GENESEO — The United Way of Livingston County hosted its 2013 Campaign Kick-Off Breakfast at the Oak Valley Reception Center in Geneseo this Friday. The event began with an introduction from Barry Heywood, Chair of the Board of Directors, explaining the United Way’s cause and the outline for this year’s campaign. This year the United Way of Livingston County will aim to do more, with less, as their goal is smaller than its Rochester affiliate.
“Livingston County takes care of its own. I mean, I know that that’s an overused phrase but quite frankly I think there’s a passion about the people, our friends and our neighbors who live around us,” said Bill Bacon, Vice-Chair of the 2013 Campaign.
Following Heywood’s introduction, Lisa Burns, the 2013 Campaign Chair, was brought up to the podium to announce the board of directors for recognition.
Shortly after, a video tribute to Gertrude Houston was played. Houston was an eight-time Emmy Award winning television producer from Geneseo that was very involved with the local Livingston County and Wyoming County United Ways, who passed away on June 1, 2012. She had a great passion for the United Way and produced inspiring videos telling stories of individuals and families who have benefited from the United Way of Livingston County.
Burns then announced the 2013 campaign’s overall goal. This year, the United Way of Livingston County will seek to raise $245,000.
Matt Cole, the Campaign Chair for 2012, then took the podium to discuss the success of the United Way’s ‘Gala in the Valley’ fundraiser event sponsored by Wegmans that was hosted at the Wadsworth Homestead this past fall.
“We ended up bringing 174 people to this event,” said Cole. The Gala in the Valley raised $12,557 for the United Way in 2012, and the organization is looking forward to hosting the event once again this year in late September.
The United Way of Livingston County will seek to reach their campaign goal for 2013 in order to benefit charitable organizations throughout the county.
“I’m very proud to be affiliated with united way of Livingston county, it’s an excellent organization that serves a strong need in this county…We do the best we can with what we’ve got,” said Bacon.
For more information on the United Way of Livingston County, please visit www.uwlivingston.org and the United Way of Livingston County Facebook page.