United Way begins it’s annual “Pacesetter” campaign with $315,000 goal

Kent, OHIO—    The United Way of Portage County “kicked off” the 2008 “Pacesetter” campaign with a campaign breakfast rally at Kent Social Services. 22 businesses and agencies in Portage County will run this year as community “Pacesetters”. The breakfast was served by community volunteers and staff of Kent Social Services to over 60 community supporters.

 The purpose of the breakfast was to energize the base supporters that run model campaigns during the summer months. A United Way “Pacesetter” is an organization or company that runs their campaign during the summer and heavily promotes giving and community involvement for the rest of the county to model.

“The Pacesetter drive is crucial to our success each year” said Steve Kleiber, President of United Way of Portage County.   “Their lead is a measure of how well the annual fall campaign will be each year” Kleiber said.  There are many organizations that will run as Pacesetters in 2008. The list of community Pacesetters includes:  Allen Aircraft,  American Red Cross, Butler Wick Co., Children’s’ Advocacy Center, Coleman Professional Services, Community Legal Aid Services, Cosar Mold, Deluxe Corporation, Family & Community Services, Inc, First Place Bank, Home Savings Bank, Huntington Bank, Mental Health & Recovery Board, Mobile Meals, Portage Community Bank, Portage County Government, Record Publishing Company, Robinson Memorial Hospital, Salvation Army, The Davey Tree Expert Company, Townhall II, and United Way of Portage County,