Scott Embry of United Way Talks Literacy, Trust and Why 1 in 3 Neighbors Need Help

Welcome back to the Carolina Cabinet, Cumberland County's smartest hour of talk radio. Host Peter Pappas sits down with Scott Embry, Executive Director and CEO of United Way of Cumberland County, to talk about what the organization actually does, and how it served one in three county residents last year with no state or federal funding. Scott explains how United Way vets its partner nonprofits, holds them to quarterly reporting, and keeps every dollar raised in Cumberland County. He walks through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which mailed more than 9,200 books to local children last month, along with youth mentoring, a new JROTC literacy pilot, and a meal-packing event where 700 volunteers packed 73,000 meals in 40 minutes. He also names the county's biggest needs right now: utility assistance and affordable housing. Give, volunteer or get help at unitedway-cc.org, or dial 211 from any phone. 00:00 Welcome: Scott Embry, United Way of Cumberland County 01:14 Why he came back to Fayetteville 03:49 From selling ads to asking for donations 09:00 What United Way actually does 11:42 Every dollar stays local 14:06 Vetting partners and measuring impact 19:53 The Dolly Parton Imagination Library 25:02 From Vision Resource Center to Cape Fear Botanical Garden 27:37 Mentoring middle and high schoolers 29:43 Bringing literacy into the classroom 34:36 JROTC cadets as literacy ambassadors 36:46 171,000 served and 73,000 meals packed 39:39 The biggest needs: utilities and housing 44:20 How businesses and churches can plug in 47:03 Why give through United Way? 48:25 How to give, volunteer or get help 49:43 Thanks and a standing invitation