🏆 Andy Warlick Honored with Allen H. Sims Award

The Gaston Community Foundation honored philanthropist, Anderson Davis “Andy” Warlick with the Allen H. Sims Award.

The Gaston Community Foundation statistics presented by David Rogers included:

• $124 million in assets

• $6.8 million grants awarded in 2022

• 2022 gifts received totaled $15.4 million. 2022 was the second largest year for gifts since inception in 1978

• 110 Scholarships awarded in 2022

• 2022 Run raised $1.2 million for local nonprofits, with a match of 35%

Following Mr. Roger’s leadership of the annual meeting, he recognized the 2023 Allen H. Sims Award recipient, Mr. Anderson Davis “Andy” Warlick and his family: wife, Pamela Kimbrell Warlick; son, Davis Warlick and wife, Annie; daughter, Collins Byers and husband, Fred.

The Allen H. Sims Award is presented each year to an individual who depicts the character of the award: the selfless act of seeing a need and finding a solution, of caring for a community and making a difference.

Dr. Richard Rankin began the presentation of the award, detailing Mr. Warlick’s start in the community, from attending Gaston Day School to playing football on the Optimist Boys and Girls Club football team to attending the Citadel. Mr. Gene Matthews continued the conversation detailing Mr. Warlick’s return to his roots in Gastonia and the impact he has made since. While many items are of note, Mr. Matthews focused on Mr. Warlick’s community involvement in the following areas:

• Chaired the Gaston County YMCA Board.

• Co-chaired Major Giving for the United Way’s annual campaign.

• Co-chaired Gaston Day School’s capital campaign.

• Co-chaired The Citadel’s capital campaign and raised $250 million dollars on a goal of $175 million dollars for his school.

• Served two terms on the Gaston Community Foundation Board and chaired the Investment Committee, which oversees more than $120 million dollars in investments.

“When Andy decides to do something—be it business, the community, or a personal passion—he is all in,” explained Mr. Matthews.”

Mr. Warlick’s vast involvement has led him to be the recipient of numerous distinguished awards. To reference a few of those awards:

• The W.D. Kimbrell Lifetime Achievement Award

• North Carolina State College of Textiles’s Leader of the Year Award

• The Citadel’s School of Business Hall of Fame

• Spirit of the Carolinas Award from the Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce

• Recipient of the Long Leaf Pine Award

• The J.D. Hicks Lifetime Achievement Award—which is Gaston County YMCA’s highest award.

The Gaston Community Foundation is honored to induct Anderson Davis “Andy” Warlick into the Sims Society.