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UNITED WAY OF ROCKLAND ENDS SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISER WITH RAFFLE BARBECUE AT NORRIS CADILLAC-PONTIAC-GMC; JOHN ECCLESTON OF STONY POINT WINS FIRST PRIZE 2006 PONTIAC G6
The second prizewinner of the United Way of Rockland County’s Campaign Fundraiser Raffle, Jeanne M. Schmatzbach, was randomly selected as the winner of the three-day Carnival Cruise donated by All Aboard Cruises and Travel in West Nyack. Her co-workers from Rockland Psychiatric Center applauded with excitement at the announcement. “This year’s incentive raffle was a key reason that our campaign increased by almost 8%,” commented Naomi Adler, President of United Way of Rockland County. “As a result of such generosity, over 100,000 people in Rockland County will benefit this year.” As the final event of this year’s United Way of Rockland Campaign Fundraiser, an Old Fashioned Summer Barbecue was hosted by Phil Norris and Norris Cadillac-Pontiac-GMC of Nanuet as the main auto showroom was transformed into a festive setting decorated in red, white and blue bunting and streamers. Hotdogs, potato chips, soda and ice cream provided by Norris Cadillac-Pontiac-GMC were the fare of the day with clowns, contests, a fire engine from the Nanuet Fire Department, giveaways from 100.7 WHUD, an ice cream truck, child protection kits from the Clarkstown Police Department and information provided to the attendees. The winner of the Pontiac G6, John Eccleston, president and owner of OpenGate Marketing Communications in Nyack, purchased the winning ticket at last October’s UBS Presents: United Way on Broadway benefit concert. As soon as he won he reached for his cell phone to call his wife who had just given birth to their fifth child at Good Samaritan Hospital over the past weekend. “We won the car!” shouted Mr. Eccleston. His wife initially didn’t believe him. In Mr. Eccleston’s live interview with 100.7 WHUD’s Kacey Morabito, he said, “I had such a great time at this event and really believe that United Way of Rockland County is truly a worthy organization to support. Beginning with my parents’ support of United Way when I was a child, I have always backed the United Way.” Through his company, John provides marketing support for one of the United Way of Rockland County’s agency’s, ARC of Rockland, and was aware of the tremendous community support provided by United Way of Rockland and its president, Naomi Adler. Invited to attend last year’s United Way on Broadway, John and his wife wanted to make a donation to United Way and purchased a raffle ticket at that event that became the winning ticket. When asked if this was the biggest thing he ever won, Mr. Eccleston replied that it definitely was other than his wife saying “yes” when he asked her to marry him. All of the money raised as a result of this year’s raffle was designated to the United Way of Rockland County’s Community Care Fund that allocates donations to non-profit Health and Human Service programs throughout the county to help improve the lives of every person in Rockland. This year, United Way of Rockland County raised $937,000 in its annual campaign that ended with the raffle drawing on June 28. News about upcoming incentive raffles as well as other ways to help United Way of Rockland can be found by visiting www.uwrc.org or calling UWRC at 845-358-8929. PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST THROUGH JAY BURSKY For additional
information, contact: Jay Bursky, 845-353-1616 Website: www.uwrc.org United Way of Rockland County, Inc. provides programs that touch more than 100,000 Rockland residents every year. In 2004, the United Way of Rockland County raised $943,000 to assist in funding 28 programs with 23 non-profit human service agencies. United Way of Rockland County’s focus is to make the community a better place to live by assisting seniors, caring for children and youth, strengthening families, assisting people in crisis, increasing self-sufficiency for people with disabilities, and promoting health and healing. This was accomplished through the United Way fundraising efforts --- a campaign spearheaded by the county’s top corporate, retail and agency donors and their employees. # # #
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