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Wachovia Helps South Boston, Va., Woman Thank Mentor of 38 Years - With
a $10,000 Prize
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Since she was 12, Laurietta Faulkner has relied on
Joyce Houser for encouragement, advice and unconditional support. Now
41 years later, Faulkner is saying thanks to her mentor and best friend
with a $10,000 prize, courtesy of Wachovia.
In her essay, Faulkner thanked Houser of Fort Wayne, Ind., once her
teacher, now a retired principal, who reached across racial and
economic divides to offer encouragement to an inner city kid who
literally hated herself. Initially, Faulkner did not receive Houser
well, but Houser persevered.
"She was constantly there," Faulkner wrote. "It wasn't so much what she
said -- it was what she did. Just being there, allowing me to sit for
hours without saying a word, and helping me to understand that my
circumstances, my demographics didn't define who I was."
That perseverance helped Faulkner make it through school and later
through college. In fact, Faulkner thought of quitting college after
her mother died her freshman year.
"My world stopped, and I was bent on leaving school," she wrote. "But
she was there, every step of the way encouraging me to hang in there.
Now, 41 years later, she is still my mentor and best friend. It is
because of her influence that I can now pour my life into the lives of
others." Faulkner currently serves as executive director of the
Mentor/Role Model Program, Inc. in Halifax County. The program mentors
135 local youth, providing spiritual and educational support as well as
offering entertainment opportunities.
Randy Koporc, regional president for western Virginia, said, "There is
no way to underestimate the importance of a caring mentor or teacher.
Wachovia applauds Joyce Houser for her commitment to helping children
and adults build a brighter future."
Ken Thompson, chairman and CEO of Wachovia Corporation, said, "Together
with our customers, this contest allowed Wachovia to spread the spirit
of gratitude, something we value every day."
Faulkner, of South Boston, is one of 38 prize winners in Wachovia's
Who Would You Thank? contest conducted as part of 2007 National
Customer Service Week. Winners received prizes ranging from $250 to
$25,000 for writing a short essay about someone they know who deserved
special recognition.
Faulkner says she walked into the Halifax Wachovia branch on the last
day of the contest, not thinking much about her chances of winning. But
she took the postcard the bank furnished and provided the necessary
information. "I really never thought about it after that," she said,
"until I got a telephone call, advising me I had won second prize. I
still haven't really comprehended it," she laughed.
Wachovia's initiation of the contest began through a desire to express
gratitude to customers in celebration of National Customer Service
Week. The contest, which ran from Sept. 10 through Oct. 5, encouraged
consumers to thank a person who has made a significant impact on their
life by nominating them for the contest. Wachovia awarded the winners
with a cash prize to use as a thank you to their nominee.
Wachovia has been recognized by multiple independent organizations for
providing exceptional customer service. Wachovia rated No. 1 among
major banks in overall customer satisfaction according to 2006 Consumer
Reports; in addition, Wachovia was ranked No. 1 in overall customer
satisfaction for two consecutive years in J.D. Power's Home Equity
Line/Loan Origination Study. Wachovia also rated No. 1 in customer
satisfaction for the sixth consecutive year in the 2006 University of
Michigan Business School's American Customer Satisfaction Index.
Wachovia Corporation (NYSE: WB - News) is one of the nation's largest
diversified financial services companies, with assets of $754.2 billion
and market capitalization of $95.3 billion at September 30, 2007.
Wachovia provides a broad range of retail banking and brokerage, asset
and wealth management, and corporate and investment banking products
and services to 13 million household and business customers. Wachovia
has 3,400 retail financial centers in 21 states from Connecticut to
Florida and west to Texas and California, and nationwide retail
brokerage, mortgage lending and auto finance businesses. Globally,
clients are served in selected corporate and institutional sectors and
through more than 40 international offices. Our retail brokerage
operations under the Wachovia Securities brand name manage more than
$800 billion in client assets through 11,400 registered representatives
in 786 offices nationwide. The acquisition of A.G. Edwards, Inc.,
following the end of the third quarter, added approximately 740
offices, 6,300 financial consultants and $384 billion in brokerage
client assets. Online banking is available at wachovia.com; online
brokerage products and services at wachoviasec.com; and investment
products and services at evergreeninvestments.com.