Campaign 2009

Why should you support United Way? (click to find out)

In a tough economic climate, United Way of Broome County has raised $3,724,940* in its annual fund drive.

        Campaign Chair Mike Mercincavage said, “Facing a very difficult economic climate, our community did itself proud. Thank you on behalf of all of the Broome County residents who will be helped in 2010 by your generosity.”

United Way continues to be the largest distributor of donated funds to health and human services programs in Broome County. Donations from the 2009 Campaign will go to about 90 programs at partner agencies and other area not-for-profit organizations in 2010. The specific amounts going to each program will be announced in February.

        The amount raised is 96 percent of the Campaign goal of $3.85 million.

        There were examples of increased giving to the United Way Campaign:

• A total of 48 new donors contributed $1,000 or more to the Campaign. Of these, 90 percent were employees of local businesses often responding to special appeals a number of these businesses made to their employees.  
  
• Four local foundations and trust funds increased their gifts to United Way and they were joined by an additional foundation which had not previously donated to United Way. The combined total of these donations was an increase of $36,000 over the previous year’s donation from these organizations.  
  
• The total donations to United Way by employees at 45 businesses each increased by 10 percent or more over the previous year.  

The residents of Broome County are served more than 179,000 times each year by United Way and its partner agencies. 

Five donors to United Way’s 2009 Campaign will win one of these incentive prizes: four Maytag kitchen appliances with a value of about $3,000 from Olum’s; a $1,500 Valero gasoline gift card from Manley’s Mighty Marts; and three $1,000 grocery gift cards donated by Wegmans.

Although the 2009 Campaign has ended, contributions to United Way of Broome County received through the end of the January will be credited to this year’s fund drive and will be distributed with the other Campaign funds later this year. Donations can be mailed to United Way of Broome County, P.O. Box 550, Binghamton, NY  13902-0550.

* The amount raised was announced as $3,700,000 in January 2010. Additional Campaign funds have been received since then.

As the 2009 Campaign of United Way of Broome County entered its second month, the annual fund drive reached the 42 percent mark on the way toward its goal of $3.85 million.

Alan Hertel, executive director of United Way of Broome County, announced today that pledges totaling $1,614,328 has been received thus far in this year’s Campaign, which is 42 percent of the goal. The announcement was made at the luncheon meeting of the Binghamton Rotary Club #64, held October 20 at Terra Cotta. 

“Traditionally, many Campaign progress reports do not arrive until late in the Campaign,” said Hertel, “and information has been slow coming in this year, but we are all pushing to meet the goal.”

The funds raised in previous United Way campaigns assisted more than 100 health and human service programs at United Way’s 29 local partner agencies. More than 179,000 times last year, individuals in our community benefited from the programs of these agencies. This is thousands more local people than were served by any other charitable fund raising effort conducted in Broome County. United Way continues to be the best way to help the most people in our community.

The funds raised in this year’s Campaign will benefit these local partner agency programs, plus services and grant recipients during 2010.

Five donors to United Way’s 2009 Campaign will win one of these incentive prizes: four Maytag kitchen appliances with a value of about $3,000 from Olum’s; a $1,500 Valero gasoline gift card from Manley’s Mighty Marts; and three $1,000 grocery gift cards donated by Wegmans.

The goal for the 2009 Annual Campaign of United Way of Broome County is $3,850,000. This was announced Wednesday, September 16, at the kickoff of United Way’s annual fund drive held at the Johnson City Senior Citizen Center. Campaign Chair Mike Mercincavage, a professional staff member of Binghamton University, made the announcement.

“There is no question that in the current economic environment, this goal, which is the same amount raised in the 2008 Campaign, is challenging,” said Mercincavage. “While as recently has yesterday, some experts are saying the recession is over, employment—which is a key indicator of the possible results of the Campaign—is still lagging. However, the United Way staff and the Campaign Cabinet have developed a comprehensive plan to take maximum advantage of those opportunities we believe are available.”

The 2009 United Way Campaign begins today and will run through mid November. The funds raised will be distributed to local partner agencies and services, as well as grant recipients, in 2010.

C. Michael Mercincavage, Director of Analytical and Diagnostic Lab Development at Binghamton University, has been named Chair of the 2009 United Way of Broome County Campaign, the organization’s annual fund drive.

Mercincavage was Associate Chair of the 2008 United Way fund drive and has held a number of other positions associated with the campaign since 1998. The 2009 Campaign will begin in mid-September and run through early November.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree at Clarkson University and a Master of Science degree in computer systems from the Watson School of Engineering at Binghamton University. He is also a graduate of the Broome Leadership Institute.

An employee of Binghamton University since 1994, his previous employment included work as a process and manufacturing engineer in technical and management position at IBM, General Electric Avionic Controls, and Xerox.

The other volunteers who will serve as leaders on the Campaign Cabinet also have been announced. David L. Neifer Esq. of the law firm of Gitto and Neifer, LLP, will serve as the Associate Chair. The Vice Chairs are: Oliver N. Blaise III Esq., Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP; Mark Capobiano, Vestal Central School District; David J. Culbertson, National Pipe and Plastics; Cynthia Smith Gordineer, American Red Cross, Southern Tier Chapter; David Gouldin Esq., Levene Gouldin & Thompson LLP; Deborah Gouldin, community volunteer; and Michael Klein, Broome County government.

Division chairs include Allen Buyck, Broome-Tioga BOCES; Brian R. DeBoyace, Tioga State Bank; Gina Denniston, M&T Bank; Jeffrey M. Jacobs Esq., Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP; Rich Knight, community volunteer; David Kwiatowski, M.D., Candor Family Care Center and United Medical Associates; Keith Leahey, Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier; Michael Marinaccio, Supervisor, Town of Dickinson; Ryan M. Mead Esq., Hinman Howard & Kattell, LLP; Mario Petta, Macy’s Department Store; Linda Sebesta, United Health Services; Doug Titus, Broome-Tioga BOCES; and LoriAnne Welch, M&T Bank.

Leahey also will represent United Way member agencies on the Campaign Cabinet. Jeffrey Shafer, D.V.M., Vestal Veterinary Hospital, will represent United Way’s Community Services Division, which is responsible for the allocation of the funds raised during the Campaign. Mary Ann Wilcox, United Way President, is an ex-officio member of the Campaign Cabinet.

The funds raised in the 2009 United Way Campaign will be distributed in 2010.

Updated: January 13, 2010