The following article by Kate Malongowski originally appeared in the Beaver County Times.
HOPEWELL TWP. — The United Way of Beaver County, which provides funding for 17 local organizations that touch 129,000 clients, began its fundraising campaign Thursday morning with the goal of raising $750,000.
More than 100 people attended the event at the Club at Shadow Lakes, highlighting both a fundraising organizer and a recipient of the United Way’s fundraising efforts.
“The lifeblood and why we do what we do for the United Way is to raise funds to give to our partner agencies and to other designated agencies so that they can do their work,” said Mike Rubino, United Way of Beaver County executive director.
Ray Brunner, president of West Aircomm Federal Credit Union, has organized a charity golf outing benefiting the nonprofit funder for more than 20 years, partly because of their similar views on assisting others.
“The philosophy of the United Way and West Aircomm and credit unions sort of coincide with people helping people. That’s what the United Way does. And that’s why I’ve stayed so involved with the United Way,” Brunner said. He’s raised more than $300,000 from the golf outings since 1994, and $17,000 at the most recent funding event.
Meanwhile, 13-year-old Elizabeth Kyle received assistance from the Beaver County Cancer and Heart Association, a United Way agency site, when she was diagnosed with leukemia. “When I began my chemotherapy, my mom was able to receive some help from Beaver County Cancer and Heart Association. I received gas cards that helped with the travel cost to and from Children’s Hospital,” she said.
She also won a celebratory party and Gateway Clipper tickets through various nonprofit programs, which have helped her both physically and emotionally. Elizabeth shared just one story among 129,000 clients that utilized services through United Way agencies.
In addition to the Beaver County Cancer and Heart Association, the United Way provides funding for Beaver County Rehabilitation Center, Beaver County YMCA, B.F. Jones Memorial Library, Boy Scouts Camp Baker, Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls, Franklin Center, Girls Hope of Pittsburgh, Homemaker home Health Aide Service and client home, Lifesteps, Mental Health Association in Beaver County, Old Economy Village, Providence Care Center and Women’s Center of Beaver County.
