Volunteers are the key to United Way of Tompkins County's success.

This year's UWTC volunteers include members of: UWTC's Board of Directors Campaign Committee Community Investment Committee Governance Committee  Marketing & Communications Committee Personnel, Finance & Audit Committee Planning & Community Impact Committee Student Engagement Committee T. Merrill Shipherd Committee - and - Our Community Care Fund Review Teams Our Employee Campaign Coordinators Our Volunteer Pledge Auditors Our Day of Caring Volunteers THANK YOU!

Our volunteers are passionate about our community and the well-being of our neighbors. Their work with UWTC allows them make a difference in Tompkins County.

This Campaign Year, UWTC was supported by more than 50 volunteer board and committee members, as well as dozens of individuals who volunteered at special events and hosted individual fundraisers throughout the campaign year. These individuals are our neighbors, true community advocates, superheros!

Each year we are honored to celebrate our volunteers by presenting three important awards: The Pat Stage Volunteer of the Year award, the Unsung Hero award , and the Key Contributor award. This year's winners are presented below.

PAT STAGE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Alex Adelewitz  of Wegmans in Ithaca received The Pat Stage Volunteer of the Year award. This award, named after its first recipient, is awarded to a UWTC an individual who has exceeded all expectations of what it means to be a volunteer. Alex Adelewitz, Service Area Manager at Wegmans in Ithaca, was selected due to his consistent and enthusiastic work throughout the campaign this year. Alex served as United Way of Tompkins County’s Pacesetter Co-chair and on the campaign committee. He gave generously of his time, establishing new relationships and creative ways for local businesses to meet their own goals while also supporting our community through UWTC. Alex’s deep commitment and inspiring work for UWTC will continue, as he has recently been elected to the UWTC Board of Directors.

UNSUNG HERO AWARD

Brian McNeal  of Tompkins Trust Company received the Unsung Hero award This award recognizes a UWTC volunteer who has gone above and beyond to serve our community in a way that might not be known to the public. Brian, Assistant Vice President-Senior Financial Analyst at Tompkins Trust Company, completed a financial review of all of UWTC’s funded partners and grant applicants, served on the Community Investment Committee, and chaired the T. Merrell Shipherd Flexible Fund Committee.The Shipherd committee was created to support innovative approaches and emergent needs across our diverse community. This year, the committee expanded its duties and became UWTC’s review and funding vehicle for COVID-19 relief services. Responding quickly and efficiently to requests for funding, Brian led the committee in awarding nearly $55,000 in grants to local nonprofits between March and June 2020.

KEY CONTRIBUTOR AWARD

Cayuga Radio Group  (CRG) received the Key Contributor award. This award recognizes a local business or organization that has played a pivotal role in helping UWTC carry out its mission. Throughout the year, Cayuga Radio Group provided air time to not only spread the word about UWTC and its initiatives, but also to support many of our local nonprofits and businesses. Their signature fundraiser for UWTC, “Wine & Dine” is a 13-hour broadcast by Lite 97.3’s “Dave & Jen” featuring fare from local restaurants, wineries & breweries in an auction while also highlighting the work of United Way’s funded partners and local employers. This year, by adding in a chance for donors to select “Songs for Good” to be played throughout the day, as well as a challenge grant, the event more than doubled the dollars raised to meet local needs. Cayuga Radio Group’s General Manager, Chet Osadchey, also volunteers his time and talents on the UWTC Marketing & Communications Committee and serves on the UWTC Board of Directors.

See official press release here.

Discover more about your community. Grow your network. Gain new skills. Know you made a difference .

Let us help you find your niche! When you sign up to volunteer on UWTC's website you will receive email updates on new volunteer opportunities at local human service agencies. You can also indicate that you are interested in joining one of UWTC's volunteer-led committees . Just check the box that says, "I would like more information about serving on a UWTC committee," and a member of UWTC's staff will follow up with you.

Are you an agency looking for volunteers? We can help by sending your volunteer opportunities to more than 100 volunteers already on our UWTC Volunteer Listserve! Just fill out a form on our website and we will send your call for volunteers directly to the inbox of community member ready to make a difference.

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