Last Thursday, the Genesee Community College Pool was filled with 400 bright yellow rubber ducks each representing a donation to the eighth Annual United Way Campaign.

The Duck Derby is the single biggest initiative GCC developed to solicit donations for the campaign from faculty, staff and students. However events are scheduled throughout the campaign period.

This year the Duck Derby raised more than $400 for the United Way and the following participants won prizes: Katina Maher, John McGowan, Dave Hoover, Marguerite Badami, Kelly Sutcliff and Maureen Goodsell.

To champion the campaign efforts each year GCC establishes a United Way Committee. The 2018 committee includes:

• Courtney Andros, assistant director of HR Compliance
• Bethany Aradine, assistant director of HR
• Justine Briggs, TS Business training specialist
• John McGowan, director of Business and Employee Training Skills (BEST Center)
• Katherine Trombley, director of the Adult Education Opportunity Center (AEOC)
• Gina Weaver, associate vice president of HR
• Dolores Wilkin, HR Department secretary
• GCC's student athletes

The committee has set a donation goal of $16,000 for 2018, a 6-percent increase over 2017. Donations are accepted through payroll deductions, one-time gifts and of course, the purchase of ducks for the Duck Derby.

"The United Way does so much for so many organizations and individuals in our community," Campaign Coordinator Gina Weaver said. "Our campaign is our way of ensuring that good work can continue."

GCC faculty, students and staff are encouraged to make their contributions online at https://secure.uwrochester.org/epledge/crm/Start.jsp?accountNumber=53868.

• Luke Yauchzee -- $500
• Rich Nobles --  $100
• Jeri Costantino -- $50
• Kate Ireland – 1 Family Membership to Seneca Park Zoo
• Ethan Houck -- Laser Autographed Picture of New York Jets # 74 Nick Mangold
• D.J. O’Geen -- 1 Family Fun Pack to the Rochester Museum & Science Center
• Mark Hunneyman -- 2 Cruise Passes for free admission for a family  (2 adults and up to 2 children) for the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park
• Marley Parker -- 4 lower Reserve adult tickets to any one 2015 regular home season game, 1 autographed program for the Rochester Razorsharks
• Fred Perrine – 2 green fee vouchers for the Silver Lake Country Club
• Becky Beswick, Le Roy -- 2 green fee vouchers for the Silver Lake Country Club
• Corinne Heschke – 2 tickets for any Rochester night Hawks 2015 Game
• T. Strollo Byron – Gift bag from Peebles Store in Batavia
• Hunter Emenck --  4 Complimentary Tickets for 4 Adults on “The Maid of the Mist"
• Ann Liberatore -- 1 Family Pass for 2 Adults and 3 Children at the N.Y. Museum of Transportation
• Anna Kent -- 1 Bufalo Sabres Yearbook Autographed by #65 Bryan Flynn
• John Johnson, Le Roy -- $50 Gift Card From “Park Avenue Pub and Restaurant,” Rochester
• Jen Heaney -- 1 Free Det Laser signed Photos of Buffalo Bills # 28 C.J. Spiller and #22 Fred Jackson
• Rita Mehan -- Autographed Photo of James Beresford, of the Rochester Red Wings
• Dan Robinson, Le