October 27th, 2011

Oswego, NY ? The United Way of Greater Oswego County will be hosting the 6th Annual Stone Soup Luncheon on Thursday, November 10th at St. Joseph?s Parish Center on West 1st Street in Oswego. The United Way invites community members to come together to enjoy a luncheon that will aid local food pantries. Food pantries throughout Oswego County are feeling a strain this year and this holiday season will be prove to be especially challenging as they struggle to meet the increased demand for food subsidy in Oswego County.

To assist the food pantries this holiday season the United Way?s Stone Soup Luncheon will serve as the kickoff for United Way?s Fill-A-Bag program. Resource Development Director for the United Way of Greater Oswego County, Lois Luber, explains. ?We are asking attendees to keep the shelves of our local food pantries well stocked by bringing with them a bag full of non-perishable food items that will be distributed to the pantries.

Luber said that the United Way?s Stone Soup Luncheon would also feature an opportunity to win some great door prizes. ?Businesses and organizations will be eligible for a drawing to win lunch for the office. Each bag donated receives a chance to win one of three $100 restaurant gift cards courtesy of Tesoriero Chiropractic, Advantage Carpet / Taylor Rental, and Cam?s Pizzeria. Additionally, individuals who donate a bag full of food items will be eligible for $10 and $25 restaurant gift cards,? explained Lois Luber, Resource Development Director for United Way of Oswego County.

?Our Stone Soup Luncheon is an excellent example of the ?Live United? concept as a number of caring local businesses have come forward to donate the food and beverages necessary. This year we will be expanding our soup choices as others restaurants will join our returning soup providers, Canale?s Restaurant, Vona?s Restaurant, and the American Foundry. The luncheon will also include salad, fresh baked rolls; a variety of desserts; and fresh brewed hot coffee,? added Luber.

The United Way?s Stone Soup Luncheon is open to the public and will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Thursday, November 10th at St. Joseph?s Parish Center, West First Street in Oswego. Those unable to attend the luncheon but would like to donate food items may contact Helen Hoefer, director of Catholic Charities of Oswego County?s Emergency Services program at 598-3980 for information on where to drop off non-perishable food donations throughout Oswego County. The United Way will be accepting a donation of $5.00 per person to enjoy a delicious luncheon of Stone Soup. All proceeds from the event, as well as the food that is collected, will be donated to local food pantries.

For more information, or to make reservations to attend the United Way of Greater Oswego County?s contact your United Way office at 315-593-1900 x 202.

Cut line for photo: Soup?s On! Stone Soup Planning Committee Member, Marion Ciciarelli of Oswego Health receives a cup of soup from a member of the SUNY Oswego Women?s Ice Hockey Team at last year?s United Way Stone Soup Luncheon. Scheduled for Thursday, November 10th the luncheon will at held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in St. Joseph?s Parish Center, West First Street in Oswego. All proceeds from the event, as well as the food that is collected, will be donated to local food pantries. Also serving as members of the planning committee are: Shawn Seale of Key Bank; Helen Hoefer of Catholic Charities of Oswego County, Deb Deeb of Human Concerns, community volunteer Pat Benjamin, and Aaron Thorpe of 24-Hour Record-Retriever-Abstract.

October 13th, 2011

Oswego, NY ? When it comes to helping their community and supporting their local United Way nobody knows its importance more than the employees at Novelis Oswego Works. To ensure the success of their in-house campaign for the United Way of Greater Oswego County, they decided to get off to an early start and have planned a number of unique incentives.

?I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Novelis kicked off their in-house campaign early by hosting a chicken barbeque and a drawing for a gas grill,? said Lois Luber, development director for the United Way of Greater Oswego County. ?They raised more than $500 and got their campaign off to a fast start.?

According to Carol Dillabough of Novelis the company?s United Way campaign team was excited to get the campaign underway. ?Novelis Oswego Works is united as a team for the purpose of reaching our goal for the United Way of Greater Oswego County?s Annual Campaign. Our internal United Way team LIVE UNITED with the same goals and objectives of the United Way. Our Novelis United Way team was happy to get a jump-start on our campaign. Thanks to the support we received from the community, the Oswego Elks Club and the efforts of our volunteers, our chicken barbecue was a success.?

Dick Delaney, a member of the Novelis internal United Way campaign team added that the team is dedicated to keeping their fellow employees informed of the United Way?s impact on their community. ?We talk about our community needs and how we are proud of Novelis supporting the needs of people throughout Oswego County. Our employees understand the needs of our community, as our teams are able to find examples of families and individuals within our own organization that have benefited from services offered through United Way agencies and present those examples to our workforce. We keep our teams updated on the status of the campaign and adjust our strategy as needed to reach our goal. Additionally, Cindy Schremp administers a very successful retiree campaign.

Delaney also credited the friendly competitions between departments as an incentive to support their campaign. ?We have contests between departments involving management personnel relating to participating levels for each department. One example of such is currently underway in our Cold Mill department. If the Cold Mill department leads the plant in employee participation for our United Way campaign, the Cold Mill manager, who is a loyal Buffalo Sabers fan, will wear a Rangers jersey for a day! Novelis recognizes the many benefits of being socially responsible and management strongly supports our internal United Way campaign. They also allow the employees to be creative with the campaign and let us conduct it in a hands-off manner. Novelis? encouragement and our employees enthusiasm are the keys to our success!? said Delaney.

Cut line for photo: Lois Luber, resource development director with United Way of Greater Oswego County recently met with Novelis Oswego Works? internal United Way campaign team to discuss team?s efforts. The Novelis team got their campaign off to a fast start and are well on their way to reaching their goal. Above from left are: Cindy Finnegan, Lois Luber, Carol Dillabough, Tim Foster, Thomas Ware, Joyce Pritchard, Cheryl Greer, Bree Simoneau and Dick Delaney.