News Release
Contact: Michael G. Gaffney, APR
Vice President, Marketing
Office: 330-643-5532
Cell: 330-701-8080
Date: April 2, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UNITED WAY OF SUMMIT COUNTY
REACHES 2007 CAMPAIGN GOAL
(AKRON, OHIO) – United Way of Summit County will hold its Annual
Meeting and 90th Anniversary Celebration tonight at the John S.
Knight Center and announce that the 2007 United Way/Red Cross
campaign met the aggressive goal of $11,372,000, representing an
increase of about 2% over last year’s campaign. Additional funds are
expected, but have not been received yet.
Campaign Chair Thomas J. Strauss, President & CEO of Summa Health
System, will tell the crowd of more than 350 about the tens of
thousands of donors and the hundreds of volunteers who made this
success possible. “Throughout this year, as I witnessed countless
volunteers giving so passionately of their time and effort, I was
reminded of the quote, ‘the miracle is this – the more we share, the
more we have,’” Strauss said.
Several companies will be recognized for their outstanding support
of United Way and the entire community. The Spirit of Caring Award,
given annually to a local company that demonstrates outstanding
corporate community involvement, will be presented to ExxonMobil
Chemical (formerly known as Advanced Elastomer Systems). Two
outstanding companies will be acknowledged for raising more than $1
million for United Way of Summit County. Cornerstone Awards are
being presented to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and FirstEnergy
Corporation.
The organization will also present its 2008 Distinguished Service
Awards (DSA) to Charles M. ‘Chip’ Billow and Richard C. ‘Rick’
Fedorovich. The DSA has been presented annually since 1959 to
individuals who consistently demonstrate the highest degree of
interest, personal dedication and service in a volunteer capacity to
the improvement of health, welfare and education Summit County.
Other awards presented at the Annual Meeting include the Community
Builder Award, presented annually to an individual who makes a
measurable difference in the community through United Way’s
Community Investment process, given to Bruce Rowland; The Young
Philanthropist of the Year Award to Donald J. Pavlik; and the Lorry
Vishnia Staff Excellence Award to Brenda J. Cox and Jacqueline A.
Pritchard.
Twelve new members will be elected onto United Way of Summit
County’s Board of Directors: Kenneth Dorsett, FirstMerit Bank;
Steven L. Farnsworth, Hudson City Schools; Valerie A. Geiger,
National City Bank; Dennis Gladin, GoJo Industries; Jay T. Griffith,
ExxonMobil Chemical; Phillip Kane, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.; Randy
S. Katz, City Scrap & Salvage; James J. Keeslar, Brockman, Coats,
Gedelian & Co.; Rabbi David A. Lipper, Temple Israel; Brian J.
Moore, Roetzel & Andress; Kathleen A. Rice, Cuyahoga Falls General
Hospital-Summa; and Jeff E. Rovnak, Morgan Stanley.
United Way of Summit County President Bob Kulinski said, “I’m very
proud of this community for coming together to reach this goal even
in these challenging economic times. Our staff and the hundreds of
committed volunteers, under the inspired leadership of Tom Strauss,
worked tirelessly to ensure we can help our affiliated agencies do
more of what they do and do it better.”
Thomas A. Mandel, President of Rubber City Radio Group and Chair of
the United Way of Summit County Board of Director said, “As this
organization marks its 90th Anniversary, it’s making some
significant changes in how it does business. The way we did things
in 1918 wouldn’t work for us today, and frankly neither would the
way we did things in 1990. Every business has to change and keep up
with the times. United Way of Summit County is utilizing modern
technology in addition to the face-to-face ask to stay connected
with donors and potential donors.”
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. |
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