A campaign for caring

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Reaching the $3.2 million goal of the 2003 Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way's general campaign is necessary to continue UW services at the level now provided.
"United Way supports 90 programs operated by 31 UW agencies," said William J. Bresnahan, 2003 campaign chairman.
The general campaign began Tuesday morning with UW's sixth annual Day of Caring, and Tuesday evening with the official kickoff. Both events were at Our Lady of Mount Carmel banquet hall.
The Pacesetter and Leadership campaigns, along with advance gifts, raised $884,500, or about 28 percent of the general campaign goal. The Pacesetter campaign itself, with 45 or 64 companies reporting, raised $702,000, or about 78 percent of its goal of $900,000. The Pacesetter Division is composed of local businesses and the 31 United Way agencies.
Volunteers
Some 400 volunteers from 45 local businesses participated in community service projects such as painting, cleaning, home repairs, serving meals, and staffing field trips for United Way agencies and their clients.
The Day of Caring not only provides services, but it shows volunteers that the United Way is not just about money. It also demonstrates where the money goes, Bresnahan said.
Bresnahan, president of Hynes Industries, thanked the members of his campaign cabinet and the entire team of campaign volunteers and company coordinators for their "dedication and commitment to United Way and to our community."
Leaders
Co-chairmen for the 84th annual Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way campaign are Thomas R. Hollern, National City Bank; Thomas A. Clark, First Energy; and Robert W. Shroder, Humility of Mary Health Partners CEO and president. Thomas J. Cavalier is campaign advisory chairman.
Bruce Beeghly, Altronic president, and chairman of The Community Corporation, United Way's parent company, thanked the volunteers who participated in the Day of Caring. It shows how important volunteers are to the success of United Way and its agencies, he added.
"We truly appreciate the support of these organizations," Richard C. Stevens, chairman of the Pacesetter Campaign, said.
The commitment they have shown for the community through their support of the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way serves as an example for other local businesses who are about to begin their campaigns, he said. Stevens is regional manager of Charter One Bank.
In thanking all United Way volunteers, Don Cagigas, UW president and chief professional officer, said, "United Way represents all of us working together to help to make our community a better place."