The Mighty Giveback
- Jessica Lee
- Oct 20
- 2 min read
On September 30, 2025, Sarah Pierson joined us in the Rotary Club of the Capital City meeting room at Carolina Country Club. More than 30 members filled the room, curious and energized to learn how live music can fuel measurable good across the Triangle. Coffee was poured, conversations paused, and members leaned in to understand how this model might advance our mission of service and fellowship.
In Sarah’s words: “Band Together is an amazing story full of hope, optimism, and a dose of rebellion. We are the mullet, business and social good in the front, party in the back."
She also noted key milestones in the organization’s growth: the creation of the Advisory Board in 2010, hiring of the first Executive Director in 2012, surpassing $3.5 million raised by 2014, a record year with StepUp Ministry in 2015, a rapid-response telethon with United Way in 2020, the evolution to a more representative Community Board in 2021, and three consecutive sold-out community concerts since 2021.
Highlighted list of beneficiaries across the years
• YMCA of the Triangle
• Special Olympics
• Food Bank of Eastern NC
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle
• SAFEchild
• The Lucy Daniels Center
• StepUp Ministry, Alliance Medical Ministry
• Tammy Lynn Center
• Triangle Family Services
• Communities In Schools of Durham and Wake County
• The United Way
• Interfaith Food Shuttle, CASA
• InterAct
• Habitat for Humanity
• Oak City Cares
Moments you might have missed
Members quickly asked how to plug in, from volunteering to attending events.
President Trevor Chambers wrapped the coffee chatter right on time and set the stage for a focused, high-signal program.
After the talk, Sarah gamely fielded a crowd of follow-ups, from deeper strategy questions to heartfelt congratulations on the work.
Why We Serve
Every week we see what is possible when good people align around a shared purpose. Sarah’s presentation on Band Together reminded us that impact grows when community, creativity, and partnership move in the same direction. Rotary exists to build that kind of momentum. We serve to connect resources to needs. We serve to lift voices that are not being heard. We serve to practice integrity when no one is watching. We serve because fellowship changes the giver and the receiver. Our community is better when we do this together. That is the simple truth that keeps us coming back and collaborating to serve.
Want to Join Us
Bring your coffee and your curiosity. Join us on Tuesday mornings at 7:30 AM at Carolina Country Club. Some weeks we are spreadsheets and strategy. Some weeks we are Rotary rock stars, figuratively speaking. Picture a roomful of professionals air-guitaring to civic engagement while the bass line is fellowship and the chorus is support for our community.
Guests are welcome. Pull up a chair, clink a mug, and see how quickly strangers become teammates. Come try one meeting, then another, and if it feels right, keep the rhythm going with us.
