Finishing the 2009 Campaign Incentive on December 31, 2009, Nora Colflesh of Kennametal, Inc. received the keys to her new car, a Mazda CX-7 from Smail Auto Group in Greensburg. Nora was one of thousands of individuals that donated 3 dollars per week to United Way of Westmoreland County to qualify for the Grand Prize Incentive.  She was one of 10 randomly selected finalists that was chosen as the winner at the Annual Campaign Incentive Luncheon on December 19. This annual incentive program encourages donors to support United Way at higher level so that we can meet the critical needs of our seniors, children, families and community.

To make her selection, Nora toured the four sponsoring dealerships, Hillview Motors, Sendell Motors, Smail Auto Group and Toyota Scion of Greensburg and test drove seven vehicles before settling on her new blue chariot. Congratulations Nora! and special thanks goes to our sponsors of this annual incentive!

 Nora receives the keys to her new car from Don Wassel of Smail Auto Group

Nora and her husband Raymond are ready to hit the New Year in their new Mazda CX-7.

Greensburg, PA (December 15, 2009) The United Way of Westmoreland County announces Nora Colflesh from Kennametal Inc. as the winner of the grand prize – a new car! Ms. Colflesh, a resident of Latrobe, will tour the four car incentive sponsors, Hillview Motors, Sendell Motors, Smail Auto Group and Toyota-Scion of Greensburg in the coming weeks and select a new car.  These local dealerships and other local companies have contributed various items for the United Way’s Annual Incentive Giving Program. 

Nora Colflesh of Kennametal Inc. is surrounded by sponsors of the new 2009 new car incentive:

(L-R) Don Wassel of Smail Auto Group, Regis Tandarich and Joanne Kostial of Toyota - Scion of Greensburg,

Jim Przybylek of Hillview Motors, Dario Mancini of Toyota - Scion of Greensburg and Bill Mohler

of Sendell Motors.

The second prize, a Sony 40” Bravia V Series HDTV, was awarded to Dorothy McCauley of Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital. Mike Johnston of Sony presented the large-screen television (donated by Sony Technology Center – Pittsburgh) to the winner. Third prizewinner, Walter Jenkins from Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum USA, received a deluxe model gas grill provided by Dominion Transmission.  Consolation prizes were awarded to the remaining seven finalists: Jim Blahovec of Elliott Company, Richard McCleary of Allegheny Energy, Scott Porterfield of S & T Bank, Phillip Signorelli of SUPERVALU Pittsburgh Division, Rebecca Swint of Excela Health Latrobe Hospital, Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Symonds of Murrysville and Jacqueline Williams of UPS.

Dorothy McCauley of Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital claims

her 40" SONY HDTV with Mike Johnston of  Sony Technology

Center - Pittsburgh.

Curtis Davis, COO - Generation at Allegheny Energy and 2009 United Way Campaign Chair of the United Way of Westmoreland County, thanked the grand prize sponsor as wells as the Step Up sponsors, Ray Charley of Shop’n Save Supermarkets and OMNOVA Solutions Inc.  He encouraged all to spread the word that United Way still needs support to reach our goal of $3.8 million especially in these tough times.

Walt Jenkins of Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum USA is wondering

what kind of steak he wants to cook on his new deluxe grill

from Dominion Transmission.  Oerlikon Employee Chair,

Ashley Comp, is wondering when she will be invited to the 

next cookout.

To be a part of the United Way of Westmoreland County’s Incentive Giving Program, these individuals donated $3 or more each week.  Additionally, if the donation was designated to the Community Impact Fund, their name was entered twice for the drawing! 

If you are interested in learning more about the Incentive Giving Program, other promotions or the Community Impact Fund, please contact us at: 724.834.7170, wecare@unitedway4u.org or visit www.unitedway4u.org.

The United Way of Westmoreland County is a nonprofit organization that invests its resources in efforts that solve critical community problems with measurable results.  Covering Westmoreland and Fayette County and portions of Armstrong County, we serve over 50,000 people through partnerships in three targeted areas: Helping Children & Youth Succeed, Building Strong Neighborhoods & Communities and Supporting Vulnerable & Aging Populations.

