About United Way

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United Way of Greater Stark County seeks to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways by mobilizing thousands of people around a common goal: advancing the common good by focusing on EDUCATION, FAMILY & FINANCIAL STABILITY and HEALTH & BASIC NEEDS.

 

 

United Way of Greater Stark County focuses its attention on the root causes of these issues through their focus on programs that target Early Education & Care, Graduation & Training, and Family Stability.

 

About Our Leaders

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The United Way of Greater Stark County (UWGSC) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to energize the community to care for one another by addressing human needs with measurable results. UWGSC was founded by the Alliance Area United Way, the United Way of Central Stark County and the United Way of Western Stark County and serves all of Stark County and parts of Carroll, Columbiana, Mahoning, Portage and Wayne Counties. The United Way serves a population of more than 380,000 and funds programs and services that address the critical health and human service needs of our community.

 

Maria Heege President & CEO of United Way of Greater Stark County Maria Heege has over 31 years of experience in the non-profit sector. She is the President & CEO of the United Way of Greater Stark County and has been with the United Way for more than 28 years. During her tenure with United Way, Maria has served as Chief Operating Officer overseeing daily operations of the agency; Executive Vice President overseeing the community investment division of United Way, Executive Director of the Voluntary Action Center, Director of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Director of the Volunteer and Special Projects Department, and Executive Member of Stark County Care Team. With a lifetime commitment to community service, Maria has been intimately involved with volunteerism, not only locally, but also nationally through the Points of Light and the United Way of America. She has planned and conducted volunteer and nonprofit organizational trainings on the state and national level. Maria is also active in the community. Currently she is a board member of the Stark County Family Council and president of The Jackson Rotary.  She is past President of the Junior League of Canton and the Alzheimer’s Association. She was inducted into the National Registry of Who’s Who of Non-Profits in 1999.

Scott Zurakowski Board Chairman Scott is a director with Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty Co., L.P.A., and works out of both our Canton and Alliance offices. His practice focuses in the areas of corporate law and employment/labor litigation. After graduating from Alliance High School, Scott received his B.A., from Mount Union College where he served as both President and Vice President of the Student Senate and was a member of the National Honorary Society and Blue Key. He then received his Juris Doctorate from Ohio Northern University Petit College of Law where he was named to the Order of Barristers, was a Presiding Justice for the Moot Court Board of Advocates, and Champion of the 1996 National Administrative Law Moot Court Competition. In addition, Scott has previous legal experience with a law firm in Alliance and has served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for the City of Alliance. Scott is a member of the Stark County, Ohio, and American Bar Associations. He is a past member and chairman of the Plain Township Zoning Commission.  He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Alliance Chamber of Commerce and serves as its Legislative Committee Chairman.  Scott is also a member of the Board of Trustees and Legal Counsel to the United Way of Greater Stark County Inc., and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Mount Union College Alumni Council.  Scott is a graduate of the 17th Class of Leadership of Stark County. Scott and his wife, Kathy, reside in Plain Township with their daughters Madison and Natalie, and their son, Jack.