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(Greensboro, NC) On Thursday, December 24, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams will feature “North Carolina’s Artist” William Mangum and his holiday Honor Card program on their most popular feature, "Making a Difference." The producers at NBC Nightly News search the country for and profile ordinary people doing extraordinary things, helping neighbors -- or even complete strangers -- in these tough economic times. The top-rated newscast, which has more than 9.5 million viewers nightly, filmed Mangum last week at work at the Greensboro Urban Ministry, which provides a host of services and support to the homeless, at his gallery and at locations around Greensboro that inspired scenes on past honor cards.

Personally touched by the needs of the homeless, Bill has been an advocate, donating his artistic skills and publishing gifts to make the Honor Card program one of the most well run and leveraged charitable programs in the country. Mangum’s introduction to the plight of homelessness came through an appeal from a hungry man one morning in a Greensboro fast food restaurant. Mangum bought the gentleman breakfast and took him to Greensboro Urban Ministry for shelter, clothes and food—and ultimately became his caretaker for three years.

Each year, the Honor Card features a contemplative painting by Mangum. With a donation of $5 or more, a person receives an Honor Card that he or she inscribes to someone they wish to “honor.” The Honor Card program has raised more than $2.6 million for homelessness in North Carolina since 1988.

Since donations from Mangum and the Wachovia Foundation cover all the production costs, 100% of the proceeds go to the agencies to help the homeless in each community. Cards are available from and benefit the following non-profit agencies for 2009: Greensboro Urban Ministry, Crisis Control Ministry in Winston-Salem, Urban Ministries of Wake County in Raleigh, Greenville Community Shelters in Greenville, Allied Churches of Alamance County in Burlington, Urban Ministries of Durham, Exodus Homes in Hickory, ABCCM Shelter Ministry in Asheville, The Hospitality House in Boone, and Fayetteville Urban Ministry.

But Mangum’s support of the homeless doesn’t stop with The Honor Card program. Each Monday and Wednesday morning for the past 10+ years, Mangum leads a group of friends in funding and serving breakfast for the residents and guests at Greensboro Urban Ministry. Weekly they serve 400 people at no expense to the Urban Ministry. The partnership is comprised of approximately 24 adults. But more importantly, 100 high school students come to volunteer to cook, serve and clean.

Mangum is one of the most popular and respected watercolor artists in North Carolina. Starting with a 59-cent tray of watercolors, Mangum has produced more than 3,000 art originals — all drawn from his thirty years of travels throughout North Carolina and abroad. Bill has self-published over 300 paintings as limited edition art prints, in addition to six books featuring his art. More than 50,000 of his works have made their way into private and corporate collections. For more about Mangum’s art, go to www.williammangum.com.

For more information about the Honor Card, call the William Mangum Fine Art Gallery at 336-379-9200 or go to www.thehonorcard.org. For more information about NBC Nightly News, go to www.msnbc.com.