Community News

United Way announces annual campaign, recognizes past donors

PARKERSBURG - The United Way Alliance of the MOV began its annual campaign for the 2026-2027 season. United Way also recognized its "Leadership Circle" donors at its annual Pacesetter Recognition event.

The campaign supports locally funded agencies as well as internal programming that is provided by United Way. Stacy DeCicco, executive director for the United Way, spoke on the challenge of fundraising and the impact to "fulfill the United Way mission," in a recent press release.

“Fundraising is vital to the success of any nonprofit, yet it is a really challenging task. So many agencies and individuals in our community count on this annual campaign; if we stumble and fall short, that stumble has a ripple effect. That’s a big responsibility to carry," she said.

Recently, the United Way hosted the annual Pacesetter Recognition event, an event that "highlights and thanks the donors who are members of the Pacesetter Giving Leadership Circle - those who give $500 or more annually to the campaign."

According to the release, DeCicco said, "Giving just under $10 a week allows someone to be recognized as a Pacesetter. It seems like a small sacrifice to make in a personal budget but the collective impact of that kind of giving is strong and resonating.”

Aaron Stone, Pacesetter co-chair, shared his thoughts on charitable giving.

"Participating in a local charity is the truest test of whether you are engaged in your own community or not. In a perfect world, there would be an abundance of giving and a shortage of needs. Our United Way Pacesetters are recognized for their devoted support to making the Mid-Ohio Valley a better place to live."

In the release, DeCicco shared the ways to participate in the organization’s campaign including; hosting workplace campaigns, individual giving, volunteer programs, and donation drives.

She said the best way to get involved is visiting the organization’s website at uwamov.com or emailing her at sdecicco@uwamov.com.

DeCicco said “There is a fit for everyone who wants to make a difference in our community. We welcome the conversation to help you find the best fit for you. What we do across the MOV is critical work and provides needed impact. We cannot do that alone; we can only continue this important work because of the support of donors like our Pacesetter givers. Every dollar matters; every dollar brings the change we all want to see. We are so thankful for a community that supports our mission and celebrates our work."

Listed below are the Pacesetters who contributed to the 2025-2026 campaign:

Alexis de Tocqueville Society ($10,000 and above)

* Anonymous (1)

* Liza & Richard Adams

* John & Audrey Allen Charitable Trust

* Harry & Kathe Deitzler

* Harry H. & Margaret S. Esbenshade

* Fenton Foundation

* Leonard A. & Shirley E. Harvey Foundation

* Joyce & Steve Mestemacher

* Mary Riccobene

* The Spartan Foundation

Platinum ($5,000 – $9,999)

* Anonymous (1)

* Chris & Rita Campbell

* Jan Dils & Chuck Hughes

* Annette & Bob Fehrenbacher

* Larry & Rachel Johnson

* Barry & Jo Ellen Louden

* Becky & Jim McGinnis

* Larry & Lisa Pack

* Kim Stooke

* Sharileda Vance

Gold ($2,500 – $4,999)

* Ronald Cremeans

* Marc & Stacy DeCicco

* S. William & Martha R. Goff Memorial Fund

* Jamie & Jason Lewis

Silver ($1,000 – $2,499)

* Jon Arnold

* Chris Ashley

* Rev. Jeffery Atwater

* Sam Baker

* Derek Ballengee

* Ann Beck

* Carolyn & Greg Bolton

* Rachel Brewster

* Becky & Darren Bro

* Thomas Burch

* Beth Burch

* Mitch Burrows

* Shawn Busch

* Scott Carmicle

* Scott Chipps

* Gregory Cigal

* Corey Clegg

* Pamela Cline

* Barb & Bill Close

* Ryan Cochran

* Drew Cochran

* Anne & John Coffman

* Darcy & JT Conner

* Kevin Crislip

* Michael Crissey

* Todd Crosson

* Stacie Davis

* Michael Davis

* Martha Dawson

* Ricardo De Almeida e Silva, Jr.

