2010 CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY

The 2010 United Way Campaign got underway on Wednesday, July 14th, with the employees of twenty two local businesses and organizations starting early as Pacesetters.  Campaign Chairman Tom Schmidt welcomed the group during a kickoff event at the Chautauqua Adult Day Care.  The event was sponsored by Jamestown Savings Bank, a division of Northwest Savings Bank.

The Pacesetter companies and their employees are working to raise $127,000 for United Way this year, or about 10% of the total campaign goal of $1,275,000.  The overall campaign goal is lower this year than the total raised last year, due to reductions expected in some corporate and individual gifts. 

Mr. Schmidt said, “Our Board of Directors looked hard at the economic climate in our community and at the realities of the cuts we face this year.  As a result, we set the goal a bit lower.  Despite that, our intention is to raise as much money in the community as possible in order to fund the programs that are so important to children, families and adults who live here.”

Mr. Schmidt added, “United Way programs are a very important part of the fabric of our community.  They improve the quality of education, income, and health for people of all ages – providing much-needed services that include daycare for children and seniors, food for the elderly, mentoring for teens, counseling, safety training, substance abuse education, and much more.  United Way agencies are very responsible with their budgets.  We would hate to see them have to reduce programs even further.”

“This beautiful community that is our home is stronger and healthier because of United Way programs and services,” he added.  “We all need to support these programs with our contributions this year.  This is part of how we LIVE UNITED.”

2010 Campaign Chairman Tom Schmidt speaks to the Pacesetters during their kickoff at Chautauqua Adult Day Care.