News Release

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

Date:  June 11, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

MORE THAN 1,200 VOLUNTEERS TO PARTICIPATE
IN UNITED WAY’S ‘DAY OF CARING’

(AKRON, OHIO) – For the twelfth consecutive year, United Way of Summit County is hosting ‘Day of Caring’ on Friday, June 15, 2007.   This year, 1,267 volunteers from 59 area businesses and corporations will take the day off from work and volunteer on 97 projects at 73 nonprofit organizations.  FirstEnergy Foundation is the sponsor of the 2007 United Way of Summit County Day of Caring. 

The Day of Caring allows individuals hands-on experience with non-profit agencies and the opportunity to see the important ways they serve the community.  Many of these agencies rely on United Way donations for a portion of their funding.  “After seeing first-hand the real difference these non-profit agencies make in peoples lives, the generous people who volunteer their time on Day of Caring gain a greater understanding of community needs and resources.  Thanks to the coordination of our Volunteer Center and the time commitment of these community-minded individuals, more than $100,000 in volunteer services is provided to these organizations,” said United Way of Summit County President Bob Kulinski.

In addition to those participating in Day of Caring on June 15, approximately 160 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. employees provided two days of volunteer service at Camp Y-Noah on June 7 and 8.

Among the sites where volunteer work will be done are: United Disability Services, 701 S. Main Street (volunteering will be employees from FirstEnergy); Jerry Shaw Jewish Community Center, 750 White Pond Drive (volunteering will be employees from SummaHealth System); and Community AIDS Network (Harmony House) 1950 McTaggart Drive, Suite 105, (volunteering will be employees from WAKR/WONE/WQMX).

A Kickoff Rally/Celebration will be hosted by the Jerry Shaw Jewish Community Center, 750 White Pond Drive, beginning at 8:00 am on Friday, June 15.  United Way of Summit County Board of Trustees Chair Thom Mandel, President of the Rubber City Radio Group, will welcome and thank the participants at the Rally.  January Paint & Wallpaper has made a significant contribution of paint and painting supplies to help in the ‘Day of Caring’ effort.

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.