Meet Our Investors: Stars of Education

We are using the Meet Our Investors column space this month to introduce and highlight the 2015 Stars of Education sponsors. WakeEd is so grateful for the tremendous support we found among our Board and Leadership Council members and among the community at large who responded to sponsorships.

 

Presenting Sponsor – PNC Bank

For the third consecutive year, PNC has been our Presenting Sponsor. Special thanks to Director Marcus Smith and to Jim Hansen, Rebecca Quinn-Wolf, and Jenny Grant of PNC who provide so much support for, and engagement with, WakeEd’s work.

 

Vernon Malone Friend of Education Sponsor – Dargan and Blount Williams

Themselves recipients of the Vernon Malone Friend of Education Award in 2009, Dargan and Blount are committed to this award and have been the sponsor since we started it two years ago. We are grateful to Blount for his service on our Leadership Council and to Dargan for her unwavering support of public education in Wake County.

 

Wake County Public School System Hall of Fame Sponsorship – Biogen

When we started this award two years ago, Biogen jumped on it and again this second year. Thanks to Director Mitch Lower for making this happen each year and for Biogen’s involvement with World Café each year in January, which they host.

 

Stars Among Us Sponsors – Duke Energy, SteelFab, SunTrust Bank

A new award this year, we had no trouble convincing these three companies of the value of providing a way at Stars of Education for all attendees to thank educators throughout the WCPSS. We had 333 cards turned in at Stars and are still receiving more. 99 of our 167 schools in WCPSS have been touched by the Stars Among Us messages. Thanks to Leadership Council member Marty Clayton and Director Jennifer Pittman of Duke Energy; Director Rob Burlington of SteelFab; and Director Chris Bell of SunTrust for believing in Stars Among Us and making it possible for year #1 to be an astounding success.

 

Registration Sponsor – First Tennessee Bank

For the third consecutive year, First Tennessee has been greeting you at the Registration Table, helping you find your nametag, and welcoming you to the event. The spouse of a WCPSS teacher, thank you to Leadership Council member Ken Reece for your dedication to Stars of Education and to WakeEd.

 

Host Sponsors – all 24 of you!

Thank you for being such a strong partner with WakeEd and for believing in the value of coming together for an evening to thank our educators and those in our community who have given their lives to help make the Wake County Public School System the example of excellence it is today.

 

We present our 2015 Host Sponsors:

AXA Advisors                                             NCSU College of Education

Balfour Beatty Construction Co.            Paragon Bank

BB&T                                                           PSNC Energy

Brooks Pierce                                            Quintiles

Caterpillar                                                  SAS

Credit Suisse                                              The Flood Group

Gateway Bank                                            Three Ships

Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce                  VIF International Education

Greene Resources                                    Wake Stone Corporation

Hunton & Williams                                    Wake Tech Community College

Kenan Institute for Engineering,            WFLF/WRCD TV

    Technology & Science 

Lenovo                                                        Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice

 

In-Kind Sponsors

Stars of Education would not be possible without any of our sponsors, and that certainly includes our in-kind sponsors. Each provided a service that WakeEd would not otherwise be able to have – and that is what makes an in-kind gift or service truly appreciated.

 

Lifetouch provided still photos throughout the event, including shots of all honorees accepting their awards. They also provided the banners that greeted you upon arrival, which can be used from year to year.

MMI Public Relations, under Director Rob Buhler’s leadership, provided all of our PR needs surrounding Stars as well as providing a representative to serve on the Stars Committee.

The News & Observer provided quarter page and half page print ads and volunteers to help fold programs.

Time Warner Cable, thanks to Director Melissa Buscher, provided the filming, editing and production of the Vernon Malone Friend of Education video honoring 2015 recipient Harvey Schmitt.

WTVD – ABC 11, thanks to Director Monica Barnes, provided the filming, editing and production of the videos honoring the six Hall of Fame inductees.

 

Please join the staff of WakeEd Partnership in giving each of our 2015 Stars of Education sponsors a standing ovation!