Neckerman Foundation Leads COVID-19 Response

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rsebest

7 Oct, 2020

When COVID-19 first hit our Valley, the William M. Neckerman, Jr. Charitable Foundation was the first to step up to address the needs of vulnerable children in our area. With the new school year underway and the challenges of the pandemic still remaining, the William M. Neckerman, Jr. Charitable Foundation once again is taking the lead by donating an additional $35,000 to the United Way to continue its important work with the children in our Valley. This brings the total gift from the Neckerman Foundation to $60,000.

In March, the Neckerman Foundation generously donated $25,000 to the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley to directly impact the students across the Valley who were forced to learn from home due to the state wide shut down. This gift was used to ensure these children would not go hungry.

“Our responsibility is to maintain the legacy and generosity of Bill Neckerman.,” said Foundation Trustees Jim Sisek and Rye Dalton, in a joint statement. “We are confident in United Way’s ability to feed the children, which we know was a passion for our friend Bill.”

The United Way staff worked closely with the staff and administration at 19 school districts in the Mahoning Valley to identify students in the most need. Then they distributed grocery store gift cards to more than 1,000 children.

“The Neckerman Trustees, Jim Sisek and Rye Dalton, were the first to reach out to me back in March. They immediately wanted to help the children and make sure they did not go without food,” said Bob Hannon, President of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. “We could not do the work we’ve done these past six months without the support of the Neckerman Foundation. And they are relentless with their support and passion to help the children of our Valley.”

This additional gift of $35,000 will be used for United Way’s Satur-Day of Caring, in which volunteers deliver food to children and their families who cannot get out due to the threat of the virus. It will also be used to continue distributing grocery store gift cards o students most in need.