We nominated our friend, former board member and major supporter, Dawn Starks of Starks Financial Group and she WON! On Tuesday November 14th Dawn will be recognized on National Philanthropy Day (NPD) by the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Western NC as the 2017 Outstanding Philanthropist.
National Philanthropy Day is a special day to recognize and pay tribute to the great contributions that philanthropy - and those active in the philanthropic community - make to our lives, communities and world.
"This year's NPD theme 'Change the World with a Giving Heart' truly exemplifies Dawn," said Celeste Collins, OnTrack WNC Executive Director. "Dawn has offered her visionary leadership, dogged commitment to financial literacy, and generous financial support to us for over 20 years! She was instrumental in creating our Women's Financial Empowerment Center, growing our endowment, and strengthening our agency. We are a better thanks to Dawn Starks!"
Congratulations Dawn!
Here's an excerpt from Celeste Collins' nomination of Dawn:
Nearly two decades ago, Dawn Starks founded her financial planning firm, Starks Financial Group. Today she and her team enjoy a well-deserved reputation for client-centered, accessible, comprehensive investment services. Those who know Dawn and have watched her career are not surprised by her business success, because they also know that she brings energy, commitment, creativity, and intelligence to everything she does.
Dawn brings those qualities, as well as investments of time and money, to every worthy cause or organization in which she becomes involved, and she catalyzes dramatic improvements and lasting change. She invests her time and charitable dollars with intentionality and passion.
Dawn's passion for helping people understand finances and develop sound money practices led her to invest herself in OnTrack Financial Education & Counseling (OnTrack WNC). In 2000 Dawn joined our board and has served as a board officer during most of the years since, including two two-year terms as President. Her history with our agency spans years of program expansion and strong cash flow, as well as years of staff transitions and funding challenges. Through it all Dawn's insights, laser-like analysis, wisdom, and business savvy have helped us capitalize on strategic opportunities to enhance programs, meet more community needs and strengthen our finances.
