MAHONING VALLEY Donor will win 2005 Cobalt
Donors can give to a specific area of need or nonprofit agency.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way is offering special incentives, including the possibility of winning a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, for anyone who gives at least $2 a week, or an annual gift of $104, to the 2004 annual campaign.
Anyone giving a minimum of $104 a year will receive one chance in the drawing. Any current giver who increases his 2004 annual gift by at least $104 for the year will get a second chance at the car. The maximum is two chances. For employees to be eligible, companies need to provide individual donor information to United Way.
Also, the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way is giving Community Benefits Coupon Books to each donor who gives a minimum annual gift of $104. The coupon book includes discount offers from 38 local businesses.
Here's the goal
The goal for this year's campaign is $3.2 million, the same as 2003's goal, said Tom Hollern, campaign chairman.
The pacesetter and leadership campaigns, as well as advance gifts, raised about $915,000, or about 29 percent of the total goal, said Hollern, area president for National City.
"The Chevy Cobalt drive-away should add a lot of excitement to this year's campaign. We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Greenwood Chevrolet in donating the Cobalt," said JoAnn Stock, director of campaign and marketing.
Details of the drawing are available on the United Way Web site at www.ymvunitedway.org.
Stock said the Community Benefits Coupon Book is another way local businesses show support for the United Way campaign.
"It's also a wonderful way to say 'thank you' to our donors, and give them an opportunity to support local businesses, and to show that when one supports United Way, the entire community benefits," she added.
Gift designation
Also new to this year's campaign is the opportunity for donors to designate their gift to a specific area of need or nonprofit agency, Stock said.
Although the best way to help the most people and meet the widest range of community needs is through an undesignated gift to the Community Care Fund, the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way now offers the opportunity for additional donor choice, she said.
"Donors may choose to direct their gift to a specific United Way Impact Area, or a portion of their gift may be directed to any 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides health and human services in the local area," she said.
United Way provides support to 90 programs operated by its 31 affiliated service agencies, Hollern said.
alcorn@vindy.com