Endowment honors retiring United Way chief

Todd Cohen | August 14, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- When he arrived at a May 28 dinner honoring his 18-year tenure as president of United Way of Greater Greensboro, Neil Belenky had no idea his friends had created a legacy in his name to perpetually support United Way.

In less than a month leading up to the dinner, a volunteer effort raised $200,000 for a gift in Belenky's name to United Way's endowment that now will generate a Tocqueville Society gift of $10,000 every year to United Way's annual campaign to benefit the community.

 "I personally have found Neil to be a joy to work with," says Sally S. Cone, a community volunteer who co-chaired the fundraising effort with Jim Melvin, president of the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation.

The effort, also spearheaded by Billy Nutt, president and CEO of AIG United Guaranty, and community volunteer Shirley Frye, sent letters and made phone calls that generated contributions from 91 individual, foundation and corporate donors.

Other who helped plan the dinner, which attracted 260 people, include Tom Cone, a partner at law firm Ott Cone & Redpath, and Sue D White, owner and president of Donathan Properties.

Belenky stepped down as president July 1 and will serve as director of planned giving until he retires in August 2009.

"The positive aspect of his departure," Sally Cone says, "is that he and his family will be staying in Greensboro, and he will continue to be involved with United Way."

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