GREENSBORO, N.C. — In 2024, WFMY News 2 turns 75! It's our diamond anniversary! As we celebrate our diamond year, we want to take time to highlight diamonds in our community. We know there are people all over the Triad who make their communities shine! WFMY News 2 asked members of the public to nominate their diamonds and we received several worthy entries. But this month, the one that stood out was Kim Fuquay-Black.
THE NOMINATION
Kim has been busy the entire month of October helping with Helene Relief efforts.. She started collecting items the day after the storm and hasn't stopped! She has helped WFMY with the many drives they've organized -- finding out the needed items, helping at the collection drives, and arranging their delivery. She helped make it all happen in addition to efforts still happening at the Elks Lodge. Kim really cares about the community, including people in Western North Carolina, and she's the definition of a Community Diamond!
ABOUT KIM FUQUAY-BLACK
In the wake of Helene, many people stepped up to help people in Western North Carolina. This month's winner was a big part of the four drives WFMY News 2 held. Fuquay-Black is the Membership Chair for the Greensboro Elks Lodge and also serves as the VP for the West Central District of North Carolina Elks. She has been able to help the Elks Club gets grants that have helped local teachers and students in our community. She said she has always been active in the school systems, and is passionate about helping children in need.
But when she heard about the devastation in Western North Carolina, it spurred something in her to act. She said, "I don't think I've ever been in a situation where I have felt like there was such a need as what has happened in Asheville and Boone and all these little towns that have just been wiped away." Kim let other Elks Club members know they were starting to collect items for Western North Carolina the day after the storm. They sent truck loads to the mountains by the time she received a call from WFMY News 2.
Marketing director Cami Anthony said, "I started calling around to arrange some Helene Relief drives and one of my contacts said call Kim, the Elks are already doing some drives and making some trips. She might know how you can help." And she did! Fuquay Black has been the co-cordinator of each of the drives. She would reach out to her connections in the mountains and find out the most-needed items. Then she would arrange their delivery.
Fuquay-Black said everything came down to knowing the right people. She said, "I feel very blessed and honored to have the people around me that I have around me who help who I know I can reach out to and call if there's a need for a family or a child or the whole entire western part of North Carolina."
Another Elks lodge member Joyce Smith said, "Kim is just an overall great person. She's always been there for anybody that's in need of anything. She's always willing to help and it doesn't matter what time, day or night, she's always available. Just does it out of her goodness of her heart."
Anthony agreed saying, "Kim just serves without wanting anything back. She is serving because it's important to her. Helping people is important to her. Giving to others is important to her."
Fuquay-Black said, "It makes me feel good to know that we can help, make a difference."
The Elks is a fraternal organization that focuses on veterans, youth, and patriotism. For more information about the Greensboro Elks Lodge, click here.
For winning the October Community Diamond, Fuquay-Black received:
-$100 gift certificate from Windsor Jewelers
-$75 Visa gift card
-Community Diamond recognition certificate
-Other diamond goodies!
NOMINATE A DIAMOND
You can nominate people in your community as a Community Diamond! Fill out the nomination form below and tell us about people who are making a difference in your community! WFMY News 2 will choose one winner a month to spotlight in an on air story. The monthly winner will also receive a gift certificate to Windsor Jewelers and a Visa Gift Card so they can reward themselves or continue doing good in their community.
At the end of the year, each of the monthly winners will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a larger item from Windsor Jewelers.