United Way of Lake County Announced Residents in Need Benefited from 83,732 Services at Annual Meeting
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Mentor, OH (May 16, 2019) – United Way of Lake County’s (UWLC) 2018 Campaign Chair, Morris Beverage III of Lighthouse Advisers in Mentor, closed the 2018 campaign at today’s annual meeting luncheon.
Beverage announced that 83,732 services were provided to residents in need through United Way of Lake County’s support of agency programs.
In addition to the thousands of services provided, United Way of Lake County President and CEO Jennifer McCarty announced that UWLC provided over 50 local food pantries with enough food for 230,427 meals throughout 2018. This is a 12% increase over the previous year’s 205,000 meals
“This is such a win for our community,” said McCarty. “We take our role of addressing the local needs of our community seriously and are proud of the work we do to uplift those in need.”
According to McCarty, “I’m very thankful to Morris for the support he, his campaign cabinet and his staff from Lighthouse Advisers lent. We implemented a lot of creative new fundraising ventures led by Morris that started with our Campaign Kickoff at Classic Park in Eastlake. Last fall’s event showcased the marching band drumlines from six Lake County high schools. We had our largest crowd ever with nearly two thousand guests in attendance.”
“It has been a pleasure and an honor to be involved in United Way of Lake County’s campaign this past year. I have enjoyed an eye-opening experience and will tell anyone willing to listen about the good work of United Way of Lake County,” said Beverage.
“I plan to continue my support of United Way of Lake County and urge others to join me. When you invest in United Way of Lake County your gift helps assure the availability of an entire network of services that no one agency alone can provide,” he said.
McCarty also praised Mentor Public Schools for being a key player in UWLC’s fight against hunger. “Over the course of the past 27 years, Mentor Public Schools have organized and run countless food drives and fundraisers starting at the elementary school level all the way up through Mentor High School,” said McCarty. “We could not be more grateful.”
McCarty also recognized Moving Ahead Services for the role they have played in UWLC’s annual food drive over the last several years explaining that they donate all of the boxes used to collect food in addition to volunteering use of their trucks and staff of movers to help UWLC pick up and transfer food. They also donate all of the food they collect from their “Move For Hunger” initiative, which prompts clients who are moving to donate non-perishable food from their pantries and cupboards.
Over two hundred and fifty people turned out for the luncheon at the American-Croatian Lodge in Eastlake where it was announced that Scott J. Marn, CFP®, AAMS®, Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. would succeed Kathleen Buse, Ph.D., Director of the Women’s Leadership Institute at ERC as the new Chairman of the Board.
Special recognition was given to UWLC’s hundred thousand dollar plus club consisting of Avery Dennison, Component Repair Technologies, FirstEnergy and The Lubrizol Corporation. “Due to the social conscience and goodwill of these organizations, we are able to make a large impact on the lives of Lake County’s most vulnerable residents,” said Tami Lewis, United Way of Lake County’s Marketing and Communications Director.
Beverage also praised Avery Dennison for their charity in raising and donating nearly $150,000 from their golf outing - the single greatest amount ever raised from one single company event.
Event highlights included:
Announcement of 2019 Campaign Chair Vanessa Tey Iosue, President of Burges & Burges Strategists
Recognition of outgoing board members:
- Todd Alishusky, SMART Local #33
- Rick Cicero, Lake Health
Recognition of UWLC’s full board:
- Chair: Scott J. Marn, CFP®, AAMS®, Benjamin F. Edwards & Co.
- 1st Vice Chair: Scot Park, Artower Advisery Services
- 2nd Vice Chair: Jeremy Iosue, Harvey, Abens, Iosue, Co., LPA
- Treasurer: Karen Burton, STERIS Corporation
- Karen Allen, The Lubrizol Corporation
- Morris Beverage III, Lighthouse Advisers
- Kerry Bliss, HB Wealth Advisors, LLC
- Tom Brew, Britton Gallagher
- Rick Busby, The Rogers Company
- Kathleen Buse, Ph.D., ERC
- Ellen Foley Kessler, WINT Integrity Radio
- Patty Gavorski, Cardinal Commerce
- Michelle Graf, The Lubrizol Corporation
- Michele Johnson, Lighthouse Advisers
- Al Jones, Lake County NAACP
- Bob Lee, Lincoln Electric
- Jennifer McCarty, United Way of Lake County
- Paul Olzak, Lake Health
- Kathy Peterson, Community Volunteer
- Andrew Phelps, PNC
- Jim Tobin, Community Volunteer
Announcement and presentation of UWLC’s Gus Gehring award for excellence in volunteerism and leadership to Jim Tobin, Community Volunteer.
Announcement and presentation of UWLC’s Matt Logies award for giving, advocating, and volunteering – the very foundation UWLC is built upon - to Angela Smith, Madison Local School District Superintendent.
Announcement and presentation of Outstanding Woman Leader of the Year award to Amber Thomas, Chief Clinical Officer of Crossroads.
Announcement and presentation of Emerging Leader of the Year award to Bryan Thomas, Financial Adviser at Lighthouse Advisers.
Announcement and presentation of Power of One award to Patty Perry, proprieter of ProMark Enterprises.
Announcement and presentation of the Clem Urbansky Award, given annually to an organization, group or person who makes a significant difference in helping UWLC feed Lake County’s hungry. This year’s award was presented to Mentor Public Schools.
Announcement and presentation of Outstanding Advocate of the Year award to Robert Petti, Community Volunteer.
The luncheon also included recognition of the companies, organizations and individuals who have supported UWLC in their fight for the health, education and financial stability of Lake County’s most vulnerable residents.
The Lubrizol Corporation and Lake Health, both long-time supporters of UWLC, sponsored the annual meeting. The Lubrizol Corporation took home many awards for the large contribution they made.