Lyndsay Burrik of Welcome Home Shelter, beneficiary of the shopping spree,

gives Sheryl Brown some pointers on how to race through Shop'n Save store.

United Way of Westmoreland County offers this incentive to highlight the need for food by thousands of families in our area. With over 15,000 individuals utilizing the resources of pantries throughout the county annually, hunger is a real issue here.  Many working families need food due to loss of a job, challenges from major medical issues or rising costs of basic needs such as housing, heat, transportation and/or medicine.

Fortunately for Sheryl, as a longtime donor to United Way, she knows her gift does help those in need. As a Step-Up winner for United Way of Westmoreland County, she contributed one new dollar per week to enter the drawing for the Shop’n Save Shopping Spree.  More than 1,300 individuals qualified for this incentive, which grew by 20% this year.

Ray Charley and his son, Mike, present a $250 gift certificate to Sheryl Brown, the 2009

United Way Shopping Spree winner. Sheryl's 3-minute run garnered $258 of groceries for

Welcome Home Shelter.

At the end of Sheryl’s run, Lyndsay Burrik of Welcome Home received two shopping carts filled with meats, assorted breakfast cereals, paper products and vegetables.  As a winner, Sheryl knows not only that she is helping families through her grocery run, but also she will be shopping for her own family this Thanksgiving with a $250 gift certificate for Shop’n Save merchandise, courtesy of the Charley family. 

Latrobe, PA • November 11, 2009:  It was not until she heard loud banging in her basement that Doris Kovac, 43-year resident of Latrobe, realized that the comfort of a new furnace donated and being installed by Donahue’s Inc., was a reality for her this winter.  Thanks to the generosity of Regis “Butch” Donahue and GBG Supply of Youngwood, this individual and another senior in Export will be warm with their new Amana 95 gas heating systems. 

Butch Donahue and Barry Radel of Donahue's, Inc. share the

warmth of a new furnace with Doris Kovac of Latrobe.

When Doris received a call about the new furnace, from Kathy Bartolomucci of the Area Agency of Aging (AAA) in September, she said, “I could not believe it.”  Her furnace was 20 years old and rusting.  She needed a new heating system.  Kathy’s call was triggered by Barry Radel, Comfort Consultant of Donahue’s, Inc., who came up with the idea of helping seniors in need.  Finding the right senior was the challenge. The right connection was made to recipients, like Doris, through local Faith in Action programs found in our area. 

Doris Kovac admires her new furnace donated and installed

by Donahue's, Inc and GBG, Inc.

Faith in Action programs are volunteer networks that provide basic and necessary services for seniors to help them remain safe and secure in their homes.  Laurel Area Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers (LAIVC) serves the Greater Latrobe area and Ligonier communities and Forbes Trail Faith in Action serves the Murrysville, Delmont and Export area.  These programs, along with four others in the area, serve hundreds of seniors and are supported or funded by United Way of Westmoreland County.

Thanks to individuals at Donahue’s Inc., AAA and LAIVC, the dots were connected to a senior in need. Each installation was valued at $3,000 to $3,500 and will translate into tremendous savings as the new furnaces are 95% efficient. Butch and Barry hope this in-kind support for seniors will become an annual tradition.  

United Way of Westmoreland County is a nonprofit organization that invests its resources in efforts that solve critical community problems with measurable results.  Covering Westmoreland and portions of Fayette and Armstrong counties, we serve over 50,000 people through partnerships in three targeted areas: Helping Children & Youth Succeed; Building Strong Neighborhoods & Communities and Supporting Vulnerable & Aging Populations.  For more information, please contact us at (724) 834-7170 or www.unitedway4u.org.

Greensburg, PA (October 22, 2009) The United Way of Westmoreland County Women's Leadership Council (WLC) hosted its fourth annual breakfast for the "Women of Influence" on October 22 at Four Points by Sheraton with over 160 attendees.  This event featured renowned playwright, Mary Miller and her play "NEXT!," a one-act view of how women face the trials of a doctor's office while waiting for a mammogram.  Following the play, Dr. Carol Fox, Interim Chief Medical Officer of Excela Health, called on attendees to take charge of their health for their own future and that of their families. To close, the audience obtained a glimpse of United Way's Faith in Action program featuring local volunteers serving and supporting the independence of seniors in our area. This annual event celebrates the success of the Women's Leadership Council this past year and invites guests to join.

