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The United Way's campaign goal was $345,000. They raised more than $357,000. That's 104 percent of goal. Campaign co-chairs Jeannine Schoenecker and Lisa Minich say the success of the campaign was due to a combination of longtime donors, some of whom increased their contributions, and people who donated for the first time, as well as dedicated volunteers. Schoenecker, Minich and United Way Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis made the announcement on today's LiveLine. You can listen to that at WESB.com/listen . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

With just less than one month to go in the United Way of the Bradford Area’s 2014 Be a Champion campaign, officials announced the drive has surpassed 95 percent of its $345,000 goal. While the campaign’s home stretch coincides with an already busy holiday season, 2014 co-chairpersons Lisa Minich and Jeannine Schoenecker are confident the Bradford area’s generous residents won’t forget their neighbors in need. Minich said, “The United Way has been connecting community resources with the needs of individuals since 1925. Together we can ensure that the services provided by our member agencies continue to be available for our friends, families and neighbors who need it most.” Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis explained UWBA has already received applications from three new agencies and requests for increased funding from three existing agencies. “We set an ambitious goal for 2014, but, year over year, appeals always exceed funding,” Wilton Davis stated. “This year requests just t...

Local community members and businesses have shown their support for the Smethport Campaign for United Way, having raised nearly 50% of the $15,000 goal. This is the third year that solicitation efforts have been managed by the United Way of the Bradford Area. “I am pleased with the status of the Smethport campaign to-date,” said Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. “We’ve seen a positive response from our existing donors, but we’ve seen a significant increase in new donors, which has contributed greatly to the success so far.” Davis says that although they have raised the fundraising goal for the second year in a row, she anticipates reaching the $15,000 mark. “The residents of Smethport and the surrounding communities have shown how generous they are over the past several years,” said Davis, “and we know they feel very strongly about impacting the lives of their family, friends and neighbors through the agencies funded from our annual appeal.” 12 agencies located in or servin...

Yesterday we told you on the air that the United Way of the Bradford Area was at 53 percent of its campaign goal. Well, that news is outdated already. Bradford Area School District, Zippo Manufacturing Co., American Refining Group Inc. and Northwest Savings Bank have so far been the champions of the United Way of the Bradford Area’s latest campaign. Officials announced Friday that, just more than a month into its 2014 Be a Champion campaign, they have already raised 60 percent of the $345,000 goal. School district staff members increased their contributions by nearly 50 percent, while both Zippo and ARG also recorded significant increases in their employee campaigns. The campaign has been structured differently this year under the leadership of co-chairs Lisa Minich and Jeannine Schoenecker, who have stressed the importance of having plenty of volunteers and making more-personal appeals. “Our goal with this year’s campaign was to re-energize the volunteer base and bring bac...

Northwest Savings Bank recently gave $7,500 to the United Way of the Bradford Area. The donation will be added to the United Way’s funds, which are distributed to local community organizations for the purpose of community building and enhancing the quality of life in the greater Bradford area. Twenty-nine agencies and 51 programs and services receive funding from the organization’s annual appeal, which runs from August 15 through December 15. This year’s goal is to raise $345,000. In presenting the donation, Steve Cottillion, manager of the Bradford West Washington Street Office of Northwest Savings Bank and member of the Board of Directors of the United Way of the Bradford Area, said, “We (Northwest) recognize the importance of supporting the United Way because it helps to build a stronger community. It’s a great way to support our town and give back because everyone in the Bradford area has benefited in some way from United Way funds. We’re honored to be able to support the...

The 2014 United Way campaign begins today, and officials are approaching this appeal aggressively, beginning with a goal of $345,000. “We’ve increased the goal this year to accommodate the increase in requests from the local agencies to meet the needs of our community,” said Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. “We are currently funding the highest number of agencies and programs we’ve ever done with 29 and 51, respectively. “We’re very confident that this is an attainable goal – although a lot of effort and commitment will be put into it – and we’re looking forward to celebrating with the community at the end of the year,” said Davis. This year’s promotional theme – “Be A Champion” – is a call to action for donors, but also a fitting tie for the campaign co-chairs, Lisa Minich and Jeannine Schoenecker, who say it (theme) represents their personal passion for giving back to a community they’re proud to call home. “Our hope this year is to not only reach the monetary goal, but to...

