YOUNGSTOWN United Way is short of goal

Some 42 local businesses contributed for the first time this year.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown-Mahoning Valley United Way campaign has raised just over $3 million, but fell short of this year's goal, campaign officials announced today.
William J. Bresnahan, president of Hynes Industries and chairman of the 2003 Youngstown-Mahoning Valley United Way campaign, announced that the annual effort had raised $3,004,700, or 94 percent of its $3.2 million goal.
More than 170 volunteers, representatives from local businesses, and labor and community leaders attended the United Way's final campaign report meeting at the Holiday Inn in Boardman this morning.
Anniversary celebration
Bruce Beeghly, president of Altronic Inc. and chairman of the Community Corp., also announced the kickoff of a yearlong 85th anniversary celebration for the local United Way. Since its establishment on Feb. 10, 1919, the local United Way has raised and distributed more than $123 million to community service organizations, Beeghly said.
"Given the status of the local economy and the demographic conditions of the Mahoning Valley, we knew that achieving our goal would be an uphill struggle," Bresnahan said.
"Realistically, local economic conditions and current trends indicated that we should have set a goal in the vicinity of $2.8 [million] to $2.9 million. We wanted to reach higher, however, and we decided to set a goal with some reach to it," he added.
"Many individuals, companies and foundations responded generously in a very difficult economy," Bresnahan said. Some 42 local businesses contributed to United Way for the first time this year, either by making a first-time corporate gift, or by running a first-time employee campaign.
Increases
Bresnahan also reported that 76 businesses and organizations increased their corporate or employee giving by at least 10 percent, and more than 300 individuals gave at the leadership level with a minimum personal gift of $1,000.
Parker Hannifin Corp. was recognized as the top corporate giver in the campaign.
The employees of the General Motors Lordstown complex, which includes members of United Auto Workers locals 1112 and 1714, who work at the assembly and stamping plants, respectively, were recognized as the top employee giving group.
The Youngstown Foundation was recognized for the largest foundation gift.
Don Cagigas, United Way president and chief professional officer, said, "We are truly grateful for the support of our volunteers, and the many local businesses, individuals and foundations who come together to help fund the programs of our agencies that provide critically needed community services.
"But there are still far too many businesses in this community who do not run United Way campaigns and whose employees do not have the opportunity to support our community through United Way. Our goal going forward must be to continue to broaden the base of support for our local United Way.
"Now that the dollars have been raised, our community investment volunteers, who have been hard at work visiting our agencies, reviewing budgets and establishing priorities, will meet to recommend the final allocations to our agencies. Unfortunately there will be reductions in the dollars that will be invested back into our community."
The local United Way focuses on funding on five key impact areas that are made up of more than 90 programs of 31 local health and human-care agencies. The key impact areas are: nurturing children, enriching the lives of seniors, promoting health and wellness, caring for people in crisis, and achieving potential.