2016 United Way Campaign co-chairs Paul and Anne Hedin at the Campaign kickoff event on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016.
JAMESTOWN – The United Way of Southern Chautauqua County’s 2016 Campaign kicked off Wednesday afternoon at the Jamestown Boys and Girls Club.
During the event, officials announced the goal for this year’s campaign is $1.3 million, with campaign chairs Paul and Anne Hedin announcing that nearly $182,000 has already been raised thanks to the pacesetters portion of the campaign.
This year’s United Way Campaign is focused on inspiring community change by achieving four key outcomes: families are self-sufficient, everyone is ready to work, young people succeed in school and those in need can find help. The campaign will run from now through the next four months with campaign members seeking contributions from local businesses, individuals, and various community partners.
Campaign Co-Chair Paul Hedin explained why it is important to give to the effort and what it means for the pacesetters portion of the campaign to raise 14 percent of the total goal.
“One of the key words for this year’s campaign is ‘inspire’ and having gone beyond what we expected this early in the campaign inspires us to do more, and we’re thrilled by that,” Hedin explained. “We’re hoping that as the months continue and people become more familiar with what the United Way does and all the good work that is done through the United Way and its fellow agencies, and the responsibility that the United Way takes in administering the funds, that people will come to respect what we do, will be inspired to participate and to give more.”
Co-Chair Anne Hedin also explained why she and her husband stepped forward to chair this year’s campaign.
“We’re long-term members of this community and we’ve been involved with the United Way in one way or another for many years and we believe in its mission. So for us it was an easy decision and we’re really looking forward to it.”
The kickoff also event featured comments from United Way executive director Tory Irgang as well as a presentation by Besty Goldman, board president of the Child Advocacy Program – one of the 25 agencies that benefit from the United Way campaign.
For more information about the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County and its 2016 campaign, call 483-1561, visit uwayscc.org.
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