Phil Dymond, 2009 co-chair of WLC, opened the breakfast by announcing that the Women's Leadership Council has raised more than $500,000 in grants and gifts since its inception in 2006.  Highlighting the support, Sylvia Fields of the Eden Hall Foundation, a Sustaining Partner of this event, reconfirmed the Foundation's commitment to fostering leadership for women in the region. Additional support for the breakfast came from Premier Partners, Excela Health and Westinghouse.

Playwright Mary Miller shared her story of how her play "NEXT!" came from a conversation with a family member and how one women said, "Thanks, you saved my life" as she was encouraged to get a mammogram after seeing the play.  After her introduction, the audience enjoyed the talents of students from Seton Hill University as they recreated the stress, fear, humor and relief found in a doctor's office waiting room.

After the featured speakers and play, Donna Perone, president of Surge Point HR Talent of Murrysville, and WLC member, introduced a video presentation of Faith in Action programs.  The three vignettes provided views of the program from the perspective of volunteers, a donor and a recipient.  The actors were presented to the audience on stage and one recipient of the program, Edith VanDyke of Upper Burrell, a 95-year-old retiree from Alcoa, thanked the membership and audience for their support of Faith in Action.

Since 2006, the United Way Women's Leadership Council has targeted its fundraising to help frail and elderly seniors remain at home. WLC's investments have already allowed the establishment of four new Faith in Action® programs located in the Alle-Kiski, Murrysville, Irwin and Scottdale areas.  Faith in Action is a community and interfaith volunteer effort that mobilizes, trains and supervises a volunteer corps who provide services such as escorts to doctor appointments, telephone reassurance calls, grocery shopping, check writing and referrals to other programs that assist older adults, often in concert with home health services or services from family members. 

At the end of the breakfast, Mary Catherine Motchar, president of Arbor Industrial Supplies, Inc., encouraged members to rejoin and guests to consider being part of this growing group of women leaders.  At the end of this year, Betsy Krisher, vice-president of Maher Duessel - Certified Public Accountants, and Mary Catherine Motchar, will serve as new chairs of the WLC in 2010, as it continues to foster philanthropy and leadership for women in our community.

As part of their homecoming ceremonies, Penn State - New Kensington hosted a Bed Race that benefitted United Way.  Ten student and faculty teams of five individuals raced through campus and tasks to support the community programs that help families and seniors in need.  Using specially reinforced beds with rubber wheels, four team members pushed the bed while the fifth member hung on as they careened around the course.   Teams had to complete four tasks - making a bed, donning pajamas, chugging fruit drinks with cookies and exchange pajamas with another team member - before racing to the finish line.  Brainchild of Chancellor Snider, this is the first annual bed race ever conducted in the Penn State system. 

For more information, photos and videos, just click to UWWC Facebook

United Way of Westmoreland County’s Day of Caring gathered over 700 people from over 45 area companies who participated in community projects ranging from painting and landscaping to spending quality time with the clients of United Way partner agencies and nonaffiliated agencies.  Company employees spent time putting on fresh coats of paint at Twin Echo Boy Scout Camp in New Florence, helped clients from the Blind Association go bowling, or cleared brush and poison ivy from the Coal and Coke Trail in the Mt. Pleasant/Scottdale area.  Over 70 projects were scheduled throughout Westmoreland and Fayette counties.

Day of Caring brought together hundreds of volunteers who invested nearly 3,500 combined hours.  This one day of volunteerism will leverage approximately $71,000 worth of service to our communities.  “This community is based on the generosity and spirit of its people and they show it through their giving of time and energy for this annual event,” says Calvin McCutcheon, President of McCutcheon Enterprises and United Way’s 2009 Day of Caring Chair.  Every year after the projects are completed, participants gather at Twin Lakes Park to share in great food and a celebration of this grassroots community effort.

