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United Way selects 2011 chairwoman
POLAND
Cynthia Anderson, president of Youngstown State University, is the 2011 campaign chairwoman of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.
When trying to decide whether to accept the responsibility, Anderson said after she looked at the mission statements for YSU and the United Way the decision was easy.
United Way’s mission is to be the “driving force behind sustained improvement in the lives of our citizens through initiatives that promote education, income, health and community support services.”
“That is also the responsibility of YSU,” she said Wednesday at the annual meeting of the Community Corporation, parent organization of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.
United Way’s 2011 campaign goal is $2.6 million. The 2010 campaign goal of $2.5 million was exceeded by $4,164.
This community is made up of the best people in the country, said Eric Wolford, YSU head football coach, who was the main speaker at the event, sponsored by PNC Bank and held at The Lake Club in Poland.
“Like a football team, the United Way has to recruit people. We have a great support system and a guy at the top with a vision. We have the people in this room to make a difference. We have to get it done,” Wolford said.
“Young people need us today more than ever for leadership and discipline,” he said.
Bob Hannon, United Way president and chief professional officer, said 2010 was a good year raising over $2.5 million. But the need is greater than ever and “we couldn’t have a better person than Cynthia Anderson to lead this important financial campaign,” he said.
During the business meeting, William M. Padisak was elected chairman and chief volunteer officer of the Community Corporation. Other officers are: Walter J. ‘Buzz’ Pishkur, Garry L. Mrozek and Sarah Brown-Clark, vice chairmen; G. L. Mears, treasurer; Parker T. McHenry, assistant treasurer, and Mary Novak, secretary. Hannon was re-appointed president and CPO.
Elected as members-at-Large to the Executive Committee are: James B. Greene, Laura A. Lyden, Thomas A. Mock, and Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams.
Special recognition was given to the following organizations for their generosity during the 2010 campaign. The largest corporate gift was from Altronic Inc.; largest employee gifts, General Motors Lordstown Complex – United Autoworkers Locals 1112 and 1714, and YSU. The largest foundation gift was from The Youngstown Foundation.
Companies that contributed for the first time through corporate or employee giving are ArcelorMittal Steel, Associates of Pulmonary Medicine, B&H Painting, Casal’s De Spa, CenturyLink, Circle Rehab, Eastern Gateway Community College, Engler and Associates, Falcon Foundry, Five Guys Burger and Fries and Girard City Schools.