Virginia Resident Wins $10,000 in Wachovia's Who Would You Thank? Contest
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Since she was 12,
Laurietta Faulkner has relied on Joyce Houser for encouragement, advice and
unconditional support. Now 38 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,
38 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, Va.
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, Va., 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.
ABOUT WACHOVIA'S WHO WOULD YOU THANK CONTEST
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.
ABOUT WACHOVIA CORPORATION
Wachovia Corporation (NYSE: WB) 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.
SOURCE Wachovia Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.wachovia.com/
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/314125.html /
CONTACT:
Kathleen Von Bergen of Wachovia Corporation,
+1-704-383-0468, kathleen.vonbergen@wachovia.com; or Jennifer
Sharpe, +1-336-774-9494, jennifer.sharpe@mullen.com
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