To the Editor,

We wish to extend our gratitude to all that made the 28th Golf Classic successful.

$50,000 was raised to support the 2009 Campaign for the following member agencies: American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Club of Weirton, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Camp Fire, Community Bread Basket, CHANGE, Inc., Dunbar Recreation Center, Healthways, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Hancock County Sheltered Workshop, Hancock County 4-H Foundation, Weirton Medical Center Foundation, Mary H. Weir Library, Salvation Army Weirton and Weirton Christian Center.

Special thanks to Golf Classic Director Tom McDonald a lifelong supporter who advocates endlessly for United Way.

About 145 golfers enjoyed gifts, breakfast, lunch by Vocelli Pizza, fruit by Sysco Foods, dinner awards by Pro Brent Johnson and Paul DiLorenzo and service by outstanding staff of Williams Country Club Manager Thom Boehm. Golfers appreciated the beauty of the course in excellent condition due to Dan Houk and crew of this historic golf course.

Special thanks to host sponsors, ArcelorMittal Weirton, Cross IT.Com, and Greco Hertnick Funeral Home for their generosity, Gold Club sponsors First Choice America CFCU, Hancock County Savings Bank, Iannetti's Garden Center and Weirton Geriatric Health Complex, Silver Sponsors: Buck Consultants, Cattrell Companies, Chem Treat, Inc., Civil & Environmental Consultants, ArcelorMittal, Mountaineer Casino, Wall Street Recycling, WesBanco, W.K. Merriman

Special Thanks Hole-In-One Prize Sponsors, L.S. Jewelers, Lyle's Auto, Saxon Jewelers; the Image Zone Portrait Studio for sponsorship of entry forms, banners, 8 x 10 color team picture, memorable Golf Classic Book, photographers Rebecca Dorsey/ Alyssa Misenhielder; putting contest sponsors, Dee Jay's BBQ Ribs, Saxon Jewelers and Ball Corporation, SAL Chemical and to First Choice America for providing conversion vans for many years.

Special thanks to Angelina Dickson, Weirton Daily Times/Herald Star for the outstanding coverage & photographs.

Thanks also to Advanced Auto, AT & T, Auto Zone, AVI Foods, Awesome Signs, Baymont Inn, C&E Plastics, Classic Cutters, Coca-Cola, Comcast, Convenient, Dan's Plumbing/Heating, DeFelice Pizza, Dick's, Eat N Park, Feroleto Steel, Follansbee Steel, Friendly Dry Cleaners, GasLite Restaurant, GE Water, Gus's Goodies, Henkel Surface Technology, Herr-Voss Stamco, Holiday Inn, Impress USA, Independence Excavating, James White Construction, Kroger's, Lauttamus Communications, Lynnwood Pool, Mainstream Physical Therapy, MBS Warehouse, Michael Nogay, Nestle Purina, Pete Visnic, Reynolds Services, Scott Winwood, Senator Bowman, Sherwin-Williams, Southpointe Golf, Spilman, Thomas, & Battle, Starvaggi Industries, Steel City Distributors, Stevens Painton, Stonewall Resort, Sunset Cafe, Suzanne's Hallmark, Testa Machine, Tin Mill Employee FCU, Tom Silveri, Tom/Linda McDonald, Top of WV CVB, Total Equipment, Turkana Golf, Undo's, United Bank, USG, Waldorf Distributing Company, Weirton Lumber, Weirton Medical Center, Wheeling Park, Wine & Beverage Merchants, Youngstown CC.

Also a special thanks to the volunteers, Kristin Bowman Cross, Kathy Bowman, Courtney Aperfine, Larry Jones, Dan Ficca, Ryan Moore, Angie Goettel, Ian Rice, Christopher Hatala, Katlyn Thomas, Donnie Layburn, Dave Gallagher, Mike Petrozzi, Tom Silveri, Betty Jo Welch, Donna Donohue, Hattie Adams, Maxine DiPalma, Naomi Baker, Sally Starko, Angie Kocher, Kelly Fluharty, Captain Ed Long, Joyce DeStefano, Monica Tonacchio, Jackie Bioux, Joe Alongi, Billy Niesslein, Russell Wickham, Don Billham, Brian James, Dave Minda, Bruce Costello, Brandy Smith, Nick Volakis, Charles Cronin, John Kirlangitis, Bill Cattrell and Weirton United Way Administrative Assistant Linda Stear

The success of this event is an example of what we can achieve when this great resilient community works together to build a stronger community and help the principle charity the Weirton United Way.

Cheryl Costello, executive director

Brian James, 2009 campaign chairman

Kristin Bowman Cross, campaign vice-chairman