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Day of Caring Begins Annual United Way Campaign
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – More than 400 volunteers representing 46 businesses spread out across Mahoning County this morning to perform community service projects at area nonprofits agencies and senior residences as part of the 15th annual United Way Day of Caring.
Presented by the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, the event kicks off the annual fundraising campaign for the Mahoning County United Way chapter.
At a breakfast for the volunteers outside the Covelli Centre downtown, Bob Hannon, chief development officer, announced a $2.5 million goal for the annual campaign. The pacesetter campaign, which precedes the launch of the fall general campaign, has already raised $639,421, or about 25% of the overall goal, Hannon reported. "We are off to a terrific start," he remarked.
"The core of making this work is the workplace efforts and we need that from all the companies in town," said Ted Schmidt, regional president for PNC Bank and 2012 campaign chairman.
This year's campaign also includes an improved incentive for participation, Hannon said, a giveaway of a Chevrolet Cruze, courtesy of Greenwood Chevrolet. Individuals donating $200 or more through their workplace contribution campaign or as a one-time donation will be entered into a drawing for the Lordstown-built car. In the past, area car dealers have donated a two-year lease on a Lordstown-built vehicle.
During the breakfast program, which was emceed by Greta Mittereder of WKBN/WYTV, the volunteers also heard from Liz Follet, regional marketing director for Covelli Enterprises, the Day of Caring sponsor; Eric Ryan, executive director of the Covelli Centre; and Eric Wolford, head football coach at Youngstown State University.
"It's definitely important to give back to the community," said Kevin Baty, a supervisor in the meter reading department of First Energy as he headed out for his volunteer project as part of his first Day of Caring.
"It's just another way that we can give back to the community," said Miranda Shaughnessy, a facialist at Casal's de Spa & Salon in Howland, who was participating in her third Day of Caring.
In addition to assisting area nonprofits, volunteers went to the homes of area senior citizens to provide assistance, such as doing yard work or installing smoke detectors.
"In Mahoning County there's a large wait-list for chore services and for people to have yard work," said Lisa Solley, spokeswoman for the Area Agency on Aging District 11. "It's an important community event because otherwise there's no funding to help these people out,"
Copyright 2012 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.