Press Releases
May 19, 1998 |
Contact: Carolyn
Foy |
CED Community Impact Award: D. Michael Warner
Research Triangle Park--D. Michael Warner, president and founder of the D. Michael Warner Foundation, is CED's winner of the 1998 Community Impact Entrepreneurial Excellence Award.
Along with their growing impact on the nation's economy, entrepreneurs can and must share their success through community involvement and philanthropy. Successful entrepreneurs, by definition, know how to solve problems and implement change and this award recognizes one entrepreneur's unique contributions of talent and resources to make a big difference.
Warner and his wife, Betty Craven, established his private foundation in 1996. Its purpose is to improve economic opportunities in disadvantaged communities in North Carolina and racial relations within the state. Warner, an entrepreneur, founded Atwork; a high growth scheduling software company. Warner later sold Atwork, and the success of his company has allowed him the means to establish his foundation.
"What I appreciate most about Michael is that from the outset he knew he wanted to give something back to the community. He researched the work of philanthropy as seriously as his company (Atwork Software). The areas he chose to address are very significant; improving race relations and building and empowering communities; particularly those that are disadvantaged. Both Michael and his wife saw injustice and inequity while they were growing up. They have an absolute dedication to addressing those issues and they now have the opportunity to do so. Before forming the foundation, Michael spoke with other foundation people, conducted site visits, and by the time he made a grant, he often knew more about the foundations than the people working there. Michael immerses himself in his charitable goals, is very proactive in the community, and is actively engaged in his efforts. These qualities make him very successful." --Shannon St. John, executive director, Triangle Community Foundation
About CED
The Council for Entrepreneurial Development, located at the CED Entrepreneurship Center in Research Triangle Park, NC, was formed in 1984 to stimulate the creation and growth of high-impact companies in the greater Research Triangle region. CED provides education, mentoring and capital formation resources to new and existing high-growth entrepreneurs. CED sponsors annual conferences, seminars, workshops and monthly programs on entrepreneurial management and finance. CED also offers the FastTrac entrepreneurial training program, youth programs and other outreach programs.
CED is a private, non-profit organization and is the largest entrepreneurial support organization in the nation with more than 3,000 members representing 1000 entrepreneurial companies, financiers and professional firms.