United Way of Lake County to Raffle Holiday Gift Baskets to the Public

United Way of Lake County employees are trying something new this year for their internal campaign. They've gathered the best in Lake County and put together great holiday baskets that you can bid on and win. These wonderful baskets will make great holiday gifts for the low price of just $5 for six tickets. That's right - all it takes is $5 to win and help those in need in Lake County.

The raffle begins today and will run through Friday, November 18. Don't pass up this opportunity. Stop by the office Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at 9285 Progress Parkway in Mentor or call Nick Carrabine at 440.639.1131 to order tickets.

All money raised during the 2011 United Way of Lake County campaign benefits programs that focus on senior citizens, health and human services, children and families and basic needs.

Special thanks to all the vendors who made donations. Below is a description of each basket:

Sports & Entertainment: Four tickets to a 2011-2012 Cleveland Cavaliers game; Four Club Seat Tickets to a Lake Erie Monsters Game; Two gift certificates for 18 holes at Black Brook Golf Course; $25 gift certificates to Flannery's Pub, Ballentine and Willoughby Brewing Co.; $20 gift certificates to Stadium Bar & Grille and Giuseppe's Pizza; Two gift certificates for 24 wing buckets at Winking Lizard and Nike Golf Balls.

Atlas Cinemas: Four movies passes; $30 Atlas gift certificate and eight boxes of candy.

Extreme Pizza and Beer: Gift certificates to Celebrity's Pizza, Guilio Bonazza's, Guys Pizza, Hungry Howie's, J's Pizza Market, Romeo's and Zappitelli's, a six-pack of Yuengling Lager a six-pack of Arcadia Ales Jaw-Jacker beer.

Make Up and Bags:  Make up, bags and jewelry from Christian Dior, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bobbi Brown.

Upgrade Your Space 1: Cormac computer desk; Computer diagnostic/virus check; 4 GB Cruzer Blade thumb drive; Musical inspiration CD; Lake Health coffee mug and one hour of Microsoft Excel training.

Upgrade Your Space 2: Original framed photographs of Chagrin Forest and North Chagrin Reservation taken in the fall of 2010.

Hershey Homemade: Handcrafted items by students at the Huntsburg campus of Hershey Montessori School which include: Wooden birdhouse; Framed 5 x 7 student photograph of Mentor Headlands; Student-processed maple syrup; Student-canned pickles, salsa and preserves; Two hand-woven placemats; Wooden tongs; Two wooden ornaments; Three beeswax votive candles; Handcrafted bead bracelet; Three 5 x 7 cards of original photography; Two 5-packs of 4 x 6 cards of original photography; Ten postcards with picture of original schoolhouse.

Golf: Four rounds of golf at Quail Hollow Resort plus three individual golf lessons.

Oscar Giovanni Hair Salon: $200 gift certificate plus salon products including hairspray, moisture repair conditioner, repair shampoo, oil treatment and two polishes.

Car Care Kit: $100 gas card from Sunoco and $100 in car wash products.

Fish Fry: A Presto FryDaddy Elite electric deep fryer and five pounds of fresh caught Lake Erie Perch.

Yankee Candle and Shade: Yankee Candles, jewelry and a Live Laugh Love notepad.

An Array of Goodies: $50 gift certificate to John Palmer's Bistro 44, a Steve Madden Designer Scarf and lavender lotions and soaps.

Snowdrop Holiday: Four tickets to Country Lights at Lake Metroparks Farmpark; Admission to Santa's Workshop, Four dinners; Collector's item Snowdrop and the award winning book: Snowdrop's True Color; Holiday sweet treats, Alex Bevan Magic Moments CD and a collector's item Natural History of Lake County collector book.

Ladies & Gentlemen: $100 dollars in hair and salon products from Ladies & Gentleman.

Beautiful Hair: A cut and style along with assorted Onesta hair care products from jenniffer & co.

Thanks to North and South high schools for raising money for United Way

(Eastlake North Principal Jennifer Chauby and Willoughby South Principal Paul Lombardo)

Students from North and South high schools spent the week of October 24 competing against each other to see who could raise the most money for United Way of Lake County.

The competition ended during Thursday night's rivalry football game at South High School. Thanks to both schools for LIVING UNITED and giving back to the community.

To check out more photos and videos from Thursday night's football game, visit our Facebook page!

Students will battle for top student campaign during North/South football game

For the third straight year, students from Eastlake North and Willoughby South will battle it out over the gridiron Thursday night to see which high school raised more money during their 2011 United Way of Lake County campaigns.

During the game, which will be televised live at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports Ohio, the schools will announce how much money their student campaigns raised.

