About Us
GiveOur Guiding Principles
These are the essential beliefs that govern the actions of all those who are associated with the United Way of Northern Chautauqua County.
- Respect for all members of our community.
- Responsiveness to the needs of the community
- Open and accountable
- Integrity and honesty
- High levels of participation and collaboration
- Passionate belief in our community
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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The United Way of Northern Chautauqua County, committed to the creed of “Live United,” will strive to model and demonstrate diversity, equity, and inclusion within all our operations. In a community that is increasingly diversified, we value and recognize that all our neighbors face challenges and desire opportunities to be part of the solutions we bring to our community.
We acknowledge that racial inequity, ethnic discrimination, and language barriers have prevented some of those within our community from thriving, being able to access important services, or feeling included within our communities. Our organization will use its position to promote equity and inclusion for all of those in our region, especially those that have lacked access or opportunity and faced barriers in the past.
Our staff, board, volunteers, and partners will make decisions that are inclusive of the voices of those being served and representative of our community. Programming will address barriers to access, ensure that all individuals have the help they need, and strive to ensure delivery from a diverse network of professionals. To fully meet our potential as a community we must ensure that all of our neighbors are included, and that systemic barriers no longer hold people back from achieving their potential.
Who We Are
Our Team & Leadership
The United Way of Northern Chautauqua County depends on community-minded individuals to provide us with a strategic vision to ensure we are meeting the needs of the communities we serve. Our current board of directors consists of the following outstanding individuals …
Tyler Gotowka - Lawley Insurance | Board President
Sales and Risk Professional
Jennifer Wilkins - SUNY Fredonia | Board Vice-President
Internship Coordinator
Lucas Catalano - SUNY Fredonia | Board Secretary
Fredonia FSA
Kelly Dimitri - The Resource Center | Board Secretary
Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer
Jessica L. Winder - Buffalo Psychiatric Center, OMH
Site Manager/Social Work Supervisor 1
John Noel
Training Specialist
Jacob E. Sam - Ag Team
CEO
Don Williams - Chautauqua County
Chautauqua County Highway Department
Kyle Yelich - Silver Creek Central Schools
Principal
Bradley Rowe - Ripley Central School District
Teacher
Mike Ringler - HBKS Wealth Advisors
Ivory Brooks - SUNY Fredonia
Daniel Siracuse - United Way NCC
Community Relations Coordinator
Dan is responsible for participating in north county initiatives, meeting with community partners, and establishing partnerships with businesses and donors.”
Having lived most of his life in Fredonia, Siracuse is thrilled to be working more closely with many of the businesses and organizations in the north end of the county. “Western New York has been my home for most of my life. I deeply care about continuing the mission of making Chautauqua County an affordable and safe place to live, and getting to do that with the United Way makes me extremely grateful.”
As Community Relations Coordinator, Siracuse will be working closely with UWNCC partners and volunteers and hopes to continue spreading awareness for the impactful work that the United Way does in the community.
Siracuse brings to the position previous nonprofit experience, having been with Chautauqua Opportunities from 2021 – 2024, working for the fatherhood program, as well as working with NCCF as a footprints committee member. During his time with COI, his marketing efforts led to the fatherhood program reaching its metrics of enrolling 210 dads into the program for two years in a row. He comes to the United Way with significant outreach and relationship-building experience, having collaborated with many service providers and nonprofit organizations.
Siracuse currently resides in Fredonia, and graduated from SUNY Fredonia with a degree in marketing and minor in visual arts.
Leadership
Past Presidents
For over seventy years, our organization has benefitted from outstanding volunteer leadership.
2019 Rebecca Hamlet Kapple
2017-18 Kyle Leikam
2014-16 Richard Erdle
2012-13 James Subjack
2010-11 John D’Agostino
2008-09 Peggy Tiffany
2007 John Gullo
2005-06 John D’Agostino
2004 Jim Kurtz
2002-03 Katherine Kaus
2001 R. Timothy Eades
2000 Charles Divine
1999 Ronald Hall
1997-98 David Korzenski
1996 Daniel O’Rourke
1995 Lawrence Witkowski
1994 Bonny Wade
1993 David Mackowiak
1992 Roger Britz
1990-91 David Larson
1989 James MacDonald
1988 Philip W. Lord
1987 Peter B. Huiner
1986 John W. Kam
1985 L. Walter Schultze
1984 Carol Case Siracuse
1983 Donald F. Maxson
1982 Douglas Carder
1981 Elizabeth Goodman
1980 Peter D. Clard
1979 Al Dent
1977 & 78 Bruce Ritenburg, Jr.
1976 Reg Corsi
1975 David C. Drayo
1974 Howard Schickler
1973 Harold Zell
1972 Michael Brunecz
1971 S. Michael LoCicero
1970 J. William Farrell
1969 Dallas Beal
1968 Martin Hemphill
1967 Richard Seville
1966 Ernest J. Green
1965 W. Kendall Palmer
1964 Philip W. Evans
1963 Harold Ferrington
1962 Julius Bachman
1961 Michael Sam
1960 Robert Webster
1959 Harry Porter
1958 William Wells
1957 John Foster
1956 Edward Orcutt
1955 John Foster
1954 Alvin Surma
1952-53 Bruce Ritenburg, Jr.
1951 Byron Woodin
1950 Hugh Carrough