43
United Way exceeds 2010 campaign goal
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
Debby Blalock of Canfield won a two-year lease on this new Chevrolet Cruze donated by Greenwood Chevrolet in Austintown, an incentive for the 2010 fundraising campaign for United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. The United Way exceeded its $2.5 million goal. Surrounding the grand prize are, from left, Bill Padisak, chairman of the UW’s trustee board; David Green, president of United Auto Workers Local 1714, Lordstown, where the Cruze is made; Bob Parcell, General Motors Lordstown plant manager; Bill Piechocki, GM personnel director; and Jim Graham, president of UAW Local 1112.
AUSTINTOWN
United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley exceeded its $2.5 million 2010 campaign goal.
Bob Hannon, United Way president announced Wednesday during a press conference at Greenwood Chevrolet on Mahoning Avenue in Austintown that the 2010 campaign raised $2,504,164.
The news was also good for Debby Blaylock of Canfield. She is the winner of the United Way-sponsored drawing for a two-year lease of a General Motors Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cruze donated by Greenwood Chevrolet as a campaign incentive.
Blaylock, an account manager for New Vision Television (WYTV, WKBN, FOX TV, MyYTV) was one of 2,301 people who donated $104 or more to the 2010 campaign making themselves eligible for the drawing. Her name was drawn Wednesday by Ella Gaffney, 5, daughter of Jennifer Gaffney, whose family, along with the Marucci family, own Knoll Run Golf Course in Lowellville.
Hannon said exceeding the 2010 campaign was “very challenging” given the poor economy, and attributed the success to the generosity of the community and the volunteers who conducted nearly 200 workplace campaigns.
The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley is a nonprofit organization that raises and distributes funds to more than 70 programs of 27 local health and service agencies.
Each year, about one of every four people in the Valley receives services from a United Way-funded agency, officials said.
“We are so thankful to our volunteers who energize our campaign. We are volunteer-driven. It is their passion and commitment that led the way for us to reach our goal for two consecutive years. Without them we would not be successful,” Hannon said.
“What a great day for a great cause and a great community and a great car,” said Bob Parcell, Lordstown General Motors Complex plant manager, referring to the Cruze, the best-selling GM vehicle.
“It is so important that we give back to the community, and our members understand that,” said David Green, president of United Auto Workers Local 1714 at GM Lordstown.
“I’m so proud of our plant. Without teamwork between labor and management, we would never have gotten to build the Cobalt and the Cruze,” said Jim Graham, president of UAW Local 1112 at GM Lordstown.
One of the reasons the United Way is successful is because labor and management work together, said Bill Padisak, field representative for the Ohio Association of Public School Employees/American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 4.
“We have high unemployment and a bad economy and still they give. That’s what the Mahoning Valley is all about ... helping people in need,” said Padisak, chairman of the UW’s trustee board.
Hannon highlighted several things he said contributed to the success of the 2010 campaign.
More than $112,000 in new money was raised including 38 new leadership donors each giving $1,000 or more. The new money raised also represents 23 new corporate gifts and/or workplace campaigns through local businesses.
The largest new corporate gift was from Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority and the largest new workplace campaign was Jackson Milton Schools, he said.
For the 2010 campaign, the largest corporate gift was made by Altronic Inc. The largest workplace campaign was General Motors Lordstown Complex, and the second-largest workplace campaign was Youngstown State University.
The largest gift made by a foundation was by The Youngstown Foundation.
Fifty-four companies increased their corporate gifts or workplace campaigns by 10 percent or more.