United Way of Western Connecticut hosted 22nd annual Heart of Gold Award Dinner honoring Tracie Wilson

United Way of Western Connecticut hosted its 22^nd annual Heart of Gold Award Dinner on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at the Stamford Marriott. More than 250 people attended to recognize this year’s honoree, Tracie Wilson, Senior Vice President, Programming & Development, of NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution.

Jerry Springer, cultural icon and talk show host, served as the emcee for the evening. Dan Sheehan, Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer at Genworth and last year’s Heart of Gold recipient, presented the Heart of Gold Award to Tracie Wilson.

Tracie was selected as this year’s Heart of Gold recipient for the many ways in which NBCUniversal and its employees make an impact on our community through volunteerism. Under her leadership, NBCUniversal has distinguished itself as a company determined to promote and encourage the spirit of volunteerism. NBCUniversal has employees volunteering annually in programs such as Business to Books and Back to School, programs that serve elementary school aged children from public schools in Stamford. 

Tracie currently sits on the Board of Directors for the City of Stamford’s Chamber of Commerce, Stamford’s Center of the Arts, and Stamford Downtown Special Services. “We are so pleased to honor Tracie who has been a true leader in the Stamford nonprofit community,” said Kim Morgan, CEO of United Way of Western Connecticut. “By sitting on multiple nonprofit boards and encouraging volunteer engagement amongst her colleagues at NBCUniversal, Tracie sets a high bar for other leaders in the community to reach.”  

The Heart of Gold Award was established in 1995 to recognize and encourage business leaders of today and tomorrow to build employee volunteerism into their strategic business plans. United Way of Western Connecticut is committed to celebrating the importance of business leadership in building healthy communities through volunteerism.

Roberta K. Eichler Heart of Gold Scholarship

United Way of Western Connecticut awarded its 2016 Heart of Gold Scholarship to Alexandra Bergman, a bright and compassionate student at AITE High School in Stamford. The $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually to support the continuing education of an outstanding local student volunteer. Alex’s commitment to volunteerism made a meaningful difference in our community and thereby distinguished her as our 2016 scholarship recipient.  

Alex has been a member of the Stamford chapter of B’nai Brith Youth Organization (BBYO) since eighth grade. She became the chapter board’s Corresponding Secretary, and now holds the position of Ozeret, Vice President of Community Service and Social Action. To date, Alex has run a coat drive for a local organization, a social night at Brighten Garden’s Nursing Home, and a bake sale to raise funds donated to military veterans. Alex has organized speaking engagements from an active duty Sargent in the US Army and an Israeli Defense Force Army reservist along with a Krav Maga self-defense class for chapter members. She is planning to have the chapter write letters and send care packages to deployed soldiers.  Alex is forming a trip to a VA Hospital, as well as connecting members and parents with a Holocaust survivor who will be speaking about his experiences. Alex has been involved for the past four years in The Friendship Circle and she volunteers every Sunday to spend time with a child with special needs.  Alex has served as her high school Class President for the past four years. 

United Way of Western Connecticut seeks nominations in late fall for its annual scholarship from local schools, nonprofit organizations, religious institutions and businesses. Its Scholarship Selection Committee reviews and evaluates all nominations based on, among other factors, the nominee’s commitment to volunteerism, leadership skills and a personal letter. Past recipients of the scholarship have gone on to study at Harvard University, Bucknell University, University of North Carolina and Loyola Marymount University.

Learn more about United Way here