Photo submitted ERIEBANK Warren Branch Manager Ashley McBride, left, and United Fund of Warren County Executive Director Lacey Hanson hold a donation check made to the organization’s annual torchlight campaign. ERIEBANK’s donation to the annual campaign on Giving Tuesday pushed it past the 40 percent mark toward its goal of raising $710,000.

Thanks to a donation of $3,772 from ERIEBANK on Giving Tuesday, the annual United Fund of Warren County has pushed past 40% of its $710,000 goal.

“ErieBank and its dedicated employees shine bright in the spirit of giving during the 99th Annual United Fund Campaign,” UFOWC Executive Director Lacey Hanson said. “The local Warren branch proudly achieved a remarkable 100% participation from its staff, exemplifying a profound commitment to community welfare. Their collective generosity is a beacon of hope, making a substantial impact on the campaign’s success.”

Other major donors so far this year include United Refining Co., Edward Oil Co. PNC Bank and Highmark.

The 99th Torchlight campaign kicked off on Sept. 30 with a “Nickel Challenge” event, in which participants attempted to line the both sides of the more than 500-foot Hickory Street Bridge with change. The event raised almost $900.

“All coins were collected and donated to the campaign in memory of Barb Tubbs who was a longtime board member at the United Fund and also a member of the kick off committee,” Hanson said.

The official kickoff date for the Torchlight campaign is the first Friday in October. The campaign runs until the goal is met. This year’s goal is the highest in the annual fundraising drive’s history.

“I like to be wrapped up in early January, but sometimes it does run longer as we wait for pledges and donations to be made,” Hanson said.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can text UFOWC to 41444 or visit our website at www.unitedfundwarren.org to make a quick and easy contribution. Some employers offer payroll deduction as well.

Funds raised benefit 20 local nonprofits. One Hundred percent of funds raised go directly to the organizations. According to information on warrengives.org, “about 50 percent of the money raised supports kids through scouting, child care, 4-H and the YMCA. Another 20 percent benefits senior citizens through programs at the senior centers in Warren and Sheffield. Counseling through Hospice and Family Services receives ten percent of the money raised and 15 percent goes for emergency services through the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Finally, five percent helps with disability services through New Hope Dogs, BEI, and the Don Mills Center.”

“The United Fund is unique in that through the generosity from the community, we have an endowment which covers all operating and administrative fees,” Hanson said. “This means that every dollar donated is going back out into the community to our member agencies to support the programming in the community that we need.”

According to Hanson, the benefits to the community provided by funds from the annual campaign mat stretch farther than is visible at first glance.

“We believe that everyone in the community is touched in one way or another through the many services provided by our member agencies,” she said. “You may have had a family member in hospice care, a neighbor in scouting who shovels snow in the winter for you, a seventh grade son or daughter who received a free membership to the YMCA, a friend whose house burned to the ground and lost everything, etc. Our member agencies are touching every person throughout the county with the help they receive from this campaign.”