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United Methodist Wins CommunIT Tech Giveaway
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The United Methodist Community Center is the winner of the CommunIT technology giveaway. The nonprofit agency, which has offices in Youngstown and Warren, was selected from among five finalists to receive information technology equipment and services worth at least $30,000 from DRS LLC, as well as a website makeover donated by Palo Creative.
The center, which has served Mahoning and Trumbull counties since 1922, received 151,508 votes after community online voting closed Aug. 18. It provides assistance to families through a variety of programs, including its monthly food and clothing drive. Its programs primarily benefit low-income seniors and homeless veterans.
A six-person panel made up of DRS and Palo executives as well as John McNally, Youngstown mayoral candidate, Dr. Patrick Bateman, assistant professor at YSU Williamson College of Business Administration, and Mike Case, reporter at WFMJ-TV, selected United Methodist because of its impact on the community. UMCC was tied with another organization after the panel voted and since UMCC had the most public votes, they won the one extra vote putting them over the top.
“It worked out exactly how we wanted it to,” said Mike Meloy, DRS CEO. “We really wanted to public to have a say in this process and the number of votes the public cast was amazing. We didn’t expect the more than 500,000 public votes this initiative received.”
With the IT upgrade, the center hopes to enhance its web presence to better educate residents on its services and assist with program sign-up, says its executive director, Juanita Pasley. More laptop computers will allow UMCC to expand its WorkKeys employment assistance program to low- and middle-income residents in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, and a new website will make it easier for donors to support the community center’s efforts.
“United Methodist Community Center is grateful for the community response. This assistance will enable us to make much needed improvement in our technology for all programs,” Pasley said.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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