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Campaign just short of goal
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Bob Hannon, president of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, announced that the 2011 campaign raised $2.4 million, just short of its $2.6 million goal.
YOUNGSTOWN
The United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley 2011 campaign raised $2.4 million, short of its $2.6 million goal and down from the $2.5 million raised in 2010.
Teacher layoffs and uncertainty in other public-sector jobs caused by Senate Bill 5 while United Way was soliciting funds hurt the campaign, and the stock market’s downward trend caused foundation giving to go down because their gifts depend on earnings, said Bob Hannon, president of the local United Way.
Senate Bill 5, which would have cut some public employees’ bargaining rights, was overturned by a referendum vote in the 2011 November general election.
“We did not lose the number of teachers giving, but they gave less because of the layoffs,” Hannon said.
On the positive side, Hannon said he sees a “lot of promise” for the future.
He believes the local economy is “turning the corner” toward improvement, and believes United Way can benefit from increased giving from the manufacturing sector.
It was the manufacturing-sector employees, in the person of the General Motors Lordstown Complex, along with GM’s corporate gift, that topped the list of 2011 donors, Hannon said.
The results of the campaign and the winners of incentive programs were announced Monday at a press conference in Youngstown State University’s Kilcawley Center.
“The successful campaign is another example of how the Mahoning Valley comes together as a community ... how it steps up when there is a need,” said Dr. Cynthia Anderson, YSU president and chairwoman of the 2011 campaign.
“I love how United Way focuses on education. We have to get kids started before they start school,” she said.
An example of United Way’s emphasis on education is its Success by 6, a pre-kindergarten summer-readiness program. Other program focus areas are income, health and community-support services that provide the essential needs of food, clothing and shelter, said Hannon.
“We appreciate everyone who supported this campaign,” Hannon said. “We are so grateful for your belief in our work. It takes an entire community to move forward; and in this difficult economic climate, the Mahoning Valley came through again to support the programs and initiative we fund.”
The names of winners of campaign incentives, two of whom are YSU employees, were drawn by YSU students.
Andre Coleman of Youngstown, wide receivers’ coach for the YSU football team, won two tickets, donated by AirTran Airline, to anywhere in the United States. All donors of $104 or more to the 2011 campaign qualified for the drawing.
Mary Hake of Boardman, administrative assistant to the dean of YSU’s Liberal Arts and Social Science Department, won a two-year lease on a new Chevrolet Cruze donated by Doug Sweeney of Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC. Only YSU employees who received an entry for each $104 pledged were eligible for the Cruze.
Alonzo Paul of Boardman, who works in the Trim Department of the GM Complex East, won a 42-inch plasma HDTV donated by Semach’s Northside TV.
Only GM employees, who received an entry for each $104 pledged, were eligible to win the television.