United Way sets $200k fundraising goal to support agencies in county

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Mollie Radzinski, fundraising chair for United Way of Orleans County, and Jesse Cudzillo, director of the YMCA, hang the fundraising banner outside of the Harvest Restaurant this morning in Medina.

MEDINA – United Way of Orleans County welcomed supporters to their annual campaign kickoff breakfast this morning at Harvest Restaurant at the bent’s Opera House in Medina.

Highlight of the morning was announcement of the 2023-24 fundraising goal of $200,000.

Also featured was breakfast provided by Harvest Restaurant, a short video explaining United Way and what it does for Orleans County and a welcome by fundraising chair Mollie Radzinski.

Radzinski thanked the supporters who attended and shared the many ways people can donate and how those donations last year helped 17 agencies in the county.

Donations can be made through payroll deductions in the workplace; sending a check to United Way of Orleans County, P.O. Box 188, Medina; or logging on to United Way’s website for other options to give through Text to Give, Venmo or scan to pay with Cash App. Donors are reminded all money stays in Orleans County, unless designated elsewhere.

Nyla Gaylord, left, director of United Way of Orleans County, presents a certificate of appreciation to Susan Oschmann of Albion for being the spark which led to development of new basketball courts at Bullard Park in Albion.

Nyla Gaylord, newly named director of United Way, extended her welcome and how United Way has stepped up its game in many areas in Orleans County.

Gaylord wrote the initial grant which funded a grant writer for five years, free of charge to any non-profit in Orleans County. She shared how that has taken United Way in a whole new direction.

Relationships have been developed with local organizations, resulting in programs to benefit many sectors of the community. In addition to the grant writer, other grants secured by United Way have created funds for the Digital Literacy program, Caregivers’ Initiative with the YMCA and a nutrition program with Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension and Community Action.

United Way is also partnering  with Orleans County in Connect Orleans to provide internet service at an affordable price.

Participating in a new housing initiative to look at homelessness, Gaylord said a relationship was formed with Oak Orchard Community Health to create a warming center.

In a final presentation, Gaylord recognized Susan Oschmann with a certificate of appreciation for her work in setting the wheels in motion to create new basketball courts in Albion’s Bullard Park.

Oschmann had moved to Albion with Chad Beach, an Albion native, and tried to take her grandchildren to a park near their home, only to find the gates locked. That led to conversations with the village and then contact with a former school mate at Kendal High School, basketball star Roosevelt Bouie.

Bouie used to play in Albion’s courts and Oschmann told him he had to do “something” to improve the options in Albion.

The result was raising $95,000 through grants and donations which resulted in new basketball courts, scheduled to open by the end of the month.

The Bullard Park project resulted in United Way’s relationship with the new group formed, the Greater Albion Community Recreation and Events Committee, on which Gaylord sits.

Anyone with questions or wishing further information about United Way and its work in Orleans County can visit their website at www.OrleansUnitedWay.org, by e-mail at director@OrleansUnitedWay.org or by calling (585) 283-4424. United Way’s office is located in the Dwight “Buzz” Hill Education Center at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.