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United Way hits 80 percent of goal
YOUNGSTOWN
The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley had raised 80 percent of its $2.5 million 2010 goal when the campaign officially ended Dec. 31.
Several company and organization campaigns finished late in the year, however, and their results, which are not yet known, will bring the overall campaign closer to its goal, United Way officials said.
“I am optimistic that we will reach goal, and that is a tribute to the unselfish, generous nature of the hard-working people in the Mahoning Valley,” said Bob Hannon, local United Way president. “We are grateful to all the donors for their faith in our community-impact work and their partnership in helping to create a better community.”
The United Way plans to announce final campaign numbers later this month or early in February at Greenwood Chevrolet in Austintown. At that time, the winner of a two-year lease on a Chevrolet Cruze donated by Greenwood Chevrolet will be chosen. All donors of $104 or more to the campaign were eligible for the drawing.
Despite possibly falling short of its goal, United Way officials pointed to several successes in this year’s campaign.
“To date, 42 companies have increased their corporate gifts or workplace campaigns by 10 percent or more,” Hannon said. “In addition, our United Way was presented with a matching-grant challenge to raise $100,000 in new corporate gifts, workplace campaigns, leadership and professional gifts. We have exceeded this by raising over $109,000 in new dollars.”
Also, he said, “Our goal was to end the campaign on Dec. 31, and we accomplished that.”