MORGANTOWN — Employee coordinators, corporate representatives, funded partners and board members of the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties braved single digits to celebrate seven digits during Thursday’s annual recognition luncheon at The Morgantown Mariott at Waterfront Place.
The luncheon commemorates the conclusion of the United Way’s annual fundraising campaign, which raised $1,254,769, or 85 percent of its $1,490,000 goal.
Campaign Chairman Andy Wells said the organization was able to pull together the largest amount raised in West Virginia so far this year despite staffing shakeups midway through the campaign, which began last summer.
“Nothing goes 100 percent smooth. We had a few changes this year throughout the campaign and we had to shift gears a little bit,” Wells said, thanking new Director of Development Macall Speaker for stepping in to help lead the effort.
“The whole point is we’ve raised a significant amount of money. This is going to help agencies. That’s what we’re all here about. We’re all here to celebrate. Today is a celebration.”
A number of corporate and individual awards were presented, including the “Best of the Best” Award, which went to WVU Medicine for raising nearly $200,000.
Drawings were also held for the campaign’s Give & Win Sweepstakes, with Tricia Shaffer, of KeyLogic, taking the top prize — a 2019 WVU football fan package including season tickets for the upcoming campaign.
The funding from the annual campaign helps support 45 programs at 27 health and human services agencies in Monongalia and Preston counties.
The 2018 campaign raised $1,527,106.
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