August 27th, 2012

Fulton, NY ? When United Way of Greater Oswego County kicks-off its 2012 / 2013 Campaign one of the highlights of the event will be the premier of the video It?s Our Community….and It?s Personal featuring Oswego County Opportunities ?Meals on Wheels? program. It is the second video that Allain Daigle, a Cinema and Screen Studies and Creative Writing major at SUNY Oswego, has produced for United Way. His first video debuted at the United Way Annual Meeting earlier this year.

?Working with United Way has been a great opportunity for me. I enjoyed producing the video for United Way?s Annual Meeting and I?m happy that they asked me to produce a video for their Campaign Kick-Off as well,? said Daigle.

According to Daigle, the video focuses on the positive impact that one of United Way?s funded programs has on Oswego County. I appreciated being able to see first hand the positive impact that Oswego County Opportunities ?Meals on Wheels? program has on the community. This program is an example of how United Way improves lives in Oswego County. OCO?s dedicated employees and caring volunteers made it easy to achieve my goal of capturing the spirit of the community. The film provides a creative and visually interesting way to launch the United Way of Greater Oswego County?s 2012/2013 kickoff message, It?s Our Community….and It?s Personal.? said Daigle.

In addition to producing videos for United Way, Daigle has also produced videos for the City of Oswego. During his internship with the city Daigle he produced promotional videos for Warm Up Oswego and a shop local initiative. He also worked on a video for the city regarding prospective homebuyers and first time homebuyers. ?I enjoy helping the city communicate more and deliver positive messages. My projects for the city and United Way have given me the opportunity to work with abstract ideas in a tangible setting and meld film theory with production work,? said Daigle.

Daigle has found that his work experiences with United Way and the City of Oswego are proving to be beneficial in many ways. ?On a personal level, these projects have really helped me develop an appreciation for community development and an understanding of the vital work that non-profit agencies do. Professionally, producing these videos has helped me hone my video and editing skills, develop a better understanding of developing a story, and engaging and interviewing individuals,? said Daigle.

A native of Otisville, NY Daigle is looking forward to graduate school and eventually a teaching career. ?I enjoy working other students and seeing their projects come to fruition. I have helped to establish two film festivals at SUNY Oswego that provide students with an opportunity to express themselves creatively while learning about film making, adapting, and team work.?

The United Way Annual Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast, sponsored by Burritt Motors, CENG, Entergy, and Planned Results, will be held Wednesday, September 12th from 8:00 ? 9:00 a.m. at the American Foundry, 246 West Seneca St. (behind Fajita Grill on Route 104 West) in Oswego. The cost to attend the United Way Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast is $15.00. For more information, or to make reservations to attend the United Way Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast, contact Lois Luber at your United Way office, 315-593-1900 or via e-mail at loisunitedway@windstream.net.

Cut line for photo: Rob Rolfe of Pathfinder Bank and Chairperson for the United Way?s Campaign Cabinet meets with the guest speakers (left) and the volunteers featured in the United Way video, It?s our Community?and It?s Personal. Produced by SUNY Oswego student Allain Daigle, the video will premier at the United Way Annual Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast to be held Wednesday, September 12th from 8:00 ? 9:00 a.m. at the American Foundry, 246 West Seneca St. (behind Fajita Grill on Route 104 West) in Oswego. For more information contact Lois Luber at your United Way office, 315-593-1900 or via e-mail at loisunitedway@windstream.net. From left are Joe Lacey, graduate of the OCO PATH program; Tim Connors, Rob Rolfe, Debra Braden, member of the United Way Community Investment Committee; Meals on Wheels volunteer, Laraine Crisafulli, and Executive Director of OCO, Diane Cooper-Currier.

August 27th, 2012

Fulton, NY – Entergy?s FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant recently presented the United Way of Greater Oswego County with a corporate check in support of the United Way?s 2012 Annual Campaign.

Each year Entergy Corporate matches the funds raised through their employee campaign in support of the United Way dollar for dollar. Entergy?s FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant employees lent their financial support to the United Way in a number of ways including; payroll deduction, drawings, and a silent auction. Their generous donations provided the United Way with $74,000. Entergy?s support plays a major role in the success of the United Way?s annual campaign, as their combined contribution was $148,000.

?We are particularly proud of the Entergy FitzPatrick team this year,? said Brian Finn, Campaign Coordinator for Entergy?s United Way campaign. ?We increased our contributions by 40% and had the highest number of contributors in the history of the station. The employees at FitzPatrick consistently assist neighbors and friends in the county through a number of charity and volunteer organizations?

Executive Director of the United Way of Greater Oswego County, Melanie Trexler, was happy to receive the donation and praised Entergy?s FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant and its employees. ?Entergy continues to be a faithful supporter of the United Way. Their significant contribution to our annual campaign helps us to continue to provide funding for the many human services programs that are administered through our member agency programs and provide relief to those in need in Oswego County,? she said.

Entergy?s FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant 2013 employee campaign in support of United Way will begin the week of October 15th.

