Officially launching the 2025 Campaign, Schuylkill United Way held its annual Kick Off Breakfast on Sept. 6, at St. Nicholas Banquet Hall near Minersville.

SUW set the campaign goal at $1,175,000. The funds will fuel the work of the organization and its 15 partner agencies that operate vital programs and services in Schuylkill County for little or no cost.

Emceeing the event was John Gleisner, Schuylkill Unied Way board president and general manager for Dollar General Perishable Distribution Center. Captains Derek and Betty Ellen Barrett, with the Salvation Army Pottsville Corps, a partner agency, gave the invocation and benediction.

Other speakers included:

• Mike Joyce, SUW director of community engagement.

• Chris Dende, SUW assistant campaign chair and vice president of human resources at Mrs. T’s Pierogies.

• Peter Brown, executive director of the American Red Cross in Schuylkill County.

• Mark Mikita, SUW campaign chair and transportation manager at Wegmans.

• Cathy Miorelli, executive director of Nurse-Family Partnership of Schuylkill County.

• Kelly K. Malone, SUW executive director.

In his remarks, Mikita, a Schuylkill County native, said that he recently learned from his mother that his brother was assisted by a Schuylkill United Way partner agency, the Schuylkill County Society for Pediatric Orthopedics. His mother also volunteered with the society when she worked for the former Pottsville Hospital.

Released at the breakfast was the annual SUW campaign video. This year, it featured the work of the American Red Cross in Schuylkill County with a focus on its Sound the Alarm program, and local volunteers trained to respond to house fires and natural disasters.

On May 10, as part of SUW’s Captain Jason B. Jones Memorial Day of Caring, volunteers worked with the American Red Cross and Girardville Ranger Hose Company to install 113 smoke detectors in 42 houses in Girardville and Ashland.

Highlights of SUW 2024 programs announced by Mike Joyce include the annual Captain Jason B. Jones Memorial Day of Caring; Stuff the Bus, which provided 2,000 new backpacks and schools supplies to county students; the Nurse’s Pantry, an updated Community Resource Guide; a successful spring golf tournament that brought in $20,000; and the seventh annual High School Football Challenge, which raised a record $33,500 this year, and crowned the Blue Mountain Eagles the champions.

Mikita and Dende worked with SUW staff to create a series of videos to highlight the work of the Schuylkill United Way, its partner agencies and the annual campaign. Videos are on the Schuylkill United Way website, www.schuylkillunitedway.org.

The John E. Morgan Foundation, located in Tamaqua, will again be matching new Pacesetter donations or the increased amount a Pacesetter gives. For example, if a new donor gives $10 per week, or $520 total in a year, that gift to SUW becomes $1,040. If someone gave $520 last year and increased their donation to $550 for the year, foundation will match that $30 increase and make it a $60 gift.

Pledge cards and prize stubs are due by noon Nov. 14 for donors to be eligible for a variety of prizes, including a 2024 Volkswagen Taos S valued at $28,000, Malone said.

A total of $35,800 in prizes were donated by local businesses. Winners will be drawn at the SUW Appreciation Breakfast on Nov. 15. at St. Nicholas Banquet Hall.

To schedule a Schuylkill United Way workplace or organization presentation to learn more about the United Way and its campaign, contact Mike Joyce at 570-622-6421 or mjoyce@schuylkillunitedway.org.

People can also make a secure donation to SUW at https://schuylkillunitedway.org/donate/.