SIDNEY A successful fund raising effort highlighted the end of the year, report for the 2012 Sidney United Way campaign. At the annual meeting Feb. 2 Dennis Porter, executive director, announced that $92,245 was raised during the 2012 campaign year.
Checks were given out to several of the member agencies during the annual meeting. Receiving Sidney United Way support were Sidney Boys and Girls Club, the American Red Cross Southern Tier Chapter, Birthright of Sidney, Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care, Cullman Child Development Center, Delaware Valley Humane Society, Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways, Literacy Volunteers, Masonville Emergency Squad, Otschodela Council BSA, Sidney Area Youth Advocate Program, Sidney Center Emergency Squad, Sidney Recreation Commission and Tri-Town Theatre.
"The United Way was able to surpass our goal due to the hard work of many volunteers who helped run the various in-house drives," said Porter. "Without these local business drives and financial commitment we could not provide the funds to the various member agencies that help make our community a better place to live." Porter also recognized the Sidney United Way Board of Directors for their commitment, especially Lillian Alger and Kyle Westcott, campaign co-chairs.
Porter said that 2013 will be a year of change for the local United Way. A number of Impact Areas have been selected on which to focus their financial commitment. These Impact Areas include: Quality of Life, Hunger, Youth Development, Literacy and Education, Disaster Services and Emergency Preparedness. Non-profit organizations will be asked to work on making an impact on one or more of these impact areas in 2013.
"Our hope will be that we will be able to see successful outcomes in each of these areas in 2013," said Porter. "We will provide grants throughout the year for our local non . profit groups to work with the Sidney United Way on areas - where they believe they can make a difference. We will highlight achievements in the Tri-Town News and in a summary report at the end of 2013."
While the 2072 campaign has ended, the Sidney United Way is still accepting donations to help fund Areas. "We encourage non profit organizations within the Sidney area to contact us to see if we can work with you on impact areas,"said Porter "We also need input from you to help us meet the needs of our community. As always, we must rely on your financial support, but we will also need your commitment to become engaged in our community to make positive changes. Together we can continue to build a better future for the families in our community."
The 2013 Sidney United Way is under the leadership of Mark Lee. president; John Redente. vice president; Carol Allen, recording secretary: Debra Philpott, treasurer: and Dennis Porter, executive director. Co-chairs for the 2013 fund drive are JR (Ron) Bogert and Charli Jo Oliver.
Reprint from The Tri-Town News