At last Thursday’s celebration event 10 lucky contestants sign up for a chance to win a 2013 Chevy Cruze. Although the car wasn’t won, area agencies were proclaimed the winners for all that the county’s people had done to have a successful United Way campaign. STAFF PHOTO/ROBERT BAKER

BY ROBERT L. BAKER

Wyoming County Press Examiner

The Wyoming County United Way once again topped the half million mark, and local directors and volunteers celebrated Thursday with a roll of the dice .

Ten individuals had been selected out of the pool of persons who pledged more than $104 to the United Way to get a chance to win a 2013 Chevy Cruze donated by Sherwood Chevrolet Buick GMC.

The only trick was they had to roll five dice and get the letters C-R-U-Z-E to appear all on top with the letters exposed.

Only a couple of contestants got two of the dice upright, so no car was given away, but  Kathi Keefe proclaimed all contestants winners for what they had already contributed.

Last September the Wyoming County United Way announced a campaign goal of $550,000, and last Thursday they had surpassed that goal by raising $556,282.

United Way’s fundraising efforts will benefit more than 22 health and human service community partners in Wyoming County.

“I cannot tell you how excited I am that we had such a successful year,: executive director Kristen Huff said. “This community is truly generous and compassionate.”

United Way Board President Flo DePolo, said wanted to thank those “who have helped to exceed our goal and help us to continue our mission of helping those in need.”

The United Way celebration event was co-sponsored by Procter & Gamble and Chesapeake Energy.

Wyoming County United Way thanked all of their individual donors who contributed to the campaign by sending in a personal pledge or through a payroll deduction campaign at their worksite.

Companies that gave a pacesetter pledge were recognized for their donation.  These business commit an early pledge of $500 or more and help to “set the pace” of the campaign.  This year’s pacesetters were Ace-Robbins,  Atty. Jane Allen, Anthony P. Litwin Funeral Homes, Bartron Supply Inc., Blue Ribbon Foundation, Bluhm Insurance Agency, Borel Builders, Inc., Att: Sandra D. Boyle, Buttonwood Farms, Charles H Corby & Sons Excavating, Inc, Comfort Inn & Suites, DGK Insurance, Dr. Leon Sidorek, ERA Brady Associates, First Liberty Bank, Frederick Lally, DDS, Gateway Ford, Gay`s True Value, Geary Enterprises Concrete, Hawk Insurance Agency, LLC, Herron Lumber, Horlacher and Sherwood, Inc. – “The Skidder Shop”, Keller Crushing and Screening, Key Stone Saw Shop, Keystone College, Kintner Modular Homes, Lochen & Chase, M & T Charitable Foundation, Masters Ready Mixed Concrete, Milnes Companies, New Shoe Store Plus, Nimble Hill Vineyard & Winery, Northstar Stone, Penelec – First Energy Foundation, Penn`s Best, Inc., Peoples Neighborhood Bank, Peoples State Bank, Procter & Gamble, Recon Enterprises, Sybilla Ruark-Lenz, Select Sire Power, Shadowbrook Inn & Resort,Sharpe`s House Bed & Breakfast ,Shedlauskas Insurance, Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, Sherwood  Chevrolet, Inc., Sherwood Freightliner, Somerset Regional Water Resources, Stone House Investment Management, Swetland Insurance, Tunkhannock Area Education Association, Tunkhannock Auto Mart, Inc., Twigs Restaurant & Café, Welch Associates, Inc., and Wise Solutions Inc., and the Wyoming County Press Examiner.

Three companies were also recognized for going above and beyond in their United Way fundraising efforts.

Procter & Gamble had a record-breaking year in their employee campaign raising $359,373 for the local United Ways.  Wyoming County received the largest portion of the employee campaign which was a total of $139,080. Procter & Gamble also gave great corporate support by donating $55,000 to this year’s campaign and donated $400 in free products to be used as a campaign incentive.

Southwestern Energy hosted the first annual Marcellus Open Golf Tournament this year, which raised $55,982 to support the Wyoming County United Way and 18 of their partner agencies who were hole sponsor beneficiaries.  Justin Tyson from Southwestern Energy also received a $2,000 community service award from Southwestern for his role in planning the Marcellus Golf Tournament which was also donated to Wyoming County United Way.

Williams also hosted a special event to help benefit Wyoming County United Way.  Williams held the inaugural Marcellus BBQ Cook-Off, which benefited 4 local United Way’s.  Every dollar raised was matched by Williams.  Wyoming County United Way received $14,000 as a result.  In addition, Williams ran a local employee campaign.  Every dollar donated by employees was also matched by Williams.  The employee campaign brought in an additional $2,596.

To find out more information about the Wyoming County United Way, you can visit their web site at www.wyomingcountyunitedway.com or call the office at 836-1661.