(Utica, NY- April 25, 2013) United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area held its Annual Meeting and celebrating the finale of its 2012 Annual Campaign by recognizing the hard work of community volunteers and local donors at a Breakfast of Champions.

The Breakfast of Champions: Campaign Finale & Annual Meeting took place Thursday morning at the Dorothy Smith Center for Advocacy at RCIL in Utica with about 75 guests in attendance. Awards and special recognitions were given to local individuals and companies recognizing their efforts in helping to raise funds throughout the 2012 Annual Campaign totaling $2.2 million. The event featured an awards and appreciation program, along with a ‘Year in Review’ presentation highlighting events and happenings that occurred during the 2012 calendar year. A short 2013 outlook was also included in the morning’s event.

Campaign Awards were presented to recipients in the following categories:

LABOR UNION AWARD

UFCW Local One

COMMUNITY CHALLENGE

SMALL BUSINESS

Strategic Financial Services, LLC

MEDIUM BUSINESS

Utica First Insurance Company

LARGE BUSINESS

McCraith Beverages

 MOST IMPROVED CAMPAIGN

Adirondack Bank

LIVE UNITED CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR OF THE YEAR

Leigh D’Agostino, F.X. Matt Brewing Company

Also announced in the Annual Meeting portion of today’s event were the members of the Board of Directors completing their terms as officers of the board. Tony Colon, Allison Damiano-DeTraglia, Fred Matt, Symeon Tsoupelis and Fred Monaco were all recognized for their service to the community as volunteer members of United Way’s Board of Directors. Three new members of the board were welcomed by Board President Elizabeth Soggs. Those new members include Joann Marshall, Roe Polczynski and Mark S. Lewandrowski. Gregory Morra was also announced as the new Vice President of the board.

For more information about United Way, or to donate to the annual campaign, visit www.unitedwaygu.org or call (315) 733-4691.