United Way of Lake County’s Third Annual Jail & Bail Raises Over $23,000 to Support Local Programs
Mentor, OH (October 3, 2025) – United Way of Lake County (UWLC) hosted its third annual Jail & Bail Fundraiser on Friday, September 26, raising a record $23,000+ in support of the organization’s work filling gaps in need through the funding of nonprofit programs critical to our community in the areas of youth opportunity, financial security, healthy community, and community resiliency.
Sixteen brave “jailbirds” from Lake County businesses and organizations stepped up to support the cause. Fourteen were “arrested” and rode the Jail Bus, while two raised bail to refrain from boarding. Each participant set personal fundraising goals, rallying donations to help local residents in need. Laketran CEO Ben Capelle provided and drove the perfect paddy wagon—a Laketran bus turned “jail.”
Among the “criminals” were Lake County Commissioner Morris Beverage III, Willoughby Hills Mayor Chris Hallum, Eastlake City Council-at-Large Michael Semick, Mentor Public Schools Superintendent Craig Heath, Head of School at Andrews Osborne Academy Gonzolo Garcia-Pedroso, Kevin Malecek of the City of Mentor, Holly Cope of Simple Clear Payments, Dan Rowles of the Lake County ADAMSHS Board, Mary Nemecek of Empower Nutrition & Energy, Tera Carlson of WyattWorks Plumbing & Electric, Elliot Stone of the Stone Team Realtors, Jessie Baginski of Fleur de Lead, Ashley Marrie of Sunray Window Films and Keller National, Vicki Morley of Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools, Scotty Marsh of Water Extraction Team (WET), and Christine Matthews of No Limit Swiss.
Adding to the fundraising, the coveted Leadership Lake County (LLC) “Best Class Ever” trophy was stolen by an unknown thief and held for ransom on the Jail Bus. The challenge: whichever class raised the most ransom money would win the trophy and bragging rights. Adam Sanden, President of Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center and member of the LLC Class of 2011, stepped up after being contacted by his classmate, Commissioner Morris Beverage III. With proof of Beverage behind bars in a real jail cell, Sanden paid a $5,000 ransom, securing both the release of the trophy and the Class of 2011’s claim as ‘Best Class Ever’.
“Raising over $23,000 this year is an incredible leap from last year’s $13,000,” said UWLC President and CEO Dione DeMitro. “It’s inspiring to see the momentum grow and the community rally behind the cause. Every dollar raised helps us reach more people in need, and I’m so grateful to everyone who played a part in making that possible.
The bus tour of arrests wrapped up at SOL in downtown Willoughby, where the “convicts” were treated to a well-deserved final meal.