The United Way of the Bradford Area, Inc. is pleased to announce the hiring of Sonja Bacha as Administrative Assistant. Sonja began her position at the office on Monday. “I am proud to welcome Sonja to our office,” said Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. “I know she has a strong passion for our local community, having grown up here and raising her family here, and I feel this is the perfect fit for both sides. “She’s already presented a great deal of knowledge and enthusiasm, and we’re excited to get Campaign 2014 off and running!” In the newly-created position, Bacha will be responsible for helping to maintain the business and financial affairs of the office, as well as preparations for the annual campaign and fundraising efforts. She was previously the Office Manager for SuperUser Technologies in Bradford. Sonja lives in Bradford with her husband, Barry, and children Erika and Andrew. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

City Parks Director Chip Comilla (center) cuts the ribbon on the Born Learning Trail, installed by volunteers for the United Way of the Bradford Area. The signs along the trail at Callahan Park direct young children and their parents through a variety of activities, including hopscotch, making up songs & stories and looking for wildlife. Comilla says the trail is a great addition to the park. Also pictured are, board members Debbie Curtin and Steve Williams and UWBA Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. The project was funded by American Refining Group, the Blaisdell Foundation and the United Way, with several businesses providing in-kind contributions. About two dozen volunteers helped install the trail on Saturday. Davis said Comilla, Mayor Tom Riel and Bradford City Council members have been supporting the project since she first approached them with it. The trail starts at the Bradford High-area entrance to the park, loops around the splash pad, goes past the basketball co...

The longest day of the year will be an impactful one as well, with the United Way of the Bradford Area’s 4th Annual Live United Day of Action scheduled for Saturday, June 21st. The event, sponsored by American Refining Group and the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation, will focus on providing an interactive learning experience for young children by installing a Born Learning trail at Callahan Park. The trail will consist of 10 (12” by 24”) aluminum signs, placed throughout the park, and printed with engaging, early learning activities. Shapes, letters, and a 12’ hopscotch court will adorn the park’s sidewalks, which correspond with the signs’ activities. Although geared toward children up to age five, the trail also serves as a tool to help parents and caregivers find simple, yet clever ways, to incorporate education into a child’s daily life, beginning at the earliest possible stages. “I am excited for our organization to be able to offer this to our local community,” said Execut...

The United Way of the Bradford Area hosted the annual Red Feather Volunteer recognition luncheon on Thursday, honoring Lisa Minich. The event, which took place at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, is held to honor outstanding individuals and/or businesses who have made an impact on the United Way of the Bradford Area, and the local community as a whole, through their day-to-day selfless attitudes and commitment to exemplifying the organization’s mission of enhancing the quality of life in the greater Bradford Area. Minich was presented her award by close friend, Jeannine Schoenecker, and her son, Dan Minich. “Over the last three years, Lisa has been the driving force behind the success of the leadership division, during which time giving in this category went from a little more than $40,000 in 2011 to more than $57,000 in 2013,” said Schoenecker. Dan Minich referenced his grandfather - Lisa’s father - as being her philanthropic inspiration. “My mom would tell me stories ...

Futures Rehabilitation Center clients Tom Miller, Ashley Peterson and Mike Walter have been selected as the United Way of the Bradford Area’s 2014 Excellence in Representation honorees. The trio were part of the Speaker’s Bureau for the 2013 campaign, but have long-been volunteers and advocates for the local United Way. “I am so happy to be able to recognize my three friends with this honor,” said Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. “Between them, they spoke at 25% of our workplace presentations, and were able to tell their personal stories to more than 300 people. “Everyone to whom they spoke walked away with a better understanding of not only the relationship between Futures and the United Way, but the importance of continuing to give to the annual campaign to ensure that they and their peers could continue their jobs at the workshop.” Tom, who is a Bradford native, has been at Futures for 44 years, and has been a member of the Speaker’s Bureau for the past five. “A favorite...

The United Way of the Bradford Area will honor Lisa Minich with the Red Feather volunteer award at a luncheon on Thursday, May 1, officials announced today. “Lisa is the perfect example of ‘once they’re in, they’re in for life,’ said Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. “She began her volunteer efforts as a member of the campaign cabinet back in the mid-1980’s, and when family and work obligations required her to step back from her campaign involvement, she remained a constant advocate. She re-joined the campaign cabinet in 2011 as co-chair of the Leadership Division, which this year saw a 17% increase in contributions,” said Davis. The Red Feather award was implemented to honor outstanding individuals and/or businesses who have made an impact on United Way, and the local community as a whole, through their day-to-day selfless attitude and commitment to exemplify the organization’s mission of enhancing the quality of life in the greater Bradford area. Minich, a Bradford native, ...

Helen Cole, secretary of the Elderberries Club of the Smethport Senior Center, looks on as Mandi Wilton Davis, Executive Director of the United Way of the Bradford Area, explains the application to request funding through the Smethport Campaign for United Way. Applications are due April 1 and can be received at www.uwbanews.org or by request at admin@uwbanews.org. For more information, please contact the United Way office at 814-368-6181.

Having completed another successful campaign, officials with the United Way of the Bradford Area announced the first-quarter recipients of the organization’s Community Innovations funding, which includes four agencies which have not received funding in the past. “The committee was pleased to receive applications from, and allocate funding to, some new agencies - as well as previous applicants - through the Community Innovations program,” said Marcia Avey, UWBA board member and Community Innovations committee chair. “As a result, we were able to provide local agencies with financial resources to implement or expand special programming or services that might otherwise be unavailable in our community.” The recipients are: Bradford Ecumenical Home Inc. - sweet treats gala; Bradford Family YMCA - youth after-school program; CARE for Children - parent/professional training; Children's Advocacy Center of McKean County - outreach programming; Dickinson Mental Health - holiday even...

