United Way exceeds $1 million in fundraising campaign
The crew at the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley holds signs Tuesday morning denoting the record $1.115 million raised in the 2020-21 campaign. From left are Finance and Operations Manager Michelle Lewis, Operations Assistant Carol Payne, West Virginia 211 Director Delaney Laughery and Community Impact Director Sara Hess. At the far right is Executive Director Stacy DeCicco speaking about the dedication of the staff. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
The crew at the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley poses for a photo in recognition of the 2020-21 campaign raising a record $1.115 million. From left are Program Assistant Olivia Dailey, Executive Director Stacy DeCicco, AmeriCorps Marketing Assistant Morgan DeCicco, West Virginia 211 Director Delaney Laughery, Finance and Operations Manager Michelle Lewis, Community Impact Director Sara Hess and Operations Assistant Carol Payne. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
Robin Ollis Stemple, chair of the 2020-21 campaign of the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley, speaks Tuesday morning at the announcement of the 2020-21 total. The campaign raised a record-setting $1.115 million. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
Executive Director Stacy DeCicco of the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley speaks to about 50 people at the Blennerhassett Hotel where it was announced the United Way again exceeded $1 million in its campaign. In the background is Finance and Operations Manager Michelle Lewis. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
Todd Nestor, vice president of the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley and a member of the 2020-21 campaign committee, speaks at Tuesday’s announcement the campaign raised $1.115 million. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
The crew at the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley holds signs Tuesday morning denoting the record $1.115 million raised in the 2020-21 campaign. From left are Finance and Operations Manager Michelle Lewis, Operations Assistant Carol Payne, West Virginia 211 Director Delaney Laughery and Community Impact Director Sara Hess. At the far right is Executive Director Stacy DeCicco speaking about the dedication of the staff. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
The crew at the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley poses for a photo in recognition of the 2020-21 campaign raising a record $1.115 million. From left are Program Assistant Olivia Dailey, Executive Director Stacy DeCicco, AmeriCorps Marketing Assistant Morgan DeCicco, West Virginia 211 Director Delaney Laughery, Finance and Operations Manager Michelle Lewis, Community Impact Director Sara Hess and Operations Assistant Carol Payne. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
Robin Ollis Stemple, chair of the 2020-21 campaign of the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley, speaks Tuesday morning at the announcement of the 2020-21 total. The campaign raised a record-setting $1.115 million. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
Executive Director Stacy DeCicco of the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley speaks to about 50 people at the Blennerhassett Hotel where it was announced the United Way again exceeded $1 million in its campaign. In the background is Finance and Operations Manager Michelle Lewis. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
Todd Nestor, vice president of the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley and a member of the 2020-21 campaign committee, speaks at Tuesday’s announcement the campaign raised $1.115 million. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
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PARKERSBURG -- The United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley has again exceeded its campaign goal, officials announced Tuesday.
The agency raised $1.115 million in the 2020-21 campaign, a remarkable figure in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that impacted all segments of the community and hindered fundraising of non-profit groups for the past year.
"This was the year that we had to do more," campaign Chair Robin Ollis Stemple said.
Executive Director Stacy DeCicco attributed the record-setting total to the campaign organizers and staff at the United Way, which includes Michele Lewis, Carol Payne, Sara Hess, Delaney Laughery, Olivia Dailey and Morgan DeCicco, the AmeriCorps marketing assistant.
"We got a pretty rock star team," Stacy DeCicco said.
The pandemic occupied much of the agency's time this year, DeCicco said. Besides distributing personal protection equipment and sanitizer, the United Way Alliance created the Mid-Ohio Valley COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund to help agencies providing critical services to the community.
The 211 information and referral program was answering calls at 75 percent over typical volume, DeCicco said. Sometimes the campaign took a back seat, she said.
"We overcame a lot of different obstacles to make sure this year was successful," said United Way Vice Chairman Todd Nestor, who is on the campaign committee.
Generally the announcement of the campaign total is made at the Laugh United event, however, that hasn't been held since the pandemic began.
Campaign organizers were tasked by the United Way Alliance Board of Directors three years ago to raise more than $1 million, DeCicco said. The campaign raised just more than $1 million each year before setting the record amount for 2020-21, she said.
While large donations with numerous zeros are appreciated, DeCicco said she was touched by the volume of small donations this past year, including a check for $5 from an older lady.
"That was just humbling and heartfelt," she said.
The 2020-21 campaign sponsors are Chenours, DuPont, WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center, Community Bank, Kraton, North Bend Wealth Management, FirstEnergy, United Bank, Peoples Bank, Memorial Health System, BB&T and Champion Industries Inc.
Numerous agencies in the region are supported by the United Way Alliance, including the American Red Cross of Northwest West Virginia, Belpre Area Ministries, Belpre Safetytown, Belpre Senior Center, Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg, Boys and Girls Club of Pleasants County, Boys and Girls Club of Washington County, the Caring Connection, Catholic Charities West Virginia, Children's Home Society of West Virginia, Community Action of Washington-Morgan Counties, Community Resources Inc., Consumer Credit Counseling, Dora B Woodyard Memorial Library, Ely Chapman Education Foundation, Eve Inc., Family Crisis Intervention Center, Gabriel Project of West Virginia, Go Packs, Mid-Ohio Valley Autism Community, Mid-Ohio Valley Fellowship Home, Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, O'Neill Senior Center, Parkersburg and Wood County Library, Parents and Friends of the Hearing Impaired, Recovery Point, SW Resources, The Children's Listening Place, Washington County Harvest of Hope, Williamstown Public Library, Wood County 4-H Leaders Association and the Wood County Society.