Give-A-Christmas total hits $65,510
After an unbelievable year of contributions, the 2004 Give-A-Christmas total stands at $65,510.90 – the highest total the campaign has ever collected and well beyond the goal of $35,000. “What a wonderful Christmas present!’ said Sparkle, the Christmas star, the campaign’s mascot. “We never expected such a response and are so proud of our readers. By banding together, we’ve raised so much for the Salvation Army, allowing them to help so many people. Thank you so much for your wonderful generosity.’
The $25,118.68 in final donations included a gift of $12,293.93 from the students, teachers, parents and friends of the Albert Gallatin School District, who consistently have been the biggest contributors to the campaign.
“Dear Sparkle, The students, teachers and parents of the Albert Gallatin School District are pleased to present this donation to the 2004 Sparkle Campaign. Schools in the Albert Gallatin School District held a variety of fund-raising projects, which were supported by students, parents, teachers, staff, local businesses and community members. We would like to acknowledge the generosity and effort of all those in the Albert Gallatin School District who helped to make this project so successful.’ Sincerely, the Albert Gallatin Education Association.
A breakdown of individual school donations is as follows: Albert Gallatin High School, $1,800; Albert Gallatin North Middle School, $154.60; Albert Gallatin South Middle School, $1,137.30; A.L. Wilson Elementary School, $2,073.49; George Plava Elementary School, $1,840; Smithfield Elementary School, $2,400; Masontown Elementary School, $611.25; Friendship Hill Elementary School, $862; and D. Ferd Swaney Elementary School, $1,415.29.
“Thank you so much. We always look forward to your donation, Albert Gallatin,’ said Sparkle.
Atlas America Inc. gave a $5,000 gift to be split among the Salvation Army units in Fayette County.
Mr. Caldwell’s academic world cultures classes, past and present, from Uniontown Area High School coordinated a fund-raising effort in the Uniontown Area School District and collected $2,477,38.
“Dear Sparkle and Friends, The past and present students of Mr. Robert D. Caldwell’s academic world cultures classes at Uniontown Area High School are pleased to present you with a sum of $2,477.38, which represents a combined effort from the Uniontown Area School District. Mr. Caldwell’s students coordinated the drive with help from students at Benjamin Franklin School and Lafayette School. Involved students collected from their friends, family and neighbors during school, at home and at extra-curricular events.
“Our contribution this year includes $2,086.71 collected by Mr. Caldwell’s classes, $262.38 from Ben Frank(lin) and $128.37 from Lafayette. $202.35 of the UHS donation was raised during a ‘Cool Yule’ Christmas Decoration Auction organized by Mrs. Angela Mollis. We are happy to have the opportunity to help the less fortunate again this Christmas. Merry Christmas to all!’ Mr. Robert D. Caldwell and Mr. Caldwell’s Academic World Cultures Classes, Uniontown Area High School.
Other donations included $1,500 from 84 Lumber Co. of Uniontown, $800 from students, faculty, staff and friends from Franklin School, $300 from students and staff at Menallen Elementary School, $255 from members of the Grace Bible and John Knox Sunday School classes of Third Presbyterian Church in Uniontown, $216 from students and staff at A.J. McMullen School in Markleysburg, $200 from Mount Washington Presbyterian Church in Farmington, $150 from Learning Tree Preschool in Star Junction, $148 from Mr. Shoaf’s fifth graders from Hutchinson School in the Laurel Highlands School District, $100 from Joy Huston of Uniontown, $100 from Stan and Susan Ellis of Uniontown, $100 from Fayette County Domestic Relations for all of Fayette County; $100 from Debbie’s Children’s Fund, a project of the Uniontown Lions Club, of Uniontown, $100 from Jon and Mary Pidich of Chalk Hill, $100 from Patient Care Management Department at Uniontown Hospital, and another $100 from an anonymous donor in Uniontown.
Other groups and businesses contributing included American Legion Post 753 of New Salem, Christian Men’s Fellowship Breakfast in Uniontown, and Glisan’s Restaurant in Markleysburg.
Sparkle received a card from Robb and Shelley Dean of Vanderbilt and also shared a few of the nice notes she received Thursday:
“Dear Sparkle, On behalf of the students of the Learning Tree Pre-School, please accept our donation in the amount of $150. Each year, our pre-school collects an admission fee to our Christmas program and donates it to a charity. This year, we hope our donation makes Sparkle’s star shine a little brighter. Merry Christmas.’ Maria Weiser, treasurer.
