ALLENWOOD - While celebrating 50 years of the Combined Federal Campaign, local federal employees were recognized for their donations to local and national agencies at the North Central Pennsylvania CFC awards breakfast at the Allenwood Federal Prison Training Center Thursday.
The campaign saw employee donations surpass the $60,000 goal set by Warden Bryan Bledsoe, USP Lewisburg and chairman of the 2011 campaign, by raising $67,889.29. The money collected will be allocated to local and national agencies starting in March.
"There's over 4,000 agencies but a majority of it comes local," said Rosann Pelleschi, director of funds, distribution and community building for the Lycoming County United Way.
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JOSEPH?STENDER/Sun-Gazette
Warden Ronnie Holt, FCC Allenwood (USP), holds the Roving Trophy, after receiving it from Rosann Pelleschi, left. The Roving Trophy is given annually to the organization with the highest amount donated to the North Central Pennsylvania CFC. USP Allenwood raised $16,563.70 for the 2011 campaign.
The Lycoming County United Way is the principal combined fund organization for the campaign.
Scott Lowery, executive director of the Lycoming United Way, said though the breakfast honored a lot of different organizations, it's important to also honor the individuals.
"The bottom line is this is a tremendous effort by people," Lowery said.
The event was an opportunity to recognize the 237 federal employees that donated from the seven participating counties - Lycoming, Clinton, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Schuylkill and Union.
"Year after year, those individuals donate their time and money to one CFC organization or another," said Delbert Sauers, acting warden of FCC Allenwood.
This year's efforts produced the most Eagle Award recipients - those donating $500 or more - for the local campaign, with a total of 76 of such donors.
USP Allenwood was awarded the Roving Trophy, which is given each year to the organization that raises the highest amount. USP Allenwood raised $16,563.70 for the 2011 campaign.
USP Lewisburg received a special award for increasing the number of donors, eagle donors and goal - they were able to increase donors by 89 percent and eagle donors by 140 percent.
Bledsoe said USP Lewisburg found "innovative ways" to raise money instead of just pledging an amount, such as bake sales and dress down days. He said it means a lot that they were able to surpass the goal even with a pay freeze.
"We still realize there's a significant need in our area," he said.
He said the campaign is important to help the organizations which help those in need.
"They provide a valuable service," he said," Sometimes bad things happen."
"When people come up to you in the street ... people you don't even know and say, 'thank you,' it's a pretty special thing," Lowery said.
The event also was an opportunity to honor Pelleschi, who will be retiring from the United Way after 12 years of service to the organization.
"We want to thank her," Lowery said.
Pelleschi said the campaign has grown since she first started, and she has been lucky to have had such great people to work with and call friends.
"I have truly enjoyed it," Pelleschi said.
