Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo, local business owner Lee Michael Grant and real estate developer Walter Pancoe will be honored for their public service at the 2010 University of North Carolina Wilmington Alumni Association Awards program.

Part of the annual UNC Wilmington homecoming, the event will be held 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 29 in the Warwick Center Ballroom. Alumni and community members are invited to attend the event at a cost of $25 per person for dinner and an open bar with wine and beer. Tickets can be purchased until Jan. 27 at www.uncw.edu/homecomingtix, or by calling 1.800.596.2880. Honorees include:

Bill Saffo '83, Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Saffo, lifelong resident and mayor of Wilmington, is the owner of Hanover Realty, Inc. In addition to playing an active role with the Wilmington City Council, he has served as a volunteer with the UNCW Foundation Board, the Community Boys and Girls Club, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Wilmington West Rotary Club and many other organizations.

In nomination of Saffo, UNCW international and public affairs department chair Roger Lowery said, "As the son of first-generation Greek immigrants, Bill typifies the American dream of achieving success through personal responsibility and community service."

Lee Michael Grant '00, Young Alumnus of the Year
At only 32, Grant is the sole owner of Coastal Chemical and Paper, Inc., a local chemical and maintenance supply company with clients across the country. Grant is an avid supporter of Andy's Foundation, the UNCW Seahawk and Dugout Clubs, the Landfall Foundation and other local charities. He was a pitcher for the UNCW baseball team from '96-'99.

Nominator Gregory Howard of LagasseSweet, Inc. said, "He cares deeply about the community and is committed to making it a better place for all. He operates with a level of integrity that is almost unheard of in today's marketplace."

Walter Pancoe, Distinguished Citizen of the Year
Since moving to Wilmington in 1978, Pancoe, owner of The Caper Corporation real estate development company, has been an active member of the community. At UNCW he has served as a donor for the Charles and Hannah Block Distinguished Professorship in Jewish History, numerous campus arts programs and multiple other projects. In the community, he is actively involved with the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, the Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington's Temple of Israel and other groups.

UNCW's Eddie Stuart, who nominated Pancoe for the award, said, "Walter's interest are varied, but all are connected by a central theme – enhancing the quality of life through the arts, the pursuit of education and economic viability for our region."

Interviews with honorees are available. Media are invited to cover this and other homecoming events by request, but they will not be served refreshments at paid events. A complete listing of UNCW Homecoming events and registration details can be found at www.uncw.edu/homecoming.

Media Contact:
Joy Davis, Marketing and Communications, 910.916.8603 or davisjc@uncw.edu