Nonprofit happy with big donation

By BETH HENRY / Journal Staff Writer

Leaders from the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle and Charles Town Races & Slots say they are excited about the track’s $55,000 donation. Shown on Monday from left are: United Way Executive Director Jan Callen, Campaign Chair Ken Tyler, Charles Town Race & Slots employees Debbie McClure, Bill Bork, Roger Ramey and Jeff Pietz and track General Manager Al Britton. (Journal photo by Martin B. Cherry)

CHARLES TOWN — From a golf tournament to a gingerbread house contest, a fundraising campaign at Charles Town Races & Slots included events that added up to a record-breaking donation.

Leaders from the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle said they were thrilled Monday to receive a $55,000 contribution from the racetrack, especially because it’s the largest single donation from a workplace campaign in the nonprofit agency’s history.

“We are so grateful to the management and employees of the track for their generosity,” said Ken Tyler, the 2008 campaign manager for the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle. “This gift gives us significant progress toward our goal of $1.4 million.”

Tyler said the racetrack leaders have shown that they care about investing in the community by helping the United Way, which includes more than 40 agencies in Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties.

Al Britton, the general manager at Charles Town Races & Slots, said everyone at the track is happy to help the United Way because it’s such a good cause.

“It’s an effort that we believe very strongly in,” Britton said, adding that he was excited to hear that the $55,000 donation broke a record for the largest corporate contribution. “That’s quite a distinction.”

The track’s fundraising campaign co-chairs are Bill Bork and Jeff Pietz, who said they hope to set a new record next year.

Bork said a large amount of the funds were received from employees who volunteered to donate money from their payroll, and that added up to nearly $20,000. Other fundraising events included a golf tournament at Cress Creek in September, silent auctions for sporting event tickets and jewelry and a day when employees donated $3 each to wear jeans to work.

Pietz said another event was a gingerbread house contest, which involved employees from 12 departments who decorated the holiday cottages. Employees voted by placing money in empty water jugs that were placed next to the houses, and the event raised about $500. He said even the smaller events added up.

The United Way of the Eastern Panhandle uses donations to invest in a variety of programs, such as local chapters of the American Red Cross as well as organizations that benefit children and seniors. More information about the United Way is available by calling (304) 263-0603 or visiting www.uwayep.org.

— Staff writer Beth Henry can be reached at (304) 725-6581 or bhenry@journal-news.net