* Matthew Dodrill

* Kay & Wayne Dunn

* Alex Earley

* Sierra Earley

* J. Fred Earley II & Donna Smith

* Jeffery Edman

* Michelle Elrod

* Eric & Lynn Erb

* Sally Evans

* Russell Ferrell

* Christina Fink

* Michael Floyd

* Robert Fox

* Casey Green

* Anthony Hammer

* Michael Harris

* Brian Haught

* Brian Hickman

* Henry Hickman

* James Hollingsworth

* Art & Mary Hunt

* JP & Kate Hushion

* Chad Jarvis

* Jahnavi Kakuturu

* David Karr

* Saundra Kesterson

* Mary Ann Laughery

* Casey Lemon

* Katelyn Liebau

* K C Linder

* Lynda Logan

* Nikki Mackey

* Greg Marks

* T.Jaye McCalla

* Joseph McClain

* Kat McConnell

* Paula McHenry

* Bill & Cathy Mildren

* Elisha Miles

* Corey Miller

* Heather Moore

* Tammy Morrow

* Charles Noblin

* Dorsey & Frank Northrup

* Jeremy Nutter

* Greg Osbourne

* Ben Palmer

* Avery Phillips

* Darren Phillips

* Angela Plotner

* Kimberly Polan

* Dave & Rhonda Poling

* Jill Powell

* Logan Pritchard

* Kevin Rawson

* Patrick & Rachel Reed

* Tom Reed

* Jeff Reeves

* Duke Rupert

* Jeremy Sandy

* Charles & Trudy Seita

* Andrea & Scott Shirey

* Erik Sims

* William Slone

* Angi & Sean Smith

* Gary SomervilleAmber Sparks

* Tonya Steele

* Aaron Stone

* Scot Swartz

* Tammie Tallman

* Kevin Tanner

* Sherry Taylor

* Joshua Tenney

* JT & Mary Thomas

* Michael Tracewell

* Theodore Treat

* Joel Tucker

* Josh Utt

* Ronald Utt

* Paul Van Dyke

* Robert Vanclief

* Patrick Walker

* David Wang

* Peggy Webb

* Jodi Weekley

* Jason Wheeler

* Talinda Willard

* Kevin Williamson

* James Windland

* Mike Wright

Bronze ($500 – $999)

* Steve Bahr

* Martha Ballengee

* Jacob Beha

* Melissa Blankenship

* Bob & Lori Boone

* Rhonda Boso-Suggs

* Robin Bozian

* Patrick Bryan

* Joe & Marcia Campbell

* Johnna Cooper

* Jeremy Cox

* Steven Cunningham

* Greg Daniell

* Morgan DeCicco

* Lori DeBello

* Chantel Dowler

* Bill & Connie Dziagwa

* Aaron & Delaney Eddy

* James Farrar

* Clark Ferrell

* Michael Fracassi

* Loretta Gilliam

* David Gnegy

* Morgan Hamilton

* Yasuaki Harasaki

* Ronald Harmon

* Ian Harris

* Gina Houser

* Aubree & Dexter Hughes

* Joe & Susan Hushion

* Eric Johnson

* Hollie Judson

* Kenneth Kelch

* Lewis King

* Karen & Karl Kumpf

* Carlie Lacy

* Priscilla Leavitt

* Michael Lewis

* Michelle Lewis

* Stephen Listopad

* John Logue

* Phil Logue

* Lisa Martin

* Dani McCay

* Rusty McHenry

* Franklin McMullen

* Chad & Nikki Mildren

* Kez Mitchell

* David & Janet Mongilio

* Bill & Liz Moore

* David Nickerson

* Robin Ollis-Stemple

* Mary Jo Pedersen

* Ashley Price

* Michael Ross

* Michelle Runnion

* Robert Siers

* Harry Silvis

* Melissa Shaffer

* Brent Steele

* Carol Steinhagen

* Jack & Linda Stokes

* Peyton Stover

* Phil Strobl

* Neil & Parnaz Strobl

* Martha Toppin

* Carl & Karen Waller

* Mark Whittington

* Taylor Renee Wince

* Eric Young