News Release

Contact: Michael G. Gaffney, APR
Vice President, Marketing
Office: 330-643-5532
Cell: 330-701-8080

Date:  February 1, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UNITED WAY OF SUMMIT COUNTY SELECTS WINNERS
IN CARING CLUB RAFFLE 

(AKRON, OHIO) – United Way of Summit County (UWSC) held the drawing on January 31 for the winners in the organization’s first annual Caring Club drawing.  Individuals who made a pledge to the 2006 United Way campaign of $156 ($3 per week) or more were eligible.  A total of 8,145 names were in the drawing, and Thom Mandel – incoming UWSC Chairman of the Board and President of the Rubber City Radio Group – pulled the winning tickets. 

            The winners are:

A ride for two in the Goodyear Blimp (five winners, prizes courtesy of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.):

            Michael W. Bednarik, Advanced Elastomer Systems, LP;

            Judith A. James, Akron-Summit County Public Library;

            Elaine M. Harlin, Child Guidance & Family Solutions;

            Kyle J. Klawitter, Summa Health System;

            Gregory G. Gerycz, FedEx Services;

A set of four Bridgestone/Firestone Tires (courtesy of Bridgestone/Firestone Tire):

            Keith W. Rozsi, FirstEnergy Corp.

Roundtrip airfare for two on AirTran Airways (courtesy of Akron/Canton Regional Airport):

            Kim A. Smith, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

A family pass on Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway (courtesy of Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway):

            Zachary Rizer, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
 

According to Bob Kulinski, United Way of Summit County President, the Caring Club was created to thank generous donors and encourage an increase in contributions.  “We are grateful to all our donors and we’re very pleased to note that we can attribute more than $24,000 in increased donations to our campaign from the Caring Club program.  We’re very grateful to those companies that donated the prizes for our drawing, and to all the coordinators at the companies that ran United Way campaigns for promoting the Caring Club.”

United Way of Summit County improves lives by mobilizing community assets for health and human services.  For more information, call 330-762-7601, visit our website at www.uwsummit.org, or write to us at United Way of Summit County, 90 N. Prospect St., P.O. Box 1260, Akron, Ohio 44309-1260.