2016 United Way Campaign co-chairs Paul and Anne Hedin at the Campaign kickoff event on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. It was announced on Tuesday, Jan. 24, that the campaign had exceeded its $1.3 million goal.

JAMESTOWN – The 2016 United Way of Southern Chautauqua County Campaign has ended with what officials are calling welcome, but unexpected, results.

More than 60 people were in attendance on Tuesday night at Jamestown Community College to learn the final amount raised was $1,338,652, more than $38,000 over the goal of $1,300,000.

Campaign Chairs Anne and Paul Hedin celebrated the evening with Board members, staff, volunteers, and special guests in the Sarita Weeks room at JCC.

“We are humbled by the results of this year’s campaign and are honored that we were able to lead this effort. We are grateful for the volunteers who stepped forward to make this possible,” said Anne Hedin.

United Way officials say the 2016 campaign was strong from beginning to end.

“We made 50 workplace presentations. This is the most we have ever done,” said Tory Irgang, Executive Director. “Our volunteers understand that the best way to learn about United Way is to have a face to face presentation and a strong effort was made to arrange them at workplaces this year.”

Many of those companies were recognized for increasing the number of donors or total amount raised during the event. Those recognized include: Artone LLC, Bush Industries, Clark Patterson Lee, Chautauqua County employees, Fancher Chair Company, Frewsburg Central School, IBEW Local #106, Jamestown Fire Department, Mental Health Association, Northwest, Panama Central School, Weber Knapp, Wegmans, and Winifred Crawford Dibert Boys and Girls Club.

Throughout campaign, a video was used to visually demonstrate United Way’s four priority areas: to ensure families are self-sufficient, everyone is ready to work, young people succeed in school, and those in need can find help. Attendees watched a thank you video that featured the priorities.

“We wanted our donors to understand how their dollars are being invested in these areas. Our video is a great way for them to see first-hand how the programming is making an impact in the community, stated Tory Irgang.

The thank you video can be accessed by visiting the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County Facebook page.

“This is a simple way for us to let our donors know that their contribution is appreciated and making a difference,” stated Ms. Hedin.

At the conclusion of the event, Anne and Paul Hedin received special recognition for leading the 2016 campaign.

“The leadership delivered by Anne and Paul made this campaign smooth from the start. We would have not succeeded in this way without them,” shared Irgang. “They remained confident throughout and kept us focused on reaching our goal.”

Over $1 million will be awarded in grants to 25 local agencies. United Way of Southern Chautauqua County is proud that 100% of the money raised each year remains in this community. To learn more about United Way, visit uwayscc.org.

JAMESTOWN – The 2016 Campaign for the United Way of Southern Chautauqua has reached 55 percent of its $1.3 million goal this week.  That’s about $724,720.

With the deadline for workplace campaigns to report is fast approaching, United Way Executive Director Tory Irgang says the number is surely on the rise.

Anne and Paul Hedin, 2016 Campaign Chairs, have been leading a team of volunteers and laying the foundation for a successful effort since mid-September. WRFA talked with Paul Hedin during the campaign launch. He explained why it’s important for area residents to give annually to the campaign.

“Giving money to the United Way is not something you simply ‘got to do,’ it’s something you ‘want to do’ because of all the good work that is done by the United Way affiliated agencies,” Hedin said. “If you would simply take three minutes and listen to a volunteer, take three minutes and look at what’s going on with all the good that’s being done by the agencies to make this a better community. I think you’ll be inspired to be a part of what we’re doing with the United Way.”

Funding from the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County Campaign goes toward 42 programs at 25 community partner agencies throughout the area.

These programs align with four key priorities: families are self-sufficient, everyone is ready to work, young people succeed in school and people in need can find help.

For more information about the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County or the 2016 Campaign, call them at 483-1561, visit www.uwayscc.org, check them out on Facebook: United Way of Southern Chautauqua County, or follow them on Twitter.

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.

The James Prendergast Library in Jamestown

JAMESTOWN – The board of trustees for the James Prendergast Library will have several new faces the next time it meets in January.

During Thursday’s monthly meeting, the board approved the appointment of four new trustees to the board. They are Karl Holmgren, Linda Larkin, Michelle “Micki” McCray and Lynn Warner. The four were selected from a pool of nine individuals who expressed interest in serving on the board to fill several open seats. In addition, the board also recognized three outgoing trustees – Russ Diethrick , Jim Roselle and Anne Hedin.

During Wednesday’s meeting, the board also received an update on finances from Treasurer Tom Rankin, who said that despite some fundraising challenges, the library’s revenues will exceed expenditures for 2012. He said the library experienced lower costs than projected, and that was largely due to the work of former Executive Director Linda Mielke, along with members of the staff.

When it came to fundraising, however, the library was still well below its goal of $155,000. As for the middle of December, a total of $103,000 had been donated, compared to over $140,000 that was brought in the previous year. Acting Executive Director Tina Scott said that she and her staff, along with the new board, will begin exploring various ways to bring those fundraising totals up when they meet again in January.

The library also discussed looking into possibly splitting the position of Executive Director. Currently, the executive director heads not only the operations at the Prendergast, but also oversees the operation of the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System. Trustee Pat Smith said that she and Scott will be looking into that possibility in the coming weeks and may have more information during the next meeting.