THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 26, 1996 TAG: 9604240112
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
``I have always believed that those who have should help those who don't have,'' said Durwood S. Curling, chairman of Chesapeake's 1996-1997 United Way campaign.
Although the official kick-off date for the annual fund drive is not until Sept. 5, Curling is ready to get started. His commitment to the United Way is as strong as his Chesapeake roots.
Curling was raised on a dairy farm once located near the intersection of Battlefield Boulevard and Interstate 64. Three generations of his family graduated from Great Bridge High School, and the fourth generation will follow.
In 1963, Curling made two important decisions. He became the planning director for the new city of Chesapeake and a United Way volunteer. Later, he was the assistant city manager, and then Chesapeake's city manager for seven years. Curling was a Boy Scout troop leader and a youth softball coach, but he still found time to serve as the district chairman of the United Way.
Over the years, Curling became president of the Friends of Chesapeake Parks, chairman of the Hampton Roads Planning Commission and a member of the South Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.
``Don't forget, I was chairman of the Chesapeake Jubilee in 1988, the year of the great flood,'' Curling said. ``More than six inches of rain fell during the celebrations planned for the 25th anniversary of our city.''
Although he played a diverse role in the growth and developement of Chesapeake, Curling always maintained his ties with the United Way. After 18 years of service with the city, Curling said he had served on as many United Way committees.
In 1987, Curling was one of the founders and the executive director of Southeastern Public Service Authority. He also became chairman of the board of the United Way of South Hampton Roads.
Now he is making plans to lead the fund-raising activities for all of Chesapeake.
``The Chesapeake campaign is truly a regional way of helping. Citizens from Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Suffolk and Isle of Wight benefit from the good works and the agencies that are helped by the United Way,'' Curling said.
``Chesapeake is a great city because we have the kind of people who keep wanting to make life better. This year, we have a great team.''
Claire R. Askew, director of Parks, Recreation & Building Maintenance, and Dr. Glenn L. Koonce, Chesapeake school administrator, are vice chairmen of the campaign.
The United Way is about volunteers helping with their time or their contributions so that others may benefit, said Curling. Last year, 10,400 Chesapeake residents donated $1,158,674 for use in the community.
``This year will be even more beneficial,'' Curling said.
The United Way is an administrative service for donations collected from businesses, schools, civic organizations and individual gifts. Donors can even designate their contribution to a particular cause. Curling said the administrative cost of running the United Way is the lowest of any charity.
About one in five people receive help each year from agencies supported by United Way funds. On a local level, about 160 service programs receive United Way support to provide assistance through food banks, child-care programs, youth programs, shelters, counseling and crisis prevention.
Tidewater Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Haven Family Center, Hope House Foundation, Meals of Wheels of Chesapeake, Samaritan House, the Society for the Aid of Sickle Cell Anemia, Tidewater Aids Crisis Task Force, YMCA of South Hampton Roads and Volunteers of America Chesapeake are among the local organizations that benefit from United Way funds. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Longtime community activist Durwood S. Curling is chairman of
Chesapeake's 1996-1997 United Way campaign.
by CNB