“I got involved with the United Way of Wyoming County many years ago as part of our (Five Star Bank, then Wyoming County Bank) corporate campaign. It was a way of giving back to the community I grew up in and to help the organizations that pro- vided services to those in need. As a participant in the annual campaign cabinet and eventually the campaign chair, I learned first-hand of not only the needs but of the breadth of ser- vice providers that support our country. Then it happened, a coworker suffered a tragic loss and one of our supported agencies was there to provide the assistance to get them through it. Now, I was committed even more to the success of United Way. I accepted a position on the board, the allocations committee and now the responsibility of chairman. It is so easy to give through payroll deduction, it is so easy to provide for agencies and it is so neces- sary to keep this organization part of our community.” -Mitch McLaughlin