By Alex Sorrells / The Jambar
The Sokolov Honors College donated $10,000 to United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley after students fundraised throughout the last two semesters.
Youngstown State University President Bill Johnson, Dean of Sokolov Honors College Amy Cossentino and twenty honors students presented the nonprofit with a check Feb. 2.
Bob Hannon, president of the Youngstown United Way chapter, said the nonprofit serves vulnerable families that face socioeconomic barriers to everyday life. United Way helps fund over 35 nonprofits and leads community initiatives, such as a preschool program to prepare over 600 children for kindergarten.
“For us, the dollars matter because we can invest back in the community and help the people who need us,” Hannon said. “These students at [YSU] are getting exposed to United Way. Hopefully, they’ll have a good feeling about United Way, and maybe one day they’ll be on our board, or one day when they’re a leader in the community, they’ll be donating.”
Hannon said it is important for younger people to get involved with United Way to continue serving the community for years to come.
“In general, United Way leans on [YSU], whether it’s the faculty, the students that help — we have a lot of student athletes that come volunteer for United Way,” Hannon said. “[YSU’s] a big part of the work that we do in the community.”
During the third Saturday of every month, United Way hosts a food drive in the community where volunteers unload, pack, drive and deliver food to people who are homebound in the area.
“Cossentino, who leads the honors college, serves on the United Way board. So, we’ve been working with the honors college for the last five years, whether volunteering, supporting [and] being part of our work,” Hannon said. “I think we have a really good relationship with the honors college.”
Hannon said the best way to find more information on United Way is to visit its website. Supporters can also send a check to the office at 255 Watt St. in Youngstown.
“We … really focus on early education — people who face barriers to getting ahead. We do a lot of work with basic needs, like in schools, where we have what we call ‘care closets,’” Hannon said. “We have 39 that provide food, clothing [and] hygiene products to students. So, you can go in if you’re a student in 27 school districts.”
Hannon said the nonprofit will tailor opportunities to each volunteer’s schedule, as some people volunteer a few times a month or certain months out of the year.
“I can’t emphasize enough, [YSU] in general, but really the honors college, for thinking of United Way, donating the dollars and most of all, volunteering and being part of the mission,” Hannon said.