Honoring Taylor & Gary Foss | Tocqueville Society Community Service Award Recipients
In just 8 short years, the Foss’s commitment to United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County has been remarkable. With a long history of support for United Way in Baltimore, Maryland, Taylor Foss quickly worked to create our own chapter of Women United when she arrived in Asheville. Now numbering more than 250 members, this group has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars since 2011.
In 2017 we honored Taylor with our first Women United award and, in 2018, the award was permanently renamed the Taylor Foss Women United Award in recognition of her founding efforts and commitment to our community. Along with Janice Brumit, Suzanne DeFerie and Ann Young, Taylor formed the group of Tocqueville Chairs forever to be known as the “Quad of Awesomeness” raising over $2.5MM in two years of leadership. In 2018, Gary took on the role of ADT chair as one of the members of the Fantastic Four, showing the continued commitment of the Foss family to our work. During this time, Taylor and Gary have contributed generously, increasing their annual gift by almost 100% since 2011, leading the way as one of the first commitments to the David Bailey Legacy Endowment, volunteer on our board and committees and give to many other causes in the community.
About The Award
In 1973, United Way of America began honoring those who demonstrated extraordinary commitment, leadership and service and made a broad impact on their community and/or the nation. Previous winners of the national award include Ambassador Walter Annenberg, Presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, Senator and Mrs. John Glenn, and Bob Hope. In 2002, we began the tradition locally, with Buddy and Marilyn Patton and Barbara Blomberg being honored with our first Tocqueville Society Community Service Award.
Past recipients:
Buddy and Marilyn Patton and Barbara Blomberg
Janice and Joe Brumit
Jerry Sternberg
Pam and Jim Turner
Heather and Bill Lee
Charlie and Eleanor Owen
John and Diane Teeter
Charlie and Cary Owen
Jimbo and Robin Stickney
Marla and Joel Adams and Dot Hamill
Barbara and George Groome
Keith and Barbra Love
Ann and Mike Young
David Bailey and Sherie Ryan-Bailey
