Campaign 2006

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Six donor incentive prizes were awarded to contributors to the 2006 Campaign, United Way of Broome County's annual fund drive, at the Thank You/Awards Reception held December 5. They included a 2007 automobile, a large screen plasma television, $1,500 in gasoline, and three prizes of $1,000 in groceries. 

The winners of the prizes were:

•  Susan E. Zick, an employee of Security Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York, and a resident of Windsor , won a 2007 Toyota Yaris from Gault Toyota-Scion in Endicott.

•  Michael Sitarski, an employee of BAE Systems, and a resident of Johnson City, won a home theater system featuring a 42” plasma TV from Olum’s Furniture Co. of Vestal.

•  Jennifer D. Zarrelli, an employee of American Red Cross and a resident of Conklin, won $1,500 in gasoline donated by United Health Services.

To be eligible for the drawing for the 2007 Toyota Yaris, a person must have pledged to contribute at least $3 per week to the 2006 United Way of Broome County Campaign or volunteered as least 50 hours of time to an approved community project.

To be eligible for the drawing for the Home Theatre System, a person must have pledged to donate at least $2.50 per week to the 2006 United Way of Broome County Campaign or volunteered as least 10 hours of time to an approved community project.

To be eligible for the drawing for the $1,500 in gasoline, a person must have pledged to contribute at least $2 per week to the 2006 United Way of Broome County Campaign or volunteered as least eight hours of time to an approved community project.

The names of the three winners of $1,000 each in groceries were drawn from among those who have pledged to give at least $1 per week to the 2006 United Way of Broome County Campaign or volunteered as least four hours of time to a community project.  

Some of the volunteers who promoted the 2006 United Way Campaign within their organizations received awards at the United Way Awards/Thank You Reception held on December 5.

The Helping Hand Award recognizes the exceptional leadership, inspiration, and dedication of a campaign volunteer. The award is based on the following criteria: commitment (supports the voluntary system of human services), creativity (thinks “out-of-the box,” originating new and often fun approaches, resulting in a successful campaign, volunteerism (has given years of service to the United Way Campaign and the community), inspiration (acts as a role model to others), and measurability (impacted positively on the outcome of the campaign).

The winners of the Helping Hand Awards were:

Betsy Reynolds-Snigar, Boscov’s Department Store

Josh Gregory, Boys and Girls Club of Western Broome

Judy Snyder, Chenango Valley Schools

Gordie Woolbaugh, Datrose, Inc.

Melissa Haskell, Handicapped Children’s Association

Cheryl Monachino, Lockheed Martin Systems Integration

Carol Covert, Lowe’s Home Centers (#1502, Binghamton )

Debbie Kimberling, Lowe’s Home Centers (#0202,Vestal)

Mario Petta, Macy’s Department Store

Melissa Broecker, Maines Paper and Food Service

Paula Turrell, Maines Paper and Food Service

Pamela Hebert, Manley’s Mighty Mart

Nicki French, Mental Health Association

Michele Cline, Sunstream Corporation

Dr. James Coon, Union Endicott Central School District

Lynda DeLuca, Union Endicott Central School District

Linda Sebesta, United Health Services

Jeff Salasny, Windsor Central School District

In addition, some United Way volunteers were eligible to win an additional prize. To meet the criteria for the drawings, the person must be the United Way representative at an organization that conductive a successful campaign. Specifically, the organizations must have achieved $50 per capita in donations to the 2006 United Way Campaign and/or a 10 percent increase in its donations to United Way over 2005. About 100 people qualified for the drawings. The prizes were $250 in gasoline at Manley Mart, which were donated by FOX40 WICZ-TV. The winners were:

Pam Ondrusek, J.C. Penney Co.

Betsy Reynolds-Snigar, Boscov’s Department Store

Mary Tingley, National Pipe and Plastics, Inc.

Teresa Tyner, Vail-Ballou Press, Inc.

United Way of Broome County has raised $4,021,020 in its annual campaign for 2006. The total is the highest amount contributed to United Way in the last 13 years, surpassing $4,001,375 raised in 2005 and topping this year’s goal of $4,020,000 by more than $1,000.

Campaign Chair Thomas P.Hoke announced the results of the Campaign at a news conference held Tuesday, November 21, at United Way's offices. Hoke told those attending the news conference, “There was a great deal of trepidation on our part as the campaign got underway, because of the potential impact of the June flood on organizations and individual contributors that normally support United Way .” Citing as an example 10 organizations that had their facilities flooded in June, Hoke noted, “Rather than lower contributions by the employees of these organizations, their 2006 campaign contributions showed an increase!”

Both the kickoff to this year’s United Way campaign and the announcement of the results broke the traditions followed in past years. Instead of spending funds donated by area businesses on a celebration dinner, as had been done in recent years, the $3,000 donated by sponsors this year instead will be used to purchase holiday food baskets for families affected by the flood and holiday gifts for the children in those families.