This day would not have been possible without generous sponsorship from: Allegheny Energy, Inc.;  UPS, Laurel Mountain Group; Kennametal Inc.; McCutcheon Enterprises, Inc.; and Westinghouse Electric Company LLC.  Curtis Davis, COO of Allegheny Energy – Generation and United Way 2009 Campaign Chair, commended all of our corporate partners and volunteers who helped our community by supporting the United Way and its goal of $3.8 million this year.

To participate in United Way of Westmoreland County’s Day of Caring in the future, please call 724-834-7170 or visit the web site at unitedway4u.org.

Latrobe, PA (August 27, 2009) At Latrobe Country Club, Kennametal executives, along with representatives from over 40 suppliers from around the country, tackled the historic golf course of Arnold Palmer to raise funds for United Way of Westmoreland County’s Community IMPACT Fund, Boy Scouts of Westmoreland County and the American Red Cross.  While supporting Kennametal and its philanthropy, players tested their skills under sunny skies in pursuit of prizes that included two Harley Davidson motorcycles.

At the evening reception held at the clubhouse, Chairman, President and CEO of Kennametal Inc., Carlos Cardoso, presented a check for $97,000 to Curtis Davis, Chief Operating Officer - Generation, Allegheny Energy, and 2009 Campaign Chair of United Way of Westmoreland County.  President Cardoso noted that the combined total of all outings to date now exceeds  $500,000 invested in the community. After the presentation of the check, Jamie Dixon, Head Basketball Coach of the University of Pittsburgh, shared his take on the future season of the Pitt Panthers as they face a year of building new leadership.

Before Coach Dixon’s remarks, prizes of flag pennants signed by Arnold Palmer were awarded for a wide-range of categories including, lowest score, closest to the pin and longest drive.  Some participants also received sports paraphernalia autographed by players and coaches from the Pirates, Penguins and area colleges…including Pittsburgh Penguins jerseys signed by Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.  Also, Coach Dixon’s team posted second place finish in the scramble.

This year’s event garnered 24 teams, which included suppliers traveling from other parts of the country including Atlanta, New York and Tampa.  Within each foursome, a host from Kennametal set the pace of the game for each team.  Thanks to Kennametal’s effort, funds raised for this event will make a significant difference for seniors, children and those in need in our area, especially in this time of economic challenges.

Nancy Kukovich, representing the new non-profit PA 2-1-1 (Thank you for the assist, John Ward.), appeared before the Public Utility Commission Advisory Board in Harrisburg last Tuesday to discuss 2-1-1 and its implementation. The Advisory Board voted to recommend to the full PUC the conveying of the 2-1-1 number to PA 2-1-1 for implementation state-wide.  PA 2-1-1 will now officially file with the PUC.  Dare we say it? . . . We’re hoping for a start date in the Southwest and Southeast on February 11, 2010.  For more information on 2-1-1 for Pennsylvania, click Advocate 2-1-1.

To boost public awareness, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania launched the "Turn Down, Seal Off, Save Up" outreach campaign to encourage residents to turn down their thermostats and seal off drafts in order to save as much as $740 in annual heating costs.

The campaign's Web site, www.turnsealsave.org , includes tips on how to make a home more energy efficient, contact information for financial assistance, and an online toolkit featuring resources people and organizations can use to raise awareness in their communities.

Raymond McElhaney of Allegheny Energy wins the Steeler Ticket and Parking pass package as part of the United Way of Westmoreland County 's campaign incentive.  Raymond and a friend will get to enjoy watching the Steeler's tackle the Cowboys on Sunday December 7 at Heinz Field. With over 1700 folks participated in this drawing, special thanks goes to Omnova Solutions Inc. for donating this highly desired prize. 

Raymond McElhaney receives Steeler tickets and parking pass from Rex Ferguson
VP of Workplace Campaign with Employee Campaign Chair, Paul Kramer.

