The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley marked 2025 with growth, community engagement and continued response to emerging needs, according to Roxann Sebest, vice president.

The Centofanti Volunteer Resource Center, which officially opened in August 2024, expanded volunteer involvement and enabled the organization to grow its Care Closet initiative.

In 2025, volunteers contributed more than 6,000 hours supporting initiatives such as Care Closets and Saturday of Caring. The Care Closet program, a resource pantry that meets students’ basic needs with food, clothing and hygiene products, expanded from 20 sites during the 2024-2025 school year to 29 sites at the start of the 2025-2026 year. 

“Donors recognized the importance of this effort and increased their support, allowing United Way to serve more students across the Mahoning Valley,” Sebest says.

United Way’s early education programs continued to show strong participation and positive outcomes, she adds. Success By 6 served more than 800 prekindergarten students during the summer, helping prepare them for success in the classroom. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library continued to support children from birth to age 5 by promoting early literacy. Success After 6 operated at seven school sites, serving 330 students who demonstrated academic improvement. Additionally, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program reached more individuals, helping low- to moderate-income residents keep their full tax refunds and avoid predatory lending
practices.

The final months of 2025 presented renewed challenges when a federal government shutdown resulted in a lapse in Snap benefits. 

United Way convened local nonprofit partners to address the crisis. With the support of a grant from the Jane F. Lamb Charitable Foundation, United Way distributed 2,500 meal kits to students throughout the Mahoning Valley while families awaited benefit
restoration.

In November, United Way and the nonprofit community again responded to crisis following an explosion at Austintown Studio Apartments, home to 140 low-income seniors and individuals. Residents were evacuated, and United Way partnered with local agencies to provide temporary housing, food and essential supplies. Support for these residents continues into 2026.

In early spring 2025, United Way announced its 2024 campaign results – another record-breaking total of $3.74 million. The 2025 campaign results will be announced in mid-February, with continued growth attributed to the organization’s programs and measurable community impact.

Founded in 1919, the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley is supported by a staff of nine full-time employees and one part-time employee.

Pictured at top: United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley volunteers work at the agency’s Centofanti Volunteer Resource Center.