The United Way of the Bradford Area is hosting its Red Feather and Report to the Community Event on May 25th, 2022 at 6:00 pm at the Bradford Club with music by Jim Ronan.

The Red Feather recognition is to honor a volunteer in our community who is truly passionate about the United Way and the work we do year after year.  We also take time to award an organization or agency that shares our mission within their own community involvement with the Excellence in Representation as well as a Small Business Award to a local business that exemplifies the meaning of volunteerism and community within their professional endeavors.

This year, the Red Feather Award will be presented to Eric Marasco.  Eric resides in Bradford, PA with his wife Suzi and their two children, Leo (5) and Sophia (2), and is employed by Calumet Specialty Products located out of Indianapolis, Indiana doing base oil sales. Eric has been actively involved with the United Way of the Bradford Area. Inc. since 2019, served as the 2020 Campaign Chair and continues to provide support to the annual campaign, Pig Roast and Clam Bake, and Soup Lunch. Not only is Eric involved in the UWBA but also serves as the Treasurer of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Homelessness Task Force, and a Board Member of the Bradford Hospital Foundation. Eric is passionate about his commitment to the community and feels that being able to see the impact volunteering makes is what drives his involvement. He feels he has a personal responsibility to help the community that has been his home for much of his life and expresses its importance for his children to see and learn the difference they can make by being involved.

Receiving the Excellence in Representation award is The Zonta Club. The Zonta Club is entering its 70th year serving the Bradford community. Zonta prides itself in standing as an international organization of professionals empowering women through service and advocacy. Zonta Club Bradford has helped in every corner of our community. They have helped plant flowers on Main Street, donated to the Elf Fund, and held food drives for Destinations Bradford, the Friendship Table, and the area’s School food pantries. They also volunteer their time to local organizations such as Care for Children, Bradford Creative Performing Arts and The Chamber of Commerce. Zonta’s members have also been seen to volunteer at The Italian Festival, The Pink Pumpkin project, The Southern Tier Symphony, GGB Trunk or Treat, and The United Way Soup Lunch. Not only have they participated in these events but they also help to fill the clothes lines with hats and mittens for the Warm It Forward project and hold drives for the YWCA Victims Resource Center. Lastly, Zonta prides itself in honoring girls from Bradford High School each year with Amelia Earhart awards and awards several scholarships to graduating seniors each year.

In its second year to be presented at the award ceremony is the Small Business Award. The UWBA Board of Directors are pleased to honor Pizza Napoli & Restaurant for their longstanding relationship with the UWBA through both Campaign support and volunteer involvement of owners, Sue and Greg Gleason. When they began their venture with the ownership of Pizza Napoli & Restaurant on April 20, 2015, alongside daughters Samantha Rinfrette and Jessica Behan, they felt a strong family connection to the business. Sue’s link to Pizza Napoli dates back to her childhood which she continued to share with her children while raising them. Beginning with son Nicholas, Sue’s children each spent time working at Napoli’s under Sofia Bednez before they obtained the business and continued with the family tradition of Sue’s sister, Stacey Siffrinn as General Manager. Greg and Sue are committed to supporting the community they serve. Growing up they were taught by their parents to give back and support others in time of need. Throughout the past eight years, they have stayed committed to this mission and have proudly supported many organizations such as the United Way of Bradford Area United Way, YWCA, American Cancer Society (Relay for Life Teams), Festa Italiana, Care for Children, Kids for Cancer, Golf Fore Heroes, Elf Fund, other organizations, many sports teams, student clubs and individuals in the community.

Please join us Thursday, May 25th to honor these three well-deserving United Way supporters along with our 22-23 Campaign Team of Devon and Jeff Kloss. The event is open to the public for a ticket price of $25 but space is limited.  Please be sure to RSVP before May 12th by calling the United Way office at 814-368-6181 or email us at sarah.lonzi@uwbanews.org.