Bill Hillgrove of WTAE TV4 and Over 200 Guests Honor Community Investors at United Way Annual Campaign Celebration

Greensburg, PA (April 7, 2010) Over 240 community investors, company partners and leaders gathered at United Way of Westmoreland County’s (UWWC) Tenth Annual Campaign Celebration on Wednesday, April 7 at Ferrante’s Lakeview Restaurant, Greensburg. Curtis Davis, COO of Allegheny Energy – Generation, and the 2009 Campaign Chair, opened the event thanking everyone for helping United Way reach a projected $3.6 million and how this support in volunteerism and funding will make a significant impact in our community. Bill Hillgrove of WTAE Channel 4, serving as Master of Ceremonies, brought his great voice and wit to this event which highlighted the great successes of many companies and individuals in supporting United Way’s work in the community. 

WTAE Channel 4’s Bill Hillgrove served as Master of Ceremonies for the

United Way of Westmoreland County’s Annual Campaign Celebration

at Ferrante’s Lakeview Restaurant.

Over 50 companies were represented at this year’s award event. Companies, schools and agencies honored include ABB Inc., Allegheny Energy, Derry Area School District, Dominion Transmission, Elliott Company, Excela Health, Family Services of Western Pennsylvania, Kennametal Inc., Penn Trafford School District, UPS Laurel Mountain District, Westinghouse Electric Company, Westmoreland Community Action and Westmoreland County Community College.

From left to right, Donna Vareha-Walsh of Kennametal Inc., Nancy Kukovich of United Way of Westmoreland County, Kim Benson of UPS and David Fisfis of Allegheny Energy receive United Way’s Above and Beyond Award for companies that raise over $200,000 in employee and corporate support for United Way.

Nancy Kukovich, President of United Way of Westmoreland County presented to Brian Miller and

Chris Reinbold of ABB the President’s Award for consistent support of United Way by employees of ABB.

Three of the highest campaign awards, the Chair of the Board, President's and Westmoreland Award are given to companies and individuals who have served as significant leaders and contributors. The President’s Award went to ABB Inc. and was presented to Employee Campaign Chair, Brian Miller, and Chris Reinbold, Senior Vice President and General Manager, for their efforts to build strong involvement within the company at all levels. The Westmoreland Award was presented to Laurie Connors and Bill Magda, of Westmoreland County Community College, as these campaign volunteers demonstrated outstanding support in mobilizing their institution to a new milestone in their campaign.

Curtis Davis (left), United Way’s 2009 Campaign Chair, presented Laurie Connors (center) and
Bill Magda (right) the Westmoreland Award for individuals who execute innovative campaigns which increase participation and engagement for United Way’s work in the community.

Mary Ann Gawelek, Board Chair of UWWC, presented the Chair of the Board Award to Allegheny Energy for its extraordinary growth in its campaign. Under the leadership of Employee Campaign Chair, David Fisfis, the employee campaign grew its leadership givers to over 160 members and raised just over $500,000 corporate-wide.

David Fisfis of Allegheny Energy receives the Chair of the Board Award from Mary Ann Gawelek (not shown) Provost of Seton Hill University and Nancy Kukovich, President of United Way of Westmoreland County, for his company's outstanding effort of raising more than $500,000 for United Way in 2009.

Special recognition went to Calvin McCutcheon of McCutcheon Enterprises, Inc., for leading the Day of Caring in 2009. Through his active support as chair, this area-wide volunteer event mobilized over 700 individuals from 50 companies to help clean and improve local agencies and community organizations.

In the area of community service and impact, Roberta McCahan, Superintendent of Derry Area School District, was awarded United Way’s School Readiness Children’s Champion Award.

Roberta McCahan, Superintendent of Derry Area School District, receives United Way’s School Readiness
Children’s Champion Award from Nancy Kukovich, President of the United Way of Westmoreland County.

Two new awards focused on the commitment and support for the common good by local schools and United Way partner agencies.  The Leading the Way Award was presented to both Derry Area School District and Penn-Trafford School District for their innovative engagement among faculty and students, and triple-digit growth in their campaigns this year.  For agencies showing excellence in supporting the community and United Way, Family Services of Western Pennsylvania and Westmoreland Community Action each received the Partners of Distinction Award. 

Daniel Dinapoli and Karin Coiner of the Penn Trafford School District and Tony Perla and Kathy Denara of the Derry Area School District received from Nancy Kukovich from the United Way, the Leading the Way Award for school districts that excellent in supporting United Way through growth and innovation in their campaigns.

In closing, Curtis Davis thanked all of the agency and company representatives and urged everyone to support the new 2010 Campaign Chair, Chris Reinbold of ABB, Inc.  Special thanks was given to Bill Hillgrove for shepherding the event and awards, and also to the United Way Campaign Incentive sponsors, Dominion Transmission, Hillview Motors, OMNOVA Solutions, Inc., Sendell Motors, Inc., Shop’n Save Family Supermarkets, Smail Auto Group, Sony Technology Center – Pittsburgh and Toyota-Scion Hyundai of Greensburg.