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Torchlight fund continues to reach new heights

Photo submitted to Times Observer United Fund Torchlight Campaign Co-chair Alex ‘AK’ Keddie, Executive Director Lacey Hanson, and Co-chair Lisa To celebrate another successful Torchlight Campaign.

The United Fund torch has been raised higher than ever this year.

With the United Fund of Warren County Torchlight Campaign goal again reaching its highest level, the Warren County community was up to the task. Executive Director Lacey Hanson announced that the 94th annual campaign goal of $675,000 was reached and exceeded.

The campaign is the largest annual fundraiser in Warren County, according to Hanson, and every penny donated to the United Fund goes to its member agencies.

“The Fund supports 20 agencies through the donations it receives,” Hanson said. “About 50 percent of the money collected helps kids through programs such as scouting and 4-H. Support for seniors accounts for 20 percent of the campaign, helping to fund such organizations as the senior centers in Sheffield and Warren. Counseling through Hospice of Warren County and Family Services receives about 10 percent of the money, with 15 percent going for emergency services through the Red Cross and Salvation Army. Disability services through organizations such as Don Mills Achievement Center and BEi complete the roster of support.”

Campaign and administrative expenses are paid for through income from the Community Foundation, she said.

The campaign co-chairs this year were Lisa To and Alex ‘AK’ Keddie.

“It is wonderful to, again, see the generosity from the Warren County community rallying together to achieve our goal,” To said. “By raising these funds, it allows the United Fund agencies to continue offering their services at little to no cost for our community members in times when they need it.”

“You never know when you are going to need services provided by these agencies,” Keddie said. “The campaign is a community effort and for it to be a success year after year just speaks volumes about the generosity of Warren County.”

It was Hanson’s first campaign as executive director. “To have a goal of $675,000 — that’s a lot of money to raise,” she said. “Throughout the campaign I witnessed so many generous acts of kindness and compassion for our community. People did what they needed to do, individuals and corporate donors stepped up where they could, and they made it happen.”

“The community has been so welcoming to me as I learned the process of the campaign and navigated my way through learning how it runs,” she said. “But the biggest takeaway I have is witnessing how generous our community really is.”

Contributions come from a number of sources. “The largest portion by far comes from the industrial and financial companies within the county,” Hanson said. “Corporate contributions and the payroll deductions of employees bring in 58 percent of all donations. Individual gifts come to the campaign through direct solicitation (9 percent) or a general residential campaign (2 percent). Commercial establishments and professional offices contribute 3 percent, and governmental, hospital, educational and member agency staffs give 5 percent of the total. The remainder (23 percent) is received through income from various trusts which were established to benefit the United Fund.”

Donations to the United Fund can be made throughout the year in person, by mail to P.O. Box 844 in Warren, PA or on the website at www.unitedfundofwarrencounty.org.

More information about the Fund is available on the website and on Facebook.

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