Bradford was indeed a cool town on Friday, but warm hearts prevailed as an anonymous donor came through to push the United Way of the Bradford Area’s 2013 campaign over the $330,000 goal. “By 8:30 in the morning, we had a phone call saying that this donor wanted to contribute an additional $5,000, which was beyond exciting,” said Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. Although the campaign closed earlier in the week, officials say that, because it was the donor’s wishes for these dollars to be attributed to the 2013 appeal, they will make the necessary adjustments. “We, as an organization, obviously abide by the Donor Bill of Rights, which states that the donor can be assured that their gift will be used for the purpose for which it was given,” said Davis. “In this case, it was directed to the 2013 campaign, and that’s where it will be used.” Davis said she was happy with the success based on Thursday’s status, and is beyond elated today. “I really don’t know what to say. So man...

Agencies Will Still Get Full Funding The United Way of the Bradford Area closed the books on the 2013 campaign, “Life Is Good When You’re United”, coming up just $2,500 short of the $330,000 fundraising goal. “I’m truly so happy with the successes of this appeal,” said Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. “Aside from being so close to that 100%, we can assure our agencies that no one will receive a reduction in their 2014 monthly allocations, which is the most important thing.” Davis said that diligent, responsible and strategic work on the part of the Board of Directors led to the agencies being able to receive their full allocation. “They (the board members) take their responsibilities very seriously, especially that of determining which agencies receive funding from the annual campaign(s), and they worked very hard to determine what would be best for those agencies – and our community – in the end,” said Davis. Campaign Co-Chairs Mary Boser and Lisa Boser-Miller expressed...

The local community continues to show its support for the annual United Way campaign, as 20 percent of the $330,000 goal has been raised to date. “I am so excited to give this update,” said Mandi Wilton Davis, Executive Director. “We are working hard to maintain a strong pace throughout the campaign, and we’re so appreciative of the generosity we’ve seen so far.” Nearly half of the contributions received have come from the leadership/professional division, which is co-chaired by Lisa Minich and Jeannine Schoenecker. “We are excited and pleased with the increases we are seeing at the Leadership Level of giving this year,” said Minich. “With so many individuals in our community facing extremely difficult times, it’s inspiring to see the generosity of giving at this level.” Schoenecker echoed those remarks, adding, “It is during times like these that makes us proud to be part of such a caring community.” With two months remaining in the campaign, United Way staff and agency represe...

As today officially marks the start of the fundraising efforts for the United Way of the Bradford Area’s 2013 campaign, this year’s co-chairs – Lisa Boser-Miller and Mary Boser - are ready and waiting to get started! “What an honor to even be thought of as someone who could lead this organization’s campaign,” said Lisa. “We are proud that the United Way staff and Board felt strongly about our abilities and commitment to our community that they would offer us this responsibility.” The two ladies are no strangers to the United Way. Mary currently is finishing her final month of her term as a member of the Board of Directors, having served for the past eight years. Lisa previously served as a board member for four years, and has since been heavily involved with special events and corporate solicitations. “I think this is a great way for me, personally, to finish up my Board tenure,” said Mary. “This organization will always be close to me, whether I’m on the board, co-chairing a ca...

Campaign Already at 10 Percent of Goal A sure sign of the summer winding down is the kick-off of the United Way of the Bradford Area’s annual fundraising campaign, which officially begins today. “We are so pleased to announce the official start of this year’s appeal, ‘Life Is Good When You’re United’,” said Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. “We, as an organization, are so fortunate to be as successful as we are, which is attributed to the generosity of our local community.” This year’s goal is again $330,000, of which $33,000 (or 10%) has already been raised. “To be able to say today, the public start of the campaign that we’re at 10% of goal is exciting,” said Davis. “I’m so optimistic about what the next four months will bring!” The United Way campaign runs from August through December and has a goal of securing pledges from the community through workplace campaigns and individual contributions that benefit the local United Way’s 18 affiliated agencies and 32 programs. ...

Five agencies recently received funding from the United Way of the Bradford Area through funds raised during the Smethport campaign. According to Mandi Wilton Davis, Executive Director, the Hamlin Memorial Library, the McKean County Historical Society, the Smethport Recreation Center/Memorial Pool, Futures Rehabilitation Center and the YWCA of Bradford each received $500 during the first allocation process. “We were pleased to have the requests that we did,” said Davis. “I know that the dollars raised during the Smethport appeal were needed by these agencies, all of which provide direct services in that community.” The United Way of the Bradford Area managed the fundraising efforts for Smethport and the surrounding areas during the 2012 solicitation process, and the nearly-$5,000 which was raised will go directly back to applicable agencies and programs in those zip codes. Pictured, United Way Executive Director, Mandi Wilton Davis (r), and Board Member, Patty Witchen, congratul...