United Way readies charity event

By KATIE SEMINARA

United Way set high goals for the upcoming Day of Caring.

“Live united.”

That’s the simple message United Way is promoting for the 11th annual Day of Caring on Sept. 11 in Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.

“It is meant to advance the common good,” said Don Cagigas, president of United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, of the new campaign that encourages people to give, advocate and volunteer.

During the Pace-setter Breakfast on Wednesday, Cagigas said this year’s United Way campaign will focus on education, income and health, which are three main factors that affect everyone.

The breakfast was arranged to discuss campaigns in the workplace for those businesses participating in the pacesetter campaign. The businesses involved are very important because they get the ball rolling, said JoAnn Stock, director of marketing and resource development for United Way. Much of the money raised for United Way comes from the initial campaigns by participating businesses, said Stock.

United Way hopes the pacesetters reach the goal of $852,000 and hopes that amount plus other gifts will add up to $1 million by the Day of Caring on Sept. 11.

“Let’s get started right now,” said Rick Stevens, to the campaign coordinators in attendance at the breakfast.

Stevens, vice president of Charter One Bank, is the chairman of the 2008 Pacesetter Division and said 57 percent of the overall contribution to United Way comes from employee campaigns.

Close to 60 businesses, schools and nonprofit organizations will conduct early workplace campaigns before the general campaign, which starts on the Day of Caring.

Last year, Altronic Inc. in Girard raised $32,057 and had 115 employees participate out of 129.

“The campaigns have grown into something very positive for me and our company,” said Donna Gbur, who has been Altronic’s campaign coordinator for 11 years.

Gbur and seven of her colleagues have participated in the Day of Caring in previous years and plan to volunteer again next month.

“It gives our employees a chance to get out and see what the agencies are all about and helps people understand where their money is going,” said Gbur.

Sometimes people who are busy don’t have time to see the help United Way provides, but a Day of Caring enables them to be a part of United Way’s work, said Gbur.

Gbur and her team of volunteers from Altronic like to participate in the landscaping or painting jobs on the Day of Caring.

“We like hands-on labor and to be outside,” she said.

United Way Day of Caring is a communitywide day of volunteering, and United Way urges people to use their talents and resources and participate.

United Way chose to focus on education, income and health this year because those are things everyone can relate to, said Stock.

“People can get started at any point,” said Stock, who hopes the new brand, “live united,” gets people working for the common good.