Teresa Dew Kelly

Presented this Award during the Annual Freedom Fund Banquet by Past President Bob Finch and current President.

Feb. 01, 2015 Kathryn Trogdon; Diana Matthews | The Sanford Herald Teresa Dew Kelly, Christians United Outreach Center executive director, has been working in the nonprofit industry for about 20 years. Through her work at CUOC, she helps feed nearly 3,000 people per month -- earning her one of the Herald's Lifetime Achievement awards for 2015.

Kelly, the executive director for Christians United Outreach Center, helps CUOC feed about 2,900 people and 50 new clients each month… Show more

Feb. 01, 2015 Kathryn Trogdon; Diana Matthews | The Sanford Herald Teresa Dew Kelly, Christians United Outreach Center executive director, has been working in the nonprofit industry for about 20 years. Through her work at CUOC, she helps feed nearly 3,000 people per month -- earning her one of the Herald's Lifetime Achievement awards for 2015.

Kelly, the executive director for Christians United Outreach Center, helps CUOC feed about 2,900 people and 50 new clients each month. Prior to working as CUOC’s executive director, Kelly also served with the CUOC board of directors, Broadway Lions Club, Relay for Life, Central Carolina Toastmasters, Sanford Lions Club, Habitat for Humanity and the First Pentecostal Holiness Church board as its first female member.

“I’ve always felt like a service-oriented soul, I guess,” she said. “I’ve always tried to make sure that whoever I’m in touch with, I leave with a smile on their face.”

“[Teresa] is very passionate, energetic, has a caring heart and...a great concern for Sanford and Lee County and the people,” said Chris Kelley, Service Center director for the Salvation Army, who has been working closely with Kelly on a new database for local charities.

Kelly has also been recognized for her service as the president of the Broadway Lions Club and the Sanford Lions Club, and she received several awards, including Duke Energy’s Citizenship and Service Award and a service award from the Sanford Rotary Club. While working for the Sanford Lions Club, Kelly even added five additional pageants to the Lee Regional Fair Beauty Pageant, including the Junior Miss and Petite Miss contests. Show less

From Sanford Herald article, March 13.......But it wasn't all looking ahead. Duke Energy, which helped sponsor the banquet, looked back to the worst days of the recession in giving out a citizenship award to Teresa Dew Kelly. Kelly became Executive Director of CUOC, which operates the largest local food bank at its Lee Avenue facility, five years right around the time the recession began. Yet with donations dwindling and demand growing - the group has reportedly been serving about 750… Show more

From Sanford Herald article, March 13.......But it wasn't all looking ahead. Duke Energy, which helped sponsor the banquet, looked back to the worst days of the recession in giving out a citizenship award to Teresa Dew Kelly. Kelly became Executive Director of CUOC, which operates the largest local food bank at its Lee Avenue facility, five years right around the time the recession began. Yet with donations dwindling and demand growing - the group has reportedly been serving about 750 families a month - Kelly grew CUOC's partnership list to include more than 60 local churches and more than 110 local businesses. She gave them, and the individual volunteers, credit for the award. "It is with a team that I'm able to do what I do, " Kelly said. "I couldn't do it alone, we've got 300 volunteers in our community." Show less

Recognized for outstanding service to the Lee County Community.