May 1, 2021
ORCHID: To the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley for setting a near-record in fundraising during the challenging pandemic-plagued year of 2020. At its in-person annual meeting in Poland this week, UW President Bob Hannon reported $3.38 million was raised last year the second-highest total in its 101-year history. Those millions will benefit an array of community service organizations throughout the region at a time when assistance is more sorely needed than ever to survive the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis.
ORCHID: To Mark Matasic of Campbell for winning the Caregiver Hero Award from the American Stroke Association recently. Matasic stayed by his father Stephen’s side as an attentive caregiver 24/7 after Stephen suffered a debilitating stroke. After Stephen’s death, Mark became a passionate advocate for Survive Stroke, a national movement that calls for more streamlined treatment of stroke victims. Matasic also has lobbied in Col