Gloucester County United Way Honors Claire Riggs, Christine Brown
Claire Riggs, 2nd from R, and Christine Brown receive honors from Gloucester County United Way. Photo courtesy of Gloucester County United Way
AC JosepH Media
DEPTFORD — The United Way of Gloucester County honored community leaders and celebrated a major milestone in local leadership development during its annual Volunteer Leadership Event on May 7 at The Sapphire Grand.
Honorees included Claire Riggs, of Riggs Creative Group, who received the Volunteer Leadership Award for her outstanding contributions and steadfast volunteerism in support of UWGC’s mission. Riggs’s leadership, compassion, and advocacy continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Gloucester County residents, United Way officials said in a statement.
Christine Brown was presented with the Spirit of the United Way Award, which honors an individual who exemplifies the values of caring, volunteerism, and community impact.
Officials said Brown’s years of service, partnership, and generosity have had a profound influence on local United Way programs and initiatives.
Karen Greene, UWGC board member and longtime supporter, was named the 2025 United Way Campaign Chair. The organization said Greene brings decades of leadership experience and community dedication to this role, and her commitment will help drive forward the campaign’s mission to improve lives across Gloucester County.
The event also featured the inaugural graduation of the Leadership Gloucester County, LEAD GC, program, a collaborative leadership development initiative designed to educate and inspire future civic leaders.
LEAD GC is a partnership between Rowan College of South Jersey, the County of Gloucester, and the United Way of Gloucester County, and brings together professionals from across the nonprofit, business, education, and government sectors.
Graduates completed a year-long series of immersive monthly sessions covering key sectors of the community and engaging with local leaders, policymakers, and industry experts. The program is designed to strengthen participants’ knowledge of Gloucester County’s resources, challenges, and opportunities, while fostering deeper civic engagement and leadership skills.
“The graduation of our first LEAD GC class marks a new chapter in cultivating informed, connected, and engaged community leaders,” said Michael Gower, Executive Director of UWGC. “We are thrilled to celebrate their commitment and growth.”
In addition to the LEAD GC graduation, the event recognized two distinguished honorees for their exceptional service and dedication:
Applications for the next LEAD GC class are now open and can be found online at www.uwgcnj.org/leadgc. Interested individuals should submit their completed applications by July 31, 2025, to be considered for the next program cycle.
For more information about the United Way of Gloucester County, the LEAD GC program, or how to get involved, please visit www.uwgcnj.org.
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