The Warren County United Way kicked off the start of the campaign season by hosting a Tailgate Luncheon on Friday, September 5th at noon.  Over 100 volunteers and supporters were in attendance.

Campaign Co-Chairs, Dawn Partin, Sumco USA and Christine Breitenbach, Sibcy Cline, first announced the pacesetter results.  This season, 4 organizations took the challenge to participate as pacesetters and kick start the campaign.  The first of the 4 is Armor Metal Group in Mason.  Armor ran a first time Warren County United Way campaign, lead by Martha Newberry, Manager of Talent Acquisitions.  Their campaign consisted of employee donations, raffles featuring items from various area businesses, as well as a corporation donation.  Their campaign raised $5,032.  The next organization, Harris Products Group in Mason, is still in process of running various special events, but has raised $1,550 to date.  This campaign was lead by Kathy Stover and her team of volunteers.  The 3rd organization is Software Solutions, Inc. located in Lebanon.  Software Solutions has been a Warren County United Way supporter for many years.  In 2008, the team leader, Melissa Meeks, Director of Finance/HR, agreed to hold 6 breakfast events throughout the course of the year, if they achieved their goal, which they did.  In fact, they exceeded their goal.  The goal at Software Solutions, Inc. was to raise $150 per capita.  When complete, Software Solutions, Inc. raised $355.48 per capita.  Overall the Software Solution, Inc. raised $8,892, which is a 15.1% increase over their 2007 campaign.  WS Packaging of Mason, the last Pacesetter company, ran a first-time company golf outing for their employees and vendors, and raised $8,344.  Together, the 4 pacesetters raised $23,818 to kickoff the fall fundraising campaign.

Linda Rabolt, executive director, Interfaith Hospitality Network of Warren County, was the guest speaker.  Linda provided insight on the types of 2-job working families that she is consistently seeing frequent her agency.  These families are seeing themselves without homes and food in light of our economy.  She asks that anyone in a position to give even a little can provide so much support to some of these families and children who are need in Warren County.

Partin and Breitenbach announced the Warren County United Way 2008 Campaign Goal...which is a 1.5% increase over the amount raised in 2007.  Ira Hillary, Sumco USA and former Cincinnati Bengal, represented the United Way Team by throwing out the "goal announcement" footballs to seven Warren County United Way partner agency receivers.  The 2008 campaign goal is $2,175,000, an 8.4% increase over the 2007 goal of $2,007,000.  While this goal is a challenge, the campaign team is confident that we can all pull together and continue supporting the 29 partner agencies that provide over 70 programs right here in Warren County.

Partin and Breitenbach look at the Warren County United Way campaign as a way for our community to gather together and support each other, show pride in our community, and TEAM up to achieve great results.

GO TEAM!!