Press Release

United Way Celebrates Mid-Point of Campaign

With Birthday Party for Melissa Bess Day Care Center

October 18th, Dayton, OH - United Way of the Greater Dayton Area celebrated the halfway mark of the 2000 United Way Campaign today with a birthday party at the Melissa Bess Day Care Center. The United Way and its predecessor (the Community Chest) have funded the Melissa Bess Center and its predecessor (the West Dayton Day Nursery) for 80 years.

Campaign Chairman Mike McCurdy, Business Line Executive at Delphi Automotive Systems, said, "We picked the Melissa Bess Center for our Mid Report because it represents the long history of support our local United Way has given to this community." McCurdy noted that United Way also meets emerging needs and cited Mercy Manor, one of the newest United Way funded agencies, as an example. Mercy Manor provides transitional housing for women leaving prison. "These agencies demonstrate the importance of United Way to our past and to our future," McCurdy said. "They show how United Way meets both ongoing needs and new needs. That is why a successful United Way Campaign is so vital to our community's well being."

Joining McCurdy at the event were more than 50 volunteers and staff including:
· General Campaign Co-Chair, Gary Hill, President of U.A.W. Local 696.
· Greene County Chair, Rich Weis, Elano Corporation.
· Preble County Chair, Dave Kirsh, Rodney Cobb Chevrolet.
· United Way of the Greater Dayton Area President, Craig Chancellor.
· And, Uwie, the United Way Mascot.

To date the campaign has raised 40% of the $18.5 million goal, or $7,400,018.

For more information, contact:
, United Way, 225-3036 / 620-5352