Winston-Salem, NC — Experiment in Self-Reliance (ESR) hosted their fifth annual Winter Wonderland fundraiser event at the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter from 4-7:30 PM on Sunday, February 16 to honor donors, celebrate the winter season, and commemorate 55 years of service to the Winston-Salem area.

The Winter Wonderland fundraiser was an opportunity to raise funds for ESR’s programs and services, as well as a time of fellowship and thanksgiving for donors, partners, and friends. Participants were able to connect with staff, clients, and community partners while learning about the impact of ESR’s services.

The event celebrated ESR’s successes in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County through music, dancing, and the recognition of key contributors by individual speakers. Speakers for the event included Mayor Allen Joines who delivered a proclamation from the City of Winston-Salem, Judge Denise Hartsfield who served as the Mistress of Ceremony, a Self-Sufficiency program graduate who spoke on her success story, and members of ESR’s board who honored former and current members of the Louise G. Wilson Legacy Society. ESR honored retired Director of the Forsyth County Library, Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, for her service to the community and support of ESR. Also honored was the late Ward Miller who served as the co-chair of the Louise G. Wilson Legacy Society with ESR.

The proclamation read by Mayor Allen Joines helped commemorate ESR’s 55 years of service, and specifically named February “Community Action Month.” ESR, the only Community Action Agency in Forsyth County and one of 34 in North Carolina, started serving the community in 1964 after President Lyndon B. Johnson declared War on Poverty. Community partners, members, and funders from the past five decades joined the festivities in celebration of service. “It was incredible to see our community come out to celebrate ESR with us. We are so thankful for our sponsors, donors, and volunteers who have helped develop ESR over the past 55 years,” said Twana Roebuck, ESR’s Executive Director. ESR plans to promote their 55^th anniversary and 5 years of Winter Wonderland with the theme “come alive and thrive with five,” hoping to encourage people donate to the organization with a “five” theme.

This year’s entertainment featured Mia Thompson Music with sound by Mr. Bill Productions. Participants were able to bid on silent auction items throughout the night. Event sponsors included Truist, Winston-Salem Federal Credit Union, Truliant Federal Credit Union, Reynolds American, and the Innovation Quarter.

ESR is a non-profit Community Action Agency that focuses on empowering people with low-moderate income to become self-reliant. The non-profit has a history of community collaboration with organizations such as Crisis Control Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, and the Winston-Salem Foundation. ESR’s programs help provide housing, teach clients to save, budget, and improve credit scores, provide assistance for education, and help clients build assets like homeownership, as well as free tax preparation. All clients must be working.

For more information on ESR’s services or the Come Alive and Thrive with Five Campaign, visit ESR’s website at www.eisr.org or call 336-722-9400.