(Canton, OH) September 13, 2018 – United Way of Greater Stark County launched its 96th fundraising campaign on Friday, September 7. Lucia Pileggi, Private Bank Executive for Eastern Ohio, Key Bank is the 2018-19 Campaign Chair. Campaign Cabinet includes Broc Bidlack, Fairless Local Schools, Division Chair; Lindsay Bowman, KeyBank; William R. Cook, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Individual Giving Chair; Jacqueline L. DeGarmo, Hilliard Jeane LLC; Eric Dellapina, KeyBank, Division Chair; Katrina E. Fitzgerald, United Steel Workers Local Union 1123 Golden Lodge, AFL-CIO, Division Chair; Philip D. and Joan Fracassa, The Timken Company, Alexis De Tocqueville Chairs; Maribeth Graham, The Karcher Group; Ray Hexamer, Stark Economic Development Board, Inc., Division Chair; Brian Hostettler, KeyBank; Geoff Karcher, The Karcher Group; Corey Minor Smith, Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority, Division Chair; Eric D. Murray, TimkenSteel Corporation, Division Chair; Diana Pittman, KeyBank; Sandra L. Rapp, The Timken Company; Brian J. Ray, The Timken Company, Division Chair; Andrew Reed, Stark County Department of Job & Family Services; Christopher Remark, Aultman Health Foundation; Kevin Smith, PPI Graphics; Sue Snyder, Stark County Department of Job & Family Services; Shirene Starn Tapyrik, Alliance for Children & Families, Inc., Division Chair; Mark D. Wright, Aultman Health Foundation, Workplace Giving Division Chair; and Tonya M. Wright, Community Volunteer, Direct Mail Chair. The cabinet fuels many of the fundraising efforts to collect donations. The campaign runs until December 7.
During the first week of launch, many workplaces participated in launch celebration activities.
Tuesday, September 4, The Timken Company kicked off their fundraising campaign with a visit from Cyrus Harper, the 2018 DeHoff Emerging Philanthropist award winner. Harper is a local philanthropist & visionary who has raised & donated over $6 million back into the community. He’s authored three books and is a compelling & motivated speaker. Harper is dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals & families in our community. Tuesday evening, United Way gathered together local Leaders in Giving donors for an appreciation event that honored them & Cyrus Harper, plus showcased their generous efforts of giving back to the local community & changing lives.
Wednesday, September 5, United Way donor network, Women United, and United Way staff collected items for a baby supplies donation drive. The items collected will help new families who are unable to afford essentials like diapers & lotion.
Thursday, September 6, The Timken Company created snack packs & hygiene kits for neighbors in need. This project is part of their United Way fundraising campaign.
Friday, September 7, many workplaces in the community helped kickoff the campaign by wearing their favorite United Way shirt to work. The Canton Repository featured a newspaper wrap that created awareness surrounding the fundraising campaign, ALICE initiative, United Way programs & services, and featured a story about a local resident who was helped with collaboration from community partners.
This week, the celebration continues Friday, September 14¸ when the City of Canton & the City of Massillon Mayors’ offices join in an #ActofKindness to prepare meals to feed the hungry in our community. Completed meals will be donated to local transitional housing & shelters.
“Because our community workplaces choose to give, we are able to change lives for the better. When those lives are changed, it creates a powerful story of impact. Their generosity fuels this impact and helps us fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community”, says Maria Heege, President & CEO of United Way of Greater Stark County. “Thanks to the generous efforts of local workplaces, we are more than the fundraisers. We are the handraisers, the gamechangers.”
Learn more about you can change lives by visiting www.uwstark.org or contribute to making our community a better place for our neighbors by texting UWSTARK to 41444.
About United Way of Greater Stark County
United Way of Greater Stark County fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. We win by living United. By forging unlikely partnerships. By finding new solutions to old problems. By mobilizing the best resources. And by inspiring individuals to join the fight against their community’s most daunting social crisis. Our mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our communities in Greater Stark County. In order to live better, we must live United. For more information about United Way of Greater Stark County visit www.uwstark.org. Offices are at 401 Market Avenue North, Suite 300, Canton, Ohio 44702. (330) 491-0445.