News Summary

WEST CHESTER TWP. — The Butler County United Way's 2008 Campaign Celebration will be held Wednesday, Nov. 19 at the Savannah Center.

The celebration will mark the end of this year's fundraising initiatives, which assist dozens of nonprofit agencies in the region.

The event, which begins at 5:30 p.m. at 5533 Chappell Crossing Blvd., will include an announcement of the amount raised for the 2008 campaign, awards to top fundraisers and a Women's Initiative Silent Auction.

"The silent auction is a big part of the night because it's a hands-on, and fun way to bring in additional campaign dollars," said Theressa Griggs, chief operating officer at the Butler County United Way. "The Women's Initiative has been doing this for a couple years now (at different events) and we tend to bring in some popular items."

The Women's Initiative's focus program for the past two years has been Shared Harvest Foodbank's Backpack Program, in which children who are on the free and reduced lunch program are supplied with nutritious meals on the weekends throughout the school year.

Tina Osso, director of Shared Harvest, stresses the importance of this program: "The children who receive food through our backpack program go without so many things every day that other kids take for granted. Food should not be one of those things."

The Women's Initiative has committed $25,000 to the backpack program for the 2008-09 campaign year.

To donate an item to the silent auction or to purchase a $15 ticket to the event, call Grace Marie Eckman at the Butler County United Way at (513) 863-0800 or gmeckman@bc-unitedway.org.