By Holly Toal<br><a href="mailto:holly.toal@journal-register.com">E-mail Holly</a>
MEDINA — Members of the United Way of Western Orleans County gathered Thursday night at the Sacred Heart Club in Medina, with members of area businesses and other volunteers to celebrate the success of the 2010 campaign goal, which raised a total of $135,781 — exceeding its goal of $130,000.
At the annual meeting and campaign celebration, board President Bill Hungerford said the organization set an aggressive goal that was 7 or 8 percent higher than the previous year.
“This is a great board; they made it very easy for me,” he said.
Hungerford specifically recognized campaign co-chairs Dick Barry and James Hancock for doing a “masterful” job. The underlying strategy of raising funds, he said, was educating people that the money raised helps local organizations and residents.
Hancock explained that the 2010 campaign started in September 2009, with the official kickoff in October. “We got off to a wonderful start in October,” he said.
During that month, 25 percent of the campaign goal was achieved, due in large part to some pace-setters.
One of those pace-setters was Sigma International, which during August and September had 82 percent of its 270 employees participate in the campaign. The employees pledged more than $22,000.
“That’s a good punch to start with,” said Hancock.
BernzOmatic was also a pace-setter, and had a 15 percent increase in their giving from one year ago.
Hancock explained that Tops Friendly Markets of Medina came through “with an astounding amount of participation.” The store’s employees raised roughly $6,200 — a 12 percent increase from the year before.
“But the campaign dragged through October and November,” Hancock said. He explained that many employers had their campaigns wrapping up in late November, so the United Way extended its campaign one week.
“And we’re glad we did,” Hancock said. “Not only did we meet our goal, we exceeded it.”
That makes two years in a row that the United Way of Western Orleans County has exceeded its goal.
Corporate divisions (gifts from the companies themselves) increased more than $12,000 over last year, with close to $26,000 raised.
“We had some very good corporate donors to our area,” Hancock said.
Sigma gave $15,000, Western New York Energy gave $2,000 and BMP America Inc. gave $5,300.
Hancock described BMP America as “faithful givers.” With the company experiencing a reduction in staff, the company donated the same amount as years past.
Takeform Architectural Graphics increased its donation from $8,600 last year to more than $11,000 this year.
The ARC of Orleans County had an increase of employee participation 31 percent, with 72 percent of its employees donating.
Medina Health Care System increased its employee participation by 31 percent and doubled the amount of money raised from one year to the next.
Dave Moore and Jim Sinner of the Medina Health Care System were recognized by Hancock. “This is an example of what can be accomplished when a CEO gets behind his company and pushes,” he said.
Barry also gave his thoughts at the campaign celebration.
“This is really a strong board that’s willing to go the extra mile,” he said. “Asking for money isn’t one of the easiest things to do, but this is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. I want to thank not only the employers, but the employees.”
He concluded by saying, “I’m really excited about the 2011 campaign because the framework has been set.”
WESTERN ORLEANS UW CAMPAIGN AWARDS
Bronze Award
• Phinney Tool & Die
• The Medicine Shoppe
• Monroe Electronics
• Iroquois Job Corps
Silver Award
• Associated Brands
• Lyndonville Central School District
• Western New York Energy
• Medina Central School District
• Orchard Manor Nursing Facility
• BernzOmatic
Gold Award
• Sigma International
• Medina Health Care System
• Tops Friendly Market
• Takeform Architectural Graphics
• Trek, Inc.
• BMP of America
• ARC of Orleans County
• FMC Corporation
Individual recognition
• Dave Moore and Jim Sinner — Medina Health Care System
• Tammy Pritchard, Roger Hungerford and Peter Woodward — Sigma International
Outstanding
Volunteer Award
• Karen Russo of Medina
Community
Impact Award
• Rosenkrans Pharmacy
• Lake Plains Eye Center
• Zelazny & Roush CPAs
