Kathy Gatto of Hospice of the Western Reserve Wins United Way of Lake County’s Donor Appreciation Contest to Take Home $5,000
Mentor, OH (March 3, 2019) – The winner of United Way of Lake County’s (UWLC) five month 2018 Donor Appreciation contest was announced Friday, March 1, 2019 at Classic Chevrolet in Mentor. Grand finale winner Kathy Gatto won her choice of a two-year lease on a 2019 Chevy Cruze LS with all taxes and fees paid or five-thousand dollars cash.
Gatto, with an enormous smile on her face commented, “Things like this never happen to me!” She further commented on the beauty of the car before opting for the cash prize.
Gatto is employed at Hospice of the Western Reserve and donated to United Way of Lake County through her organization’s workplace giving campaign, which qualified her to receive an entry into the contest.
Gatto said she donates to United Way of Lake County due to the strong affection she feels for the organization. “The work they do to help others supports all segments of society and impacts a wide network of people. You never know when someone you know, either personally or casually, has benefited from the wide breadth of services they support.”
United Way of Lake County has supported the work of the Hospice of the Western Reserve for a multitude of years, and Gatto acknowledged this thanking United Way of Lake County during the awards ceremony. “We’re all deeply grateful for the on-going support United Way of Lake County lends the Hospice of the Western Reserve. And the cherry on the top, for me personally, is today’s win. I never expected it!”
Ten finalists were randomly selected on Friday, January 22, 2019 out of a total of 11,139 contest entries.
The finalists were invited to attend the giveaway ceremony on Friday, March 1 and included: Joseph Mowchan from The Lubrizol Corporation, Melissa Gabor from PAKO, Charles Zalar from Avery Dennison, David and Doreen Mattson, Celena Whate from DeNora Tech, Kathleen Gatto of Hospice of the Western Reserve, Dr. William Bingaman from the Cleveland Clinic, Hoang Pham from Avery Dennison, Nancy Guthrie from Key Bank, and Jack Lyttle from Meister Media Worldwide.
The contest began at the kickoff of UWLC’s 2018 Giving Campaign on September 12, 2018 and ran through February 1, 2019. “To qualify for the raffle, United Way of Lake County contributors were asked to make a donation of $1 per week ($52/year) to earn one contest entry, $2 per week ($104/year) to earn two contest entries, $3 per week ($156/year) to earn three contest entries and so on,” said Jean Sency, Vice President of Resource Development.
At the ceremony, 2018 UWLC Campaign Chair Morris Beverage III of Lighthouse Advisers in Mentor announced that the contest raised $579,228.
Beverage also reminded everyone of the real meaning behind the contest. “While I’m thrilled to be here during this exciting giveaway ceremony, I’m reminded of the true reason we are here today, which is to help people and to thank you for your support.”
Beverage went on to say, “The funds raised from this contest will make an enormous impact on the lives of so many of Lake County’s most vulnerable residents. United Way works hard to provide food for our hungry; shelter and clothes for our homeless; medical care and warm meals for our seniors; a safe haven and care for victims of domestic abuse; help for those struggling to breask free from the dark tunnel of addiction; medical and mental health care for the uninsured; care and support for families struggling to get back on their feet; mentorship, counseling and learning programs to keep our children engaged, off the streets and moving forward in school and so much more.”
Contestants were lined up side-by-side in the order their names were initially drawn with friends, neighbors, and co-workers looking on in anticipation. In this same order, finalists were then asked to select one of ten keys presented to them by Beverage. Each contestant was then invited to take the driver’s seat of the 2019 Chevy Cruze LS to see if the key they selected started the car’s ignition. Winner Kathy Gattto was the sixth finalist to take the seat, visibly shaken with excitement when her key started the car’s ignition.
“I’m thrilled for Kathy and thankful for all of the support we received from our Donor Appreciation Contest,” said Jennifer McCarty, President and CEO of United Way of Lake County. “I’m also very thankful to Classic Auto Group owner Jim Brown Jr. and Mark Caroll, General Manager of Classic Chevrolet, for welcoming us and working so generously with us in the rollout of the 2019 Chevy Cruze LS as one of our two featured grand prize options.”