Coshocton United Way donors honored at annual breakfast

Leonard L. Hayhurst, Coshocton Tribune
·4 min read

COSHOCTON − The United Way of Coshocton County recently honored donors with its annual awards breakfast at Coshocton Village Inn and Suites.

Emma Mitchell, director of the United Way of Coshocton County, speaks at the annual awards breakfast at Coshocton Village Inn and Suites to honor donors, wrap up the current fundraising campaign and gear up for the new campaign.
Emma Mitchell, director of the United Way of Coshocton County, speaks at the annual awards breakfast at Coshocton Village Inn and Suites to honor donors, wrap up the current fundraising campaign and gear up for the new campaign.

The event recognizes the top givers from the last fundraising campaign, gears up for the next and reiterates the importance of the charitable organization to the community.

The current campaign is at $279,000 of its $300,000 goal with all divisions at more than 75% of its individual goals. Money will continue to trickle in until the 2023 to 2024 campaign starts around Labor Day.

The local chapter has gone through a transition in the last year with Executive Director Lyn Mizer retiring and being replaced by Emma Mitchell. She has been impressed by the community support across the board since coming on.

"It's just showing the community the small ways you can give back and showing them how appreciative we are of their support throughout the years. It's making sure those people know their donations and support doesn't go unnoticed," Mitchell said on the importance of the annual breakfast.

The corporate sponsor for the current campaign is Genesis HealthCare Systems. Taking that role for the coming campaign is Cleveland Cliffs. Corporate sponsors provide funding toward campaign expenses so all donations go directly to programming.

United Way of Coshocton County Board President Steve Oster with Troy Balo of Cleveland Cliffs. The Coshocton plant received the President's Award for donating more than $10,000 during the current campaign and it will serve as the corporate sponsor for the 2023 to 2024 campaign.
United Way of Coshocton County Board President Steve Oster with Troy Balo of Cleveland Cliffs. The Coshocton plant received the President's Award for donating more than $10,000 during the current campaign and it will serve as the corporate sponsor for the 2023 to 2024 campaign.

Local general manager Troy Balo said the company's support of United Way extends to plants in other counties and states and back through the years over various name changes. It was previously AK Steel.

"I encourage everybody here, please, to do whatever you can to support United Way. It's an important organization for this community," he told the attendees.

Cleveland Cliffs and Coshocton Regional Medical Center also earned President's Awards for donating more than $10,000. Kaylee Andrews, director of business development and marketing for CRMC, said the hospital and United Way have the same common goal of supporting the community.

"Our employees and staff have always been so supportive of this community. They live here, they work here, a lot of them were even born in our hospital. Giving back to the community is just very important for people who have lived and worked here their whole lives," she said.

Debbie Ringwalt of McWane Ductile with Steve Oster, president of the United Way of Coshocton County board, at the annual United Way breakfast to honor donors. McWane received the top giver award for $60,000 in the current campaign. The maker of ductile iron pipe has given about $700,000 over the past 20 years.
Debbie Ringwalt of McWane Ductile with Steve Oster, president of the United Way of Coshocton County board, at the annual United Way breakfast to honor donors. McWane received the top giver award for $60,000 in the current campaign. The maker of ductile iron pipe has given about $700,000 over the past 20 years.

The top giver award went to McWane Ductile, who has claimed that honor several times in the past. The maker of ductile iron pipe donated $60,000 this year and approximately $700,000 over the past 20 years. General Manager Tom Crawford credits that to their employees, who have always been strong supporters of the United Way through paycheck contributions and other fundraising efforts.

"With the United Way being here for 83 years, it's a big part of the community. They're in touch with all the different organizations in need. It's a great way to give to one organization that's able to distribute that money in a way best suited for the community," Crawford said.

The local chapter currently has 12 partner agencies that receive financial support from the organization. They are the American Red Cross, Boys Scouts of America, Coshocton CARES, Coshocton County Handicapped Society, First Step Family Violence Intervention Services, Girls Scouts of USA, Maternal Child and Health Center, Coshocton County Salvation Army and recreation programs for Ridgewood, River View (with two) and Coshocton. Funding also goes toward Community Impact Grants, The Dolly Parton Imagination Library and other programs.

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on Twitter at @llhayhurst.

United Way Donor Awards

Gold Awards ($1,000 to $10,000)

Baird Concrete, Coshocton County Commissioners Office, Hopewell School/Board of DD, Coshocton County Juvenile and Probate Court, Coshocton County Maternal and Child Health Center, Coshocton Grain Company, People's Bank, Coshocton County Board of Health, Park National Bank, Ridgewood Elementary Staff, Frontier Power Company, American Electric Power, AmVets, Annin Flagmakers, Buckeye Brine, Buckeye Fabric Finishing, Classic Auto Supply, Coshocton Behavioral Health Choices, Coshocton School Elementary Staff, Coshocton Elementary Students, Coshocton Junior High and High School Staff, Coshocton Junior High and High School Students, Coshocton City Schools Superintendent's Office, Coshocton County Career Center, Coshocton County Engineer's Office, Coshocton County Job and Family Services, Coshocton County Sheriff's Office, Coshocton County Coordinated Transportation Agency, Home Loan Savings Bank, Jones Metal Products, Kraft Heinz Foods, MFM, Ridgewood Middle School Staff, River View Central Office, River View High School Staff, River View High School Student Council, Wilson Carpet and Furniture and WTNS Radio.

Silver Award ($500 to $999)

City of Coshocton Water Billing Department, Pleasant Valley Veterinary Clinic, Auer Ace Hardware, City of Coshocton Waste Water Treatment Department, Coshocton Count Beacon, Coshocton County Common Pleas Court, Cohocton County-Ohio State University Extension, Coshocton Public Library, Dean's Jewelry, Erwin Family Eye Care, First Step Family Violence Intervention Services, Golden Key Realty, Hasseman Marketing, Hilscher-Clarke, Jacobs Vanaman Agency, Reed Family Dental, Ridgewood Elementary Students, River View Keene Elementary Staff, River View Warsaw Elementary Staff, River View Conesville Elementary Staff and Tri-Mac Farms.

Bronze Award ($250 to $499)

Bexley Anns Boutique, Bradford Financial, Coshocton Fire Department, Coshocton Mayor's Office, Coshocton Auditor's Office, Coshocton County Emergency Medical Services, Coshocton County Maintenance Department, Coshocton County Recorder's Office, Coshocton County Veterans Services, Coshocton KOA, Endsley Insurance Agency, Hathaway Inc., Muskingum Valley Health Center, Pizza Point, Randy Lee Kreuter DDS, Ridgewood High School Staff, Ridgewood Junior High Staff and Wooly Pig.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Coshocton United Way donors honored at annual breakfast