Valley United Way Beats $2.5M Campaign Goal
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – Ted Schmidt knew the pressure was on when he took the role of chairman for the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley’s 2012 campaign. As Bob Hannon, president of the United Way chapter recalled yesterday, Schmidt, regional president for PNC Bank, told him that no campaign chaired by a bank president had failed to make goal, and he couldn’t be the first.
“I told Bob we’ve got to figure out a way,” said Schmidt.
And indeed they did. The 2012 campaign concluded by more than making its $2.5 million goal, bettering it by $4,224, Hannon announced Tuesday during a press event at Greenwood Chevrolet, Austintown.
“It’s a big deal for the people that are in need,” Hannon said. “We need to raise that money because the impact that would be felt if we weren’t able to raise that money would be significant. We fund programs that support the most vulnerable people in our Valley.”
When Hannon became president of the United Way chapter four years ago, he pledged campaign results would be announced whether or not the goal was met. “It’s a lot more fun to report” when the goal it met, he confessed. “I knew [$2.5 million] was a lofty goal” and that expectations were high “in a rough economy.”
Hannon attributed reaching the goal in part to the Pacesetter campaign, which saw a 59% increase in giving. “They set the agenda and build the momentum for the campaign. Those are our core companies,” he said. The number of pacesetter companies also increased from 51 to 81. Pacesetter companies from mid-July through August raised $545,871, or 22% of the total raised for the campaign.
The largest combined corporate/workplace campaigns were conducted by the General Motors Lordstown Complex, Altronic LLC, PNC, FirstEnergy Corp. and Hynes Industries Inc. The largest new corporate/workplace campaigns were conducted by The Muransky Companies/The Surgical Hospital at Southwoods and Exal Corp.
A total 37 companies increased their campaign level to a minimum of $1,000 and above. Among those, four added $10,000 and above, including Compco Industries Inc., which went from $7,000 to $28,000, Dearing Compressor & Pump Co., GM Lordstown, and Hynes Industries. The largest gifts made by a foundation to the 2012 campaign were from the Frank & Pearl Gelbman Charitable Foundation and The Youngstown Foundation.
“What I’m really excited about is we didn’t have to go back to our strong donor base asking them for more,” Hannon said, citing concerns about “donor fatigue.” Instead, the campaign was able to secure support form new foundations, new company campaigns and new corporate gifts.
An advisory council “came up with new ideas and really helped open doors to new donors that we really didn’t have access to before,” Schmidt added.
Hannon, who last week attended a conference of United Way presidents, said while the economy remains difficult across the country. the Valley is in an “advantageous situation.” He cited the role of the General Motors Lordstown Complex, which conducts one of the largest workplace campaigns, the arrival of the oil and gas industry and Penn National Gaming Inc., which is opening a racino in Austintown and contributed to United Way here.
“We’re now in a better situation,” Hannon said.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the members,” said Glenn Johnson, president of United Auto Workers Local 1112, which represents assembly workers at the GM plant. Even when times are hard, “They step up and do the right thing,” he said.
“It all starts with you,” he added. “You go out [and] continue to buy products, we’ll continue to make great products and we’ll continue to support great agencies like United Way.”
As an incentive, donors who contributed $200 or more to the campaigns of the Youngstown/Mahoning Valley and United Way of Trumbull County chapters were eligible to win a 2013 Cruze donated by Greenwood Chevrolet, Austintown. In past years, a two-year lease for a vehicle was donated. Myra Vitto, a PNC Bank employee, was chosen among the more than 1,400 eligible donors.
Greg Greenwood, who has business interests in both counties, told Hannon he would like to see the two United Ways collaborate more.
“We are one Valley. How we choose to organize it and how we choose to set up shop and how many Chevrolet dealerships are in that valley and how many United Ways, that’s still up for debate and discussion,” Greenwood said. “Having said that, we’re pleased to bring them together for this one opportunity.”
L. Calvin Jones & Co., Canfield, won a $500 certificate from Modern Office Products that was offered as an incentive for new corporate gifts.
Copyright 2013 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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