Similarly, the $3,000 donated by sponsors to hold the kickoff to the campaign in September was matched by Macy’s department store and used to provide winter jackets for 150 area youngsters who lost their belongings in the June flood.

The amount raised in other recent United Way annual fund drives was $3,961,794 in 2004; $3,951,244 in 2003; $3,880,245 in 2002, $3,901,688 in 2001, $3,804,810 in 2000, $3,730,461 in 1999, $3,701,150 in 1998, $3,623,220 in 1997, $3,602,083 in 1996, $3,600,120 in 1995, and $3,725,000 in 1994.

The funds raised in this year’s Campaign will benefit more than 40 local member agencies, services, and grant recipients during 2007. This year’s goal was about $20,000 more than the $4,001,375 raised in the 2005 United Way Campaign.

Although the 2006 Campaign has ended, contributions to United Way of Broome County received through the end of the year will be credited to this year’s fund drive and will be distributed with the other Campaign funds beginning early next year. Donations can be mailed to United Way of Broome County, P.O. Box 550, Binghamton, NY  13902-0550.

Instead of the usual kickoff to the Annual United Way Campaign, this year $3,000 from funds donated by local event sponsors, that usually would be spent on holding a kickoff event, is being used to help local families by supporting a flood relief project.

The $3,000 in United Way sponsor funds is being matched by a gift of $3,000 from Macy’s Department Store at Oakdale Mall. The combined total of $6,000 will be used to provide gift certificates for the jackets to needy youngsters to replace those that were lost in the flood.

The coats will be distributed through two organizations that are actively involved in the ongoing flood relief and recovery operations in Broome County: Catholic Charities and the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier. Both organizations have played leadership roles since the flood hit our area in June by providing case management and follow-up assistance for families needing help. The two organizations have offered their services to get certificates to area families with youngsters needing the jackets.

Campaign Goal Set

The goal for the 2006 Annual Campaign of United Way of Broome County is $4,020,000. It was announced on Tuesday, September 19, at the start of United Way ’s annual fund drive. Campaign Chair Thomas P. Hoke, made the announcement. This year’s goal is about $19,000 more than the $4,001,375 raised in the 2005 Campaign. The 2006 Campaign will run through mid November. The funds raised will be distributed to local member agencies and services, as well as grant recipients, in 2007. Last year’s Campaign exceeded its goal, raising the highest amount in the last 12 years.

Thomas P. Hoke, former Deputy County Executive for Human Services, has been named Chair of the 2006 Campaign by United Way of Broome County .

Hoke completed a 34-year career with Broome County government with his retirement in 2002. He had served as Broome County Social Services Commissioner for five years and Deputy County Executive for Human Services for six years. Since leaving county government he has been a consultant at both the state and local levels. He also has served as a volunteer for several community and statewide human service organizations, including the Early Childhood Coalition in Broome County. He currently is active in the home visitation program at Lourdes Hospital.

During the past three years, Hoke has served as both a Division Chair and a Vice Chair of United Way’s Campaign Cabinet, which he will lead this year.

Other leaders of the Campaign Cabinet are John Leet, WICZ-TV, Fox40, Associate Chair; Thomas J. Meade, Jr., Sunstream Corp., Vice Chair for Alexis de Tocqueville Society; Jeffrey D. Lake, NBT Bank, Vice Chair for George F. Johnson Society; Donna Przybysz, HealthNow New York, Vice Chair for Business Group 1; Michael Mercinavage, Binghamton University, Vice Chair for Business Group 2; Patrick Brennan, Broome County Government, Vice Chair for the Public Sector; and David L. Niefer, Levene, Gouldin & Thompson, Vice Chair for Professionals.

Campaign Cabinet division chairs and representatives include: Oliver Blaise III, Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, Professionals; Mark Capobianco, Vestal Central Schools, Education; Brian R. DeBoyace, Partners Trust Bank, Small Business Co-Chair; Dr. Kamlesh Desai Orthopedic Associates, P.C., Medical Professionals Co-Chair; Cynthia Smith Gordineer, American Red Cross, Agencies and Agency Representative; Diane M. Julian, NBT Bank, Service; Michael Klein, Broome County Government, Public Sector; Peggy Miller, community volunteer, Special Gifts; Mario Petta Macy's, Retail; Linda Sebesta, United Health Services, Medical Professionals Co-Chair; Michael Wardell, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Manufacturing; LoriAnne Welch, Partners Trust Bank, Small Business Co- Chair; Mary Ann Wilcox, community volunteer, Community Services Division Representative; and Gina Denniston, M&T Bank, President, United Way of Broome County, ex officio.

Updated: December 8, 2006