Cut line for photo: Powerful Support. Brian Finn, United Way board member and Director of Nuclear Safety Assurance for Entergy?s FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant presents President of the United Way of Greater Oswego County?s Board of Directors, Kathy Fenlon, director of the Oswego City / County Youth Bureau with a check for $74,000 from Entergy Corporate. The check represents the corporate match of the dollars donated to the United Way?s Annual Campaign by the employees of Entergy?s FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant. Also pictured are Rob Rolfe of Pathfinder Bank and Chairperson for the United Way?s Campaign Cabinet; and Executive Director for United Way of Greater Oswego County, Melanie Trexler.

August 24th, 2012

Thanks to the tremendous outpouring of support we received from the community and the tireless effort of our many volunteers, the Annual Stuff-A-Bus Campaign, a partnership between Oswego County School Districts and United Way of Greater Oswego County, was a resounding success.

The donations of school supplies that we received from individuals and businesses, the work of the volunteers who sorted and distributed the school supplies, and the cooperation we received from businesses that graciously hosted a bus and served as an official drop site for school supplies is appreciated more than words can express.

The success of the Stuff-A-Bus Campaign would not have been possible if not for the collaborative efforts of the Fulton, Phoenix, Hannibal, Mexico, APW, Pulaski, Sandy Creek, Central Square, and Oswego School Districts, the CSEA, and OCTA. Their efforts, along with that or our many volunteers and Stuff-A-Bus committee co-chairpersons, JoAnn Conzone, and Melanie Trexler, executive director of United Way of Greater Oswego County, helped to put smiles on the faces of hundreds of children who as a result of the Stuff-A-Bus Campaign now have the school supplies they need for a successful start to the school year. It was moving to see the expressions on the faces of the families that received school supplies for their children. Their gratitude was immeasurable.

Thank you to the countless number of community members who donated school supplies and to the businesses that served as an official school supply collection site. Your concern for the youth of Oswego County is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
William W. Crist
Superintendent of Schools
Oswego City School District

August 23rd, 2012

Fulton, NY ? Members of the United Way of Greater Oswego County?s Campaign Cabinet are busy putting the final touches on the agenda for one of Oswego County?s most meaningful events the United Way?s Annual Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast. Scheduled for Wednesday, September 12th, the event, which is being sponsored by Burritt Motors, CENG, Entergy, and Planned Results, will be held from 8:00 ? 9:00 a.m. at the American Foundry, 246 West Seneca St. (behind Fajita Grill on Route 104 West) in Oswego.

Executive Director of the United Way of Greater Oswego County, Melanie Trexler, said that the United Way?s Campaign Cabinet, under the direction of Chairperson, Rob Rolfe of Pathfinder Bank, has been working diligently to ensure that the United Way?s Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast is an enlightening and inspiring event that will provide community members with a better understanding of the positive impact the United Way has on Oswego County. ?Our Campaign Cabinet is looking forward this year?s campaign and are 100% committed to achieving our goals. They will be sharing their enthusiasm for United Way at our Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast by championing the theme for this year?s campaign? It?s our community?and it?s personal,? said Trexler.

Comprised of a cross section of concerned community leaders, the United Way?s Campaign Cabinet works hand in hand with the United Way staff as they plan, implement, and oversee the United Way?s Annual Campaign. Whether it?s helping to establish employee giving campaigns, arranging company presentations, or speaking with civic groups and other organizations, the members of the United Way?s Campaign Cabinet are dedicated to sharing the United Way?s mission with the community.

Lois Luber, resource development director said, ?The Campaign Cabinet?s commitment to the United Way and their ability to inspire their fellow community members is what will make this campaign a success. We are truly appreciative of their efforts and are proud to count them among our supporters.?

The United Way?s Annual Campaign serves as the organizations primary fundraiser as the campaign looks to raise money in support of the many human services programs that the United Way and its member agencies provide for those who live in Oswego County. Open to the public, the Campaign Kick-Off provides community members with the opportunity to learn more about the mission of the United Way and encourage them to support the 2012 / 2013 campaign.

The cost to attend the United Way Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast is $15.00. For more information, or to make reservations to attend the United Way Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast, contact Lois Luber at your United Way office, 315-593-1900 or via e-mail at loisunitedway@windstream.net.

Cut line for photo: Executive Director of the United Way of Greater Oswego County, Melanie Trexler meets with members of the United Way?s Campaign Cabinet in preparation for United Way?s Annual Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast. Scheduled for 8:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 12th at the American Foundry in Oswego, the event will highlight the United Way?s community partnerships and focus on the agency?s vision of improving lives by empowering our community. For more information or to make reservations, contact your United Way office at 593-1900. Above from left are: Dick Delaney of Novelis; Jonathan Daniels, executive director, Port of Oswego Authority; Melanie Trexler, executive director, United Way of Greater Oswego County; Campaign Chairperson, Robert Rolfe with Pathfinder Investment Services; Brian Finn of Entergy; and Terry Syrell of CENG.