among them. Through her role with Building Stronger Neighborhoods, she has taken a keen interest in enhancing the quality of life throughout the city.
 
The Community Foundation is an active partner in both the Greensboro Nonprofit Consortium and the Building Stronger Neighborhoods program.
 
In presenting the award, County Commissioner Kay Cashion noted that while Newton’s nomination referenced many accomplishments, “the one volunteer effort that really impressed the Selection Committee was (Newton’s) leadership as chair of the Evergreens Senior Healthcare System over the past 4 to 5 years. Her extraordinary, creative leadership skills, her knowledge of the health care and insurance industries – having been named Jefferson Pilot’s first female senior vice-president earlier in her career – guided the conversion and repositioning of the Evergreens facility. She led the complete restructuring of the organization and its resources into a private enterprise with three, state-of-the-art long term care facilities involving transactions totaling $30 million. This move has been reported to be the most complex deal of its kind in North Carolina.”
 
Newton’s additional accomplishments include work with the Executive Director Academy in partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership, as well as establishing the Nonprofit Management Institute at High Point University. She also was one of the founders of – and remains an advisor to – the Greensboro Neighborhood Congress.
 
 “Donna has been an invaluable colleague to The Community Foundation for many years through our partnerships with Building Stronger Neighborhoods and the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium,” said Walker Sanders, Foundation president. “She has left an indelible example of the power of civic engagement, and as a result has helped make Greensboro an even better place to live and work. We congratulate Donna on this hard-earned – and most deserved – recognition.”
 
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About The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Inc.

The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro is a charitable organization dedicated to strengthening the community for present and future generations. The Community Foundation promotes philanthropy, builds and maintains a permanent collection of endowment funds, and serves as a trustworthy partner and leader in shaping effective responses to community issues and opportunities.

The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro is a charitable organization dedicated to strengthening the community for present and future generations. The Community Foundation promotes philanthropy, builds and maintains a permanent collection of endowment funds and serves as a trustworthy partner and leader in shaping effective responses to community issues and opportunities. Visit www.cfgg.org
 
About Guilford Nonprofit Consortium
The Consortium seeks to build a more effective nonprofit sector through education and resource-sharing. More than 100 local nonprofits are members. Visit www.guilfordnonprofits.org
 
About Building Stronger Neighborhoods
The Building Stronger Neighborhoods program, through neighborhood development and grantmaking, supports Greensboro neighborhoods as they mobilize assets to enhance community quality of life. BSN is supported by the Building Stronger Neighborhoods Coalition: The Cemala Foundation, The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Greensboro Public Library, Moses Cone-Wesley Long Community Health Foundation and Weaver Foundation.
 
About the Athena Award
The Athena Award is presented annually by chambers of commerce, women’s organizations and universities. The award is established through local host organizations in partnership with ATHENA International’s national underwriters, local businesses and individual sponsors. Nominations are solicited and an ATHENA sculpture is awarded to an individual in the community who meets specific criteria listed below. 
 
Since the program’s inception in 1982 more than 5,000 awards have been presented in over 500 communities in the United States, Canada, China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and most recently the United Kingdom. By honoring exceptional leaders, the ATHENA Award Program seeks to inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and personal lives. Visit www.athenafoundation.org

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