United Way of Summit Co. on Track to Surpass Goal

            The final push is on for the 2011-12 United Way/Red Cross Campaign in Summit County, and campaign staff and volunteers are optimistic that the final results will be positive. 

Volunteer Campaign Chair Brian Moore, a partner in the law firm Roetzel & Andress, recently announced that projections show the campaign will exceed the $11,250,000 goal when final results are announced in early April. 

“We’re so thrilled and proud of how our community stepped up to blow past our aggressive goal,” Moore said.  “So many individuals and organizations contributed mightily to this effort, it’s truly inspiring to see this impressive show of generosity.  This campaign will bring our campaign results back to where we were before the 2008 recession.”

United Way of Summit County President Bob Kulinski said, “Thanks to the incredibly hard work of our volunteers and staff, our community continues to be a top performer among big cites in Ohio and among comparable communities across the country. More than 30,000 individuals, businesses and foundations, gave sacrificially to help us achieve our aggressive community goal and many increased their giving over the previous year.  

“Our two largest campaigns, The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company & FirstEnergy Corp., both posted increases with Goodyear posting the largest increase in the entire campaign. Other top increasing campaigns included GOJO Industries, Inc., The University of Akron, Myers Industries, Inc., FirstMerit Bank, and Roetzel & Andress.  GAR Foundation provided a generous match for contributions from new and increased donors.  GAR is our third largest contributor.  Every contribution of any amount was important this year as families continued to struggle with reduced income and increased expenses.”  

United Way of Summit County encourages everyone to LIVE UNITED.  Each of us has the power to improve lives and advance the common good when we give, advocate and volunteer.  For more information on how to give now, on programs and services in our community, or to volunteer, call your United Way of Summit County at (330) 762-7601, explore our website at www.uwsummit.org, or visit our offices at 90 N. Prospect St., Akron, Ohio.