“Dear Sparkle, Please accept this donation in honor of John, Kathy and Adam Yukish; Luella Leonard, Robert Craft, Deborah Lewis, Harry Knox, Nathan Lewis and Tamara. Although we no longer live in Uniontown, we wanted to support our hometown neighbors at Christmastime. Love, Kristen and Jeffrey Lewis of Stow, Ohio.’
“Dear Sparkle, You do a great job! This donation is in memory of our loved ones – Stanley F. Kustron, Louis and Richard Townsend. God bless all and Merry Christmas to all. Love, Pat and Angela Kustron of McClellandtown.’
Thursday’s donors include the following: students, faculty, staff and friends from Franklin School; Lawrence and Nancy Rossi, Farmington; Lawren Dunn, Hopwood; children, Fairchance, in memory of Rose and Walter Planiczka; On behalf of her children, Jerry and Ellen Rogers, Uniontown, in memory of Lisa Marie Rogers.
Learning Tree Preschool, Star Junction; Kristen and Jeffrey Lewis, Uniontown, in honor of John, Kathy and Adam Yukish, Luella Leonard, Robert Craft, Deborah Lewis, Harry Knox, Nathan Lewis and Tamara; Beth A. Beck, Masontown, in memory of brother Doug; Joy Huston, Uniontown, in memory of Scott W. Gnagey and in honor of Kelly Huston; American Legion Post 753, New Salem, in memory of deceased members; Richard Malia, New Salem; Mount Washington Presbyterian Church, Farmington; Steve and Lois Rosnick, New Salem.
Judy Leeper, Lorain, Ohio, in memory of Lil Tobak, Uniontown; Pat and Angela Kustron, McClellandtown, in memory of loved ones Stanley F. Kustron, Louise and Richard Townsend; June Bug and Lucy David, Uniontown, in memory of the David family, the VanSickle family and Fran Baxter; students and staff at Menallen Elementary School; Florence Richardson, New Salem; anonymous, Uniontown.
Patricia D. Clay, Star Junction, in memory of dad Joseph B. Clay; Scott LaClair, Uniontown, in memory of Thomas E. LaClair, loving husband and father; Stan and Susan Ellis, Uniontown, in memory of the Rev. Jim Tweardy; Mr. Caldwell’s academic world cultures classes, past and present, from Uniontown Area High School.
Jim Newman, Uniontown, in honor of Florence Amber; Robert Frazee, Markleysburg, in memory of sister Debby Bandzuch; Bob and Ruth, Uniontown, in honor of all our servicemen; Mr. Shoaf’s fifth-graders from Hutchinson School in the Laurel Highlands School District; Robb and Shelley Dean, Vanderbilt; students and staff at A.J. McMullen School, Markleysburg; members of the Grace Bible and John Knox Sunday School classes at Third Presbyterian Church, Uniontown, in memory of our pastor, the Rev. James Tweardy; in memory of grandma Esther Mohar and grandpap Michael Bernot, Brownsville; Tony and Patti Kurta, Uniontown.
Diana M. Alexander Alcorn, Masontown, Uniontown, in memory of beloved parents Patsy and Jessie Alexander, sister Ange and husband Sam Ammenti, sister-in-law Josephine Alexander and son the Rev. John Alexander, brother George Alexander and sister-in-law Jean Alexander; Emil T. and Stephany M. Beck, Uniontown, in memory of brother Nick, who was killed in France enroute to the Battle of the Bulge 60 years ago on Dec. 22, 1944; Fayette County Domestic Relations, Fayette County.
Christian Men’s Fellowship Breakfast, Uniontown, in memory of the Rev. James Tweardy; Stephen Petruska Jr., Uniontown, in honor of our troops serving overseas during this holiday season; the Ron Kilgore Family, Uniontown; Debbie’s Children’s Fund, a project of the Uniontown Lions Club; Jon and Mary Pidich, Chalk Hill, in memory of Owen and Margaret Sharp and John and Dorothy Pidich; Jim and Becky O’Neil, Uniontown, in memory of Tom Mene, Denise Smiley and the Rev. Jim Tweardy; Patient Care Management Department, Uniontown Hospital; Agnes Yablunosky, Uniontown.
Students, teachers, parents and friends of the Albert Gallatin School District; 84 Lumber Co., Uniontown; Glisan’s Restaurant, Markleysburg; Atlas America Inc.; the Balog children, Tyffini, Skyeler and Talon, in memory of Pap Pap Balog; Uniontown Hospital Cardiac Diagnostic and Cath Lab; Mark and Debbie Steele, Uniontown; St. Mary School, Uniontown; Mark, Linda, Ashley and Bryan O’Keefe, Uniontown; and Mount Olivet Baptist Church, Uniontown.