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Mahoning Valley United Way exceeds $2.6 million goal
CAMPBELL
The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley raised the most money since the economic recession hit.
The UW announced Friday it raised $2,640,803 during its 2014 financial campaign, exceeding its $2.6 million goal by $40,803.
“This is a celebration,” said Robert Hannon, United Way president.
The campaign results were announced at Campbell Elementary School, which was chosen because the school receives UW funding for several programs, including “Success By 6” and the “BackPack” program that feeds children over the weekend.
Campbell and South Range schools were pilot schools for the “Success By 6” summer program, a United Way initiative that prepares kids for school the summer before they enter kindergarten.
“The first year, we had 60 kids in two schools. Last summer, we had 600 kids in 17 schools,” Hannon said.
The United Way continues to make a difference, said Matthew L. Bowen, Campbell Schools superintendent.
“There is no greater joy in education than seeing a child read his first pages, ask questions and look forward to the next chapter,” Bowen said. “With the initiatives provided with early literacy prior to kindergarten, we witness reading milestones earlier than in past years.”
United Way initiatives make it easy to raise money, said Chris Muransky, co-chairman of the 2014 campaign with her husband, Ed Muransky, of the Muransky Companies.
“We’re very proud of the campaign. It was our privilege to serve United Way,” she said.”
“Money is raised one person, one event at a time ... and then coupled with private money to leverage it into much more,” Ed Muransky said. “It is so needed with the Mahoning Valley going the way that it is.
“Even in economically challenging times, the Mahoning Valley comes through with flying colors when it comes to helping others.”
“We felt our goal was to not only raise funds for the United Way, but to publicize the great work this organization does in our Valley to benefit so many,” Chris Muransky added.
Sarah Brown-Clark, Youngstown clerk of courts and United Way board chairwoman, whom Hannon described as a great leader and UW supporter, thanked the community for its support.
“United Way is only as strong as the community behind us,” Brown-Clark said.
Hannon thanked all the donors and volunteers, and particularly singled out the workplace campaigns from which 50 percent of the money was raised, the largest donation coming from the workers at the General Motors Complex in Lordstown.
“We’ll do our best to make sure the money is spent the right way,” Hannon said.