‘Miracle’ performance to raise United Way funds

To date, the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way has raised more than $1.5 million of its $2.9
million goal.

YOUNGSTOWN — Proceeds from the Dec. 13 performance of “Miracle on Easy Street” will benefit Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way charities.

The performance, “United Way Family Night at Miracle on Easy Street,” is one of five performances scheduled to run Dec. 13-16 at Powers Auditorium.

In addition, United Way is seeking more corporate sponsors to provide 500 underprivileged children and their families the opportunity to experience “Miracle on Easy Street” as guests at the show.

At this point, corporate sponsors include Huntington Bank, Denise and John York and The DeBartolo Corp., Schwebel Baking Co., the Lariccia Family, Akron Children’s Hospital, Aqua Ohio, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Farmers National Bank, GM Lordstown Complex, First Place Bank, First National Bank and National City, said JoAnn Stock, United Way director of marketing and resource development.

Corporate sponsorship packages include admission to the pre-event “Holiday Fun” reception, preferred seats for the performance, program book advertising, tickets donated in each company’s name to local children’s charities, and signage at the event.

The pre-event reception is an event at which attendees can enjoy refreshments and a greet Santa Claus and his elves, Frosty the Snowman and the stars of the show. Other pre-event activities will include face painting, coloring stations and pictures with Santa, Stock said.

“Not only is this a wonderful event for our community, but hopefully the dollars raised will provide a significant boost to our annual campaign,” she said.

To date, the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way has raised just over $1.5 million, or 51.7 percent of its $2.9 million campaign goal.

Individual performance tickets for the United Way Family Night at Miracle on Easy Street are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and students and $12 for children 12 and under. Additionally, tickets for the pre-event reception and a preferred seat for the show are available for $50 each.

Individual tickets as well as corporate sponsorship packages are available by calling the United Way office at (330) 746-8494. Ticket order forms can also be downloaded from the United Way Web site at www.ymvunitedway.org.

Now in its 19th year, “Miracle” is hosted by Easy Street co-founders Maureen Collins and Todd Hancock, who will be joined by vocalists James McClellan, David Jendre, Illa Willis, Colleen Crish, Katy Collins and Candace Campana, and the Easy Street Little Big Band, under the direction of Jeff Sanders.

The 2007 production’s cast includes 60 “little rascals” and some 50 dancers from studios all across the valley. Choreography by Renee Rogers will feature a wide variety of styles including tap, jazz and hip hop, Stock said.

alcorn@vindy.com