United Way of Lake County’s 13th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebrity Server Fundraiser Draws Nearly 700 Community Leaders, Officials, CEO’s and Businesspersons
March 18, 2016 – Mentor, OH – United Way of Lake County (UWLC) hosted their 13th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebrity Server Fundraiser on March 17th from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm at LaMalfa in Mentor to benefit Lake County residents in need. Hundreds of community leaders, officials, CEO’s and businesspersons turned out in support of the organization.
UWLC President & CEO Jennifer McCarty, who stepped into her current role on January 4, 2016, briefly addressed the crowd of nearly 700 guests in attendance to thank them for coming and to remind them of the good their generosity will help the organization achieve. “Nearly one in ten Lake County residents live in poverty. 31,000 people in Lake County rely on food assistance programs. Together, we can make a difference,” stated McCarty.
Ray Somich, UWLC board member and President of Spirit Media/ WINT Integrity Radio, served as MC. Guests enjoyed an Irish menu of corned beef, cabbage and all the fixings, Karaoke, a sixty prize chinese auction, a 50/50 raffle, and a car raffle giveaway.
Jim Brown Jr, President of Classic Auto Group, was on hand to draw the winner of a 24-Month lease on a 2016 Toyota Corolla he donated from his CLASSIC Toyota dealership in Mentor. In a touching moment of reflection, Jim Brown Jr. spoke of his late father’s passionate support of UWLC while vowing to continue his own support of the organization.
Mentor resident Lynnmarie Landwei-Phillips won the Toyota Corolla.
A long list of Celebrity Servers were on-hand to earn tips for UWLC, many of whom were asked to do so by performing a Karaoke song or dancing the Irish Jig. A few of the more recognizable Celebrity Servers included Michael Cardamone, WKYC-TV’s host of Live on Lakeside; Cat Casey, radio personality from The Cougar 93.7; Commissioners Judy Moran and Kevin Malecek; Eastlake Mayor Dennis Morely; Willoughby Hills Mayer Robert Weger; Neil Stein, General Manager of The Lake County Captains; Nancy and Ed Brown, owners of Ladies & Gentlemen Salon and Spa; Beacon Health CEO Spence Kline; Kirtland School Superintendent Steve Barrett; Mentor School Superintendent and UWLC board member Matt Miller; Dr. Paul Vanek of Vanek Plastic Surgery; UWLC 1st Vice-Chair, Gabe Rhoades of The Lubrizol Corporation; Mark Ruth, Executive Director of Western Reserve Counseling Services; Jessie Baginski, Executive Director of Leadership Lake County; Al DiFranco, President & CEO of the Mentor Chamber of Commerce; and Karen Tercek, President & CEO of Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
Additional community officials and leaders in attendance included Appellate Court Judge Diane Grendell; Lake County Probate Court Judge Mark Bartolotta; Willoughby Municipal Court Judge Harry Field; County Recorder Ann Radcliffe; Mentor Police Chief Kevin Knight; Eastlake Police Chief Larry Reik; Eastlake Fire Chief Ted Wittington; and Wickliffe School Superintendent Joe Spiccia.
Tami Lewis, Director of Marketing & Communications for UWLC, stated, “There are too many residents in Lake County who live in need every day, so we were moved by the outpouring of attendance at this year’s fundraiser. It was our 13th Annual Celebrity Server event and we kept hearing what an amazing time everyone had so, like the many winners who walked away with great prizes, we like to think it was Lucky #13!”
The fundraiser was sponsored by CLASSIC Toyota, The Lubrizol Corporation, Lake Health, Sheet Metal Workers Local #33, The News-Herald, Eye Lighting International, the Lake County Captains, and RPG.