United Way 11th Annual Sports Night & Fine Arts Auction raises over $30K | News, Sports, Jobs

This signature community fundraising event was held May 3 at the Central Pa Auto Auction and was an enormous success honoring local educator, coach and community benefactor Lenny Long.

The event was able to raise over $30,000 — making it one of the Clinton County United Way’s most successful events ever.

Attracting over 100 people to the event, the evening brought out so many in the community as the United Way bestowed the Sportsperson of the Year award to long-time LHU educator, coach and community member Lenny Long for his years of service to athletics, education and community service to our area.

The award was presented by current Commonwealth University-Lock Haven men’s soccer coach, and Long’s son, Patrick Long.

PHOTO PROVIDED
Over 100 people turned out for the Clinton County United Way’s 11th Annual Sports Night & Fine Arts Auction, held at the Central PA Auto Auction, which raised over $30,000.

The evening was filled with fun, camaraderie, games, live and silent auctions and delicious food and drink.

The evening was hosted by board member Jordan Sheffer, who teamed up with Doug Miller of Central PA Auto Auction, leading an incredibly wonderful and successful Live Auction.

The auction was able to generate over $13,000 in donations thanks to the many incredibly generous donors and bidders who made it possible.

Executive Director Ben Green — when speaking about the event — said, “what an incredibly overwhelming evening filled with so much community spirit and generosity. Lenny and his family were incredibly humble and gracious in accepting such a well-deserved honor for a man and family that have done so much for our community.”

“These events are so much work and it takes an incredible amount of hours and teamwork to make an event like this happen. So many including our board, the volunteers, the sponsors, the donors and our vendors, all really stepped up to make this event as successful as it was. I can’t thank everyone enough for all the work and sacrifice that went into this event,” he continued.

PHOTO PROVIDED
Former LHU educator and coach Lenny Long, third from right, is pictured with members of his family after being named Sportsperson of the Year during the Clinton County United Way’s 11th Annual Sports Night & Fine Art Auction, held at Central PA Auto Auction.

He also added, “I would be remiss if we didn’t specifically send our appreciation out to the Miller family and the Central PA Auto Auction for their absolute graciousness and generosity when it came to donating the event space. It was an amazing venue and they were so welcoming to us and our mission.”

“Everyone did amazing; the food provided by Beech Creek Hotel was fantastic, and we’re very appreciative to the LHU Men’s Soccer Team and the Boy Scouts, Susquehanna Council for providing help for both setup and teardown,” he said. “It’s overwhelming to see so many come together, and it really shows just how wonderful a place our community is to live and work.”

Board President Jason Walker had this to add, “Thank you so much to everyone who made this event what it was. To the Millers for their generosity, to the sponsors who made this possible, to the donors for their wonderful contributions, to the attendees, to the volunteers and to our board for all their hard work; also to Laurie Welch of the Clinton County Community Dental Clinic who gave a passionate presentation on the work they do and how the funds provided by the United Way help them help so many in our community.”

The monies raised by this event will go to the mission of the Clinton County United Way which is to improve the health, education and financial stability of Clinton County residents through direct assistance, grant making and advocacy. Specifically, those who live paycheck to paycheck and each day get up and go to work, but at the end of the day struggle to make ends meet.

The United Way wishes to thank the sponsors of the event who made this all possible:

Gold Sponsors

UPMC and First Commonwealth Bank

Silver Sponsors

Diversified Asset Planners, Ron and Jo Anne Bowes, Woodland’s Bank, Central PA Auto Auction, First Quality

Bronze Sponsors

Journey Bank, M&R Contracting, Blaise Alexander Subaru, Bald Eagle Distributors

Generous Sponsors

Gedon Funeral Homes & Crematorium Services, Jim Berkebile, Murray Motors, Pearl’s Cafe on Main, Broken Axe Brew House.

The United Way also thanked the Beech Creek Hotel, Ben Strosser and all the donors, attendees and volunteers.

To learn more about the Clinton County United Way and its mission, please visit www.clintoncountyunitedway.org for more information. Also, look for other upcoming fun events there as well.