Volunteer Stories
Passionate volunteers help us build a stronger community
Alex Nicholis Coon – DeHoff Emerging Philanthropist 2020 Award Winner
DeHoff Emerging Philanthropist Award will be presented to Alex Nicholis Coon. Alex partners with the Soroptimist International of Canton/Stark County and chairs the Celebration of Women. Recently, she helped connect the Massillon Purse P...
Jacqueline DeGarmo – Gold Key Service 2020 Award Winner
Jacqueline DeGarmo is the president and founder of Hilliard Jeane, an International Analyst at Intelligent Community Forum, a member of the governing Board of Stark County Educational Service Center, founder of First Promise, and directo...
Amy Mast – Gold Key Service 2020 award winner
Amy Mast is highly involved in United Way’s Women United donor network group, chairing the Steering Committee and leading the Advocacy Committee. She also serves on the United Way Community Investment Committee, which oversees three Im...
Mike Patterson – Gold Key Service 2020 award winner
Mike Patterson is the former editor at The Review and continues to be involved in the news through sharing community happenings and tips. He now volunteers full-time at Alliance Community Pantry and Alliance Kiwanis Club, helping to deli...
Volunteer Spotlight: Tonya Wright
Over the past year, many people have asked me what it’s like to chair United Way of Greater Stark County’s annual fund-raising campaign. They are interested in why I got involved and wonder what I do. Honestly, I say…. I get to wak...
Volunteer Spotlight: Philip Francis
Phil has served as Chair of the Finance Committee, and as Treasurer, Vice President and currently as President of the United Way of Greater Stark County Board of Directors. “My background in finance and investments has helped me provid...
Volunteer Spotlight: Retired Judge, Mike Howard
Mike has been a long-time supporter of United Way of Greater Stark County and serves as an inspiration for us all. We appreciate your dedication and are very lucky to have you as a donor and volunteer. You are an important part of our or...
Volunteer Spotlight: Pamela Reese Valentine
Pamela has been involved with United Way since 2007, when she was working in North Canton with the Girl Scouts. “One year they had me come and speak to Women United about Girl Scouts. They asked me to get involved with the Girl UP prog...
Volunteer Spotlight: Diane Pete
United Way of Greater Stark County Volunteer – Women United Steering Committee & 2019 Campaign Cabinet member Diane and her husband started volunteering for United Way of Greater Stark County because of an invite from Mark and Tonya Wrig...
Volunteer Spotlight: Amy Mast
I first joined the steering committee for United Way of Greater Stark County’s Women United (formerly Women’s Leadership Council) in January 2014, and in April 2019, I became chair. While serving on the steering committee, I assisted...
Volunteer Spotlight: Bob Fernandez
As a life-long Stark County resident, Bob Fernandez wanted to give back to his community from an early age. “I had parents who had a great deal of pride in Stark County, and they instilled that in me,” said Fernandez. “I always had...
Volunteer Spotlight: Christopher Remark
When Aultman Hospital CEO Christopher Remark first began supporting United Way of Greater Stark County, he knew it played a vital role in the community. But it wasn’t until he joined the organization’s board of directors in 2011 that...