Community support is the essence of United Way and plays a major role in the success of United Way’s initiatives and annual campaign. “When United Way runs its campaign, we try to ensure that we share with our community, not only about the support and funding received from our major sponsors and bigger industry supporters, but also the smaller companies and businesses that give their support and donations our partnership agencies need” said Brandi Weaver, Resource Development Director for United Way of Oswego County. “Oswego County small businesses are the backbone of our community, but not all can support a workplace campaign to support UWGOC’s fundraising to the extent a large corporate entity can, but we find so many local business owners wanting to do their part to support UWGOC and our partnered agency programs in the county. Based on the success of this event and the impact it will have on our most vulnerable population, we are looking to find more ways to partner with area businesses while finding innovative ways for other businesses participate when a workplace campaign is not possible. Developing a United Way Day / Business Give Back day, is an extension of our annual ‘Give Thanks, Give Back’ dining event held every November on Thanksgiving Eve” said Weaver.

United Way of Greater Oswego County has kicked off their new Business Give Back initiative with the help of Cheap Seats Bar & Grille on Hillside Ave, Oswego NY. On March 7^th, Cheap Seats held the first “United Way Day” dining event and donated $682 of their food and beverage sales from open until close. “Their commitment and generosity ensure that programs supported by our partnered agencies, can help 100s of our neighbors across Oswego County with food, wellness and housing needs” says Weaver.

If your business is interested in sponsoring a “United Way Day” to ‘Give Back’ to your community, or would like to find other ways you can get involved, contact Brandi Weaver at the United Way office by emailing [email protected] or call 315-593-1900 x 2.

About United Way of Greater Oswego County: United Way is advancing the common good by changing systems to help all of us. We are all connected and interdependent. We all win when a child succeeds in school, when families are financially stable, when people are healthy. United Way’s goal is to create long-lasting changes by addressing the underlying causes of these problems. Living United means being part of the change. It takes everyone in the community working together to create a brighter future.

For more information about to support the efforts of United Way of Greater Oswego County, please call 315-593-1900 or visit www.oswegounitedway.org.