OSWEGO, NY – Executive Director of the United Way of Greater Oswego County Melanie Trexler has announced that former Syracuse All-American and NFL great Chris Gedney will be the keynote speaker at the United Way’s annual campaign kick off breakfast.
Scheduled for Sept. 9 from 8 – 9 a.m. at the American Foundry, 246 W. Seneca St., the event is the official beginning to the United Way’s annual campaign and serves as the organization’s primary fundraiser as the campaign raises money to support the many human services programs that the United Way and its member agencies provide for those who live in Oswego County.
“Our annual campaign kickoff will be an enlightening and inspiring event,†said Trexler. “Those who attend will have the opportunity to share in our vision of building a stronger community. We are pleased to have Mr. Gedney as our keynote speaker. His dynamic presence and his passion for the mission of the United Way will be truly inspiring as we look to improve the quality of life in Oswego County by empowering our community.â€Â
Chair of the United Way’s Campaign Cabinet Jonathan Daniels echoed those thoughts regarding Gedney’s presence at the event.
“Having a person such as Chris serve as the keynote speaker for our kickoff breakfast is testament to the reputation of the United Way. His personal and professional experiences speak to the power of giving. These experiences will serve to inspire those in attendance and carry a positive message throughout the campaign,” said Daniels.
A consensus All-American at Syracuse University, Gedney holds the school record for receptions by a tight end in a season and career, was a member of Syracuse teams that played in the Peach Bowl, Aloha Bowl, Hall of Fame Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl, and was named to the SU All-Century Football Team.
During his eight-year career in the NFL, where he played for the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals, Gedney was a finalist for the NFL Man of the Year Award in 2000 and was honored with the Ed Block and Gene Autry Courage awards in 2001.
Following his NFL career, Gedney, who holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communication, began his broadcasting career with Classic Worldwide Productions before working as a football analyst on XTRA Sports 910 Radio for Arizona Cardinal broadcasts and serving as a guest NFL analyst for Arizona Fox Sports Network.
Currently, Gedney is employed by Syracuse University and handles the solicitation of major gifts for athletics, coordinates and manages the donor prospect pool, and assists with the day-to-day operations of the Orange Club.
“We are truly humbled to have Mr. Gedney lend his considerable talents to helping our annual campaign and are grateful to campaign cabinet member Rob Rolfe of Pathfinder Bank for making it possible to have Chris Gedney as our keynote speaker. Thanks to Rob and the efforts of our other campaign cabinet members we are looking forward to an exciting start to what we hope will be a very successful and productive campaign,†added Trexler.
Open to the public, the breakfast will also provide the opportunity for community members to get to know their United Way better, learn more about its member agencies, and the more than 40 programs that the United Way helps support.
“We hope to impress upon the community that their support matters and help them gain a better understanding of the reasons why the United Way of Greater Oswego County raises funds and the positive impact that those funds have on their friends and neighbors right here in Oswego County. By supporting our annual campaign they are helping the United Way and our member agencies improve the quality of life for everyone in Oswego County,†Trexler said.
The cost to attend is $15.
For more information, or to make reservations, call Mary Tetro at 593-1900 or e-mail at [email protected]
missing or outdated ad config