At 8:00 am, Helen Patricia, the winner of United Way's Shop'n Save Shopping Spree, sprinted the aisles for three minutes gathering groceries and supplies for the Welcome Home Shelter of Greensburg.  During her race through the store, she stuffed fresh produce, pasta, paper towels and more, totaling $284.54.  At the end of the spree, Helen presented the two carts of groceries to Lyndsay Stannard, case manager, of the Welcome Home Shelter of Greensburg. 

This year, United Way of Westmoreland County incorporated a new incentive in its campaign that focuses on the basic needs of food and shelter for families and the community in hard times. Thanks to Ray Charley and his family of Shop'n Save Supermarkets in Greensburg, United Way offered a three-minute shopping spree at one of their two stores, East Pittsburgh Street or Route 66.  Presenting the cart to Helen at the start, Ray said, “Today, everyone wins, as United Way, local businesses and community members work together to support agencies like Welcome Home and others.”

Helen gets a big hug from Zen Scott for her donation.

At the end of the run, Helen, catching her breath, said, “It was fun and more exercise than I thought but definitely worth the effort for the shelter.” At the presentation of full carts, Mike Charley, son of Ray Charley, announced an additional contribution, matching the value of the spree, would be made to the Shelter.

Helen Patricia has been a long-time donor to United Way and is a member of the Women’s Leadership Council. Helen works for Kennametal Inc. as a quality assurance manager and lives with her husband, Steve, in Ligonier. To highlight and help meet the needs of the community in these hard times, Helen chose to donate the groceries she gathered at the store to the Welcome Home Shelter of Greensburg, PA.

The Welcome Home Shelter (Connect, Inc.) of Greensburg, a partner agency of the United Way of Westmoreland County, provides a safe and secure environment to women and families in need and so that they receive support as they transition to a new location or life.  Currently, there is a waiting list of over 40 individuals wanting to enter the shelter.  This is a strong signal of the growing need for basic services for families in these tough times.  

Link to video :

Jane Pauley Speaks on Family Matters at United Way Women’s Leadership Council Annual Breakfast”

Greensburg, PA (October 30, 2008) The United Way of Westmoreland County Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) hosted its third annual breakfast for the “Women of Influence” on October 30 at Four Points by Sheraton with over 200 attendees.  The keynote speaker was Jane Pauley, past co-anchor of Today show and award winning broadcaster. This annual event is designed to celebrate the success of the Women’s Leadership Council this past year and to invite others to join.

Phil Dymond, co-chair of WLC, opened the breakfast by introducing Jordana Stephens, program officer of the Eden Hall Foundation which is the Premier Sponsor of the “Women of Influence” breakfast.  Ms. Stephens outlined the history of the foundation and its commitment to addressing issues that face women.  WLC Executive Committee member, Tina Parton was recognized for her leadership in securing annual partner sponsorship from Westinghouse. Additional support for this event came from Allegheny Power, an Allegheny Energy Company.  To provide inspiration for existing and future members, Mary Catherine Motchar, president of Arbor Industrial Supplies, Inc. and Betsy Krisher, vice-president of Maher Duessel – Certified Public Accountants, described their reasons for being a WLC member and the merits of the group’s mission and results in helping the elderly in our area.

After the invocation, Donna Perone, president of Surge Point HR Talent of Murrysville, introduced Jane Pauley and her family. Ms. Pauley spoke about how her appreciation of community and giving back was built on many role models that included her parents, sister and family.  She told how her parents tithed their earnings, which was a great contribution as their funds were carefully budgeted. With her sister Ann Pauley of Murrysville, and daughter, Rickie, present, she related her desire to set an example for her children. As a testimony to her and her parents’ commitment to giving, Jane and her husband Gary Trudeau emulate Jane’s parent’s formula of tithing for their family. 

Dr. Mary Ann Gawelek, Provost of Seton Hill University and co-chair of the Women’s Leadership Council closed the event, exhorting attendees to join the effort of building a strong community of engaged, philanthropic women. The goal of the Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) is to promote leadership through philanthropy and engagement among women in our region. Women join the Council by pledging $1000 annually targeted exclusively to the WLC mission.   Since its inception in spring of 2006, WLC membership has grown from 11 founding givers to over 120 members.