United Way of Horry County Announces 2026 Annual Meeting Award Winners

United Way of Horry County honored five community champions at its 2026

Annual Meeting, held Tuesday, Sept. 15 at Ocean Reef Resort in Myrtle Beach. The awards celebrate the
partners, volunteers, and everyday leaders whose work helps Horry County families access healthy
communities, youth opportunity, financial security and community resiliency.

2026 Annual Meeting Award Winners
Power of Partnership: Grand Strand Health
Grand Strand Health has partnered with United Way of Horry County since 1978. Its employees serve
on the UWHC Board of Directors, volunteer every year at Day of Caring, and its medical staff serve as
the on-site medical partner that keeps volunteers safe. This year, the organization's Healthier
Tomorrow Fund awarded United Way a $25,000 grant to help build the Healthy Communities Institute
Platform, a shared data system for the whole community.

United Way Champion: Jentry Ward, Santee Cooper
For two years, Jentry Ward led Santee Cooper's employee giving campaign through United Way's
Campaign Cabinet. She made sure the message reached every safety meeting, encouraged coworkers
to give one conversation at a time, and served as a Day of Caring team lead.

Mission Ready Champion Educator: Maquitta Davis, Conway Elementary School
For more than 30 years, Maquitta Davis has said yes every time United Way came knocking, opening
her school's doors to United to Read, Caring for Kindergartners, Legacy United and the Community
Baby Shower. When United Way needed a pilot site for Ready, Set, Kindergarten, a new effort to
prepare children for kindergarten before day one, Conway Elementary went first.

Community Impact: Horry County Government
Horry County Government helps lead the Horry County Community Collaborative, helped shape United
Way's refreshed Community Game Plan, and leads the SMART Re-Entry Program connecting people
returning from incarceration to stable footing. It has also been a steady supporter of the THRIVE
program and the 211 helpline.

Hidden Hero: John Rowe III, South Atlantic Bank
John Rowe III has served United Way of Horry County for more than a decade, from the Allocations
Committee and Campaign Cabinet to the Board of Directors in 2015. As Campaign Chair, he led the
2016 to 2017 campaign to $1,428,062, the fourth largest in UWHC's 53-year history. He later served two
years as Board Chair, helping lead the shift to a collective impact model, and today still serves on the
Finance Committee and leads a Day of Caring team.

"Every year, our Annual Meeting is a chance to celebrate the partners, volunteers and everyday heroes
who make it possible for Horry County families to thrive," said Blakely Roof, President and CEO of
United Way of Horry County. "This year's honorees showed up for our community in ways big and
small, and their commitment moves us closer to a Horry County where everyone has the chance to
succeed."