Mercer United Way falling short of goal

Staff report

HERMITAGE, PA.

The United Way of Mercer County board of directors announced that $679,050, or 68 percent, of its $1 million goal has been reached.

Leading the December reporting include campaigns from the Greenville Area School District and the Mercer Area School District.

Corporate donors were CN, Bill McCandless Ford, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, Mercer County Bar Association, UPMC Horizon-Greenville and UPMC Horizon-Shenango Valley.

Local foundation donations have been received from the Anderson Family Foundation, Eva C. Lindsey Foundation, Kirila Family Fund, Strimbu Memorial Foundation, and the T. James Kavanagh Foundation.

United Way donations benefit 27 nonprofit agencies. Donors allowed United Way to help more than 42,000 people last year.

UWMC is also working on other initiatives, including: Poverty Reduction, a program development tool; 2-1-1 Helpline, a toll-free call center with referrals for problems such as foreclosure, utilities, and groceries; Success By 6, which was expanded by three classrooms this year; Stamp Out Stigma, to educate the public about mental illness; and the FamilyWize Prescription Discount Program, in which uninsured individuals save from 10 percent to 70 percent on prescription drugs.

Every contribution stays local.

Follow-up phone calls and solicitations are being made to all businesses and individuals that pledged last year but have not pledged yet this year.

Donors may call the United Way office at 724-981-1884 with their pledge amount, fax their pledge card to 724-981-4838, or mail their card to United Way of Mercer County’s office at 493 S. Hermitage Road, Hermitage, PA 16148.

Donations received before Dec. 31 will meet the deadline for tax-deductible charitable contributions in 2013.