United Way kicks off new fundraising campaign
This article appeared in the Parkersburg News & Sentinel and was written by Evan Bevins.
As the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley kicked off its 2021-22 fundraising campaign Wednesday morning, Executive Director Stacy DeCicco looked back on a tumultuous but successful year.
“This was the year it would have been very easy to avoid eye contact and say, ‘Check back with us next year,'” she said to several dozen guests at the Grand Pointe Conference Center in Vienna and others watching on Facebook Live.
But many businesses and individuals stepped up to the plate, allowing the organization which partners with and funds nonprofits serving the community in a variety of ways to once again eclipse $1 million in funds raised.
As they enter another campaign, the delta variant of COVID-19 is forcing people to reconsider how they go about their daily lives and interact with others.
“No matter what step we take, there are strong opinions, there are divisive voices, and it’s a challenge,” DeCicco said.
She did not announce a specific fundraising goal for the campaign but said after the breakfast event that they’re aiming high again.
“We need to get to $1.25 (million) again,” she said. “The community needs us to get to $1.25 million.”
As the pandemic brought many aspects of life to a halt before they returned with new concerns and restrictions, the United Way helped by distributing masks and hand sanitizer to nonprofits and setting up an online portal to allow people to schedule appointments in the chaotic early days of vaccinations, incoming board President Todd Nestor said.
The organization also joined in founding and funding the area’s Substance Use Collaborative and continued to support organizations addressing other challenges that didn’t sit the pandemic out.
Playing on the campaign’s theme of “One Team, United in the Game,” DeCicco compared the United Way’s supporters to a football team and said everyone’s role is important. Then, she asked them to dig a little deeper and do a little more.
“If you’re a cheerleader, can you cheer louder this year? Because it matters,” she said. “If your role is a check writer… this year, I need you to give a little more. … Could you advocate more? Could you be more intentional with your social media?”
Nestor praised the work DeCicco and the rest of the staff have done during the pandemic.
“They’ve delivered every time they ran into an issue,” he said.
During the breakfast, Art Hunt and Adam Ellis were honored as the United Way’s Volunteers of the Year and North Bend Wealth Management was recognized as the Community Partner of the Year.
Community Partner of the Year
We were thrilled to announce North Bend Wealth Management as our 2020-2021 Community Partner of the Year.
As a brand new business launching in the midst of the pandemic, they chose United Way as their vehicle to maximize community impact & engagement.
They said yes! Yes to a Born Learning Trail and Little Free Library in Belpre. Yes to Sour Mash Sponsorship. They were the first to say yes to a Corporate Campaign Sponsorship for the new campaign season.
They constantly say yes, from using their social media to promote our mission to endorsing us financially.
Strong Partners do create Strong Communities. We are thankful for this partnership and look forward to future projects together.
Photo: United Way Board members Mike Lewis and Todd Nestor with North Bend Wealth Management owners, Marc DeCicco and Tad Wilson.