The money collected that night will be added to the total of each schools’ campaign and the winner will be announced at halftime followed by a brief ceremony.

Both schools are looking forward to the friendly competition and are pleased that their students are taking the initiative to give back to the community.

“It’s great that the students get involved with this important community campaign, especially with the economy the way it is right now and people struggling,” said Jennifer Chauby, principal of Eastlake North. “It’s important to come together as a community and help our own people out, and it’s also important for our students to understand how much of an impact they can have in their own community.”

Willoughby South Principal Paul Lombardo said he enjoys competing against Eastlake North every year.

“For years we’ve had a nice, friendly rivalry with North, and it’s enhanced by allowing students to raise money for a great cause for United Way,” he said. “The students absolutely love it and I think it’s one of the most important lessons we can teach students: to volunteer and to give back to a great organization like United Way of Lake County.”

Fans attending the game are encouraged to donate either cash or food to United Way of Lake County. Super Raffle tickets will be available during the event. This year’s Super Raffle boasts more than 50 prizes including a 2-year lease on a Mazda 6i Sport or $5,000 cash option, trips to the Bahamas, San Francisco, Florida and Chicago as well as many other top prizes.

The food donations will be distributed to five food pantries in the Willoughby and Eastlake areas the following day.

All money raised during the 2011 United Way of Lake County campaign benefits programs that focus on senior citizens, health & human Services, children & families and basic needs.

Mentor High School students 'Stall the Teacher' for UWLC

Students from Mentor High School raised about $2,300 for United Way of Lake County on Tuesday during the school’s second annual “Stall the Teacher” day.

Teachers who implement “Stall the Teacher” allow students to bring coins and dollar bills to the front of the classroom and teachers cannot start the class until all the money is counted.

The tradition started last year when students wanted to get more involved in giving back to the community, said Michelle Morris, the high school’s Spanish teacher and co-advisor for student government.

“The students wanted to do it again this year because last year we were able to raise so much money, and all of it goes to United Way of Lake County,” Morris said. “I think it’s huge for the students to be charity-minded because it makes for a well-rounded student. They’re giving back to the community and the money stays in the community they live in.”

Tuesday’s effort was part of the Mentor Schools’ United Way of Lake County Campaign, which will run until February, Morris said.

All money raised during the 2011 United Way of Lake County campaign benefits programs that focus on senior citizens, health & human Services, children & families and basic needs.

In the photo: Geometry teacher Wendy Rossoll counts change with two students during Tuesday's "Stall the Teacher" for United Way of Lake County

Lubrizol's Wickliffe Facility raises $162,000 for United Way of Lake County

(Back row from left to right: Maureen Morreale, Allison Rajakumar, Brenda Brown, Nancy Rapaszky, Matt Gieselman, Gary Garling, Laurie Patterson, Dave Skursha. Front row from left to right: Dianne McDermott and Cheryl Noviski)

Lubrizol’s Wickliffe Facility donated $162,000 to United Way of Lake County on Wednesday as part of the company’s annual United Way campaign.

The money raised during the facility’s four-week campaign in September is a 7 percent increase from the company’s 2010 campaign.

“Our culture is one of giving back to the community and it always has been,” said Dan Sheets, President of Lubrizol Additives. “There’s not a better vehicle than United Way of Lake County to give back because they are very effective and efficient in distributing funds to programs in need.”

Lubrizol’s campaign had many highlights this year including:

·         Overall, Lubrizol’s Wickliffe Facility raised $250,700 in their United Way campaign.

·         An online auction that raised $19,000, which is a 20 percent increase from 2010.

·         Raising $16,000 in special events including a “Pamper Yourself” event and raffle baskets.

·         A 56 percent employee participation rate.

·         Wickliffe retirees donated almost $20,000.

·         The Painesville Facility raised $26,000 during their United Way campaign, which is in addition to the Wickliffe Facility’s campaign.

 “At Lubrizol, we feel pretty fortunate to be working for a company that is doing well and we feel privileged to give back to people in our own community who are less fortunate,” said Matt Gieselman, technology manager at Lubrizol. “United Way of Lake County is an organization in which we know our dollars are going to help people in our own community.”

Money raised during the 2011 United Way of Lake County campaign benefits 74 partner programs that the nonprofit organization funds.  These programs focus on senior citizens, health & human Services, children & families and basic needs.

Corn Toss Tournament wrap-up

Thank you to everyone who volunteered, sponsored or participated in the 2011 United Way of Lake County Corn Toss Tournament.

We had 32 teams from more than 10 different businesses and organizations participate in the tournament. Congratulations to Jeff Baker and Brian Peabody of Avery Dennison for winning the tournament for the third time in the past five years!

Please visit our Facebook page to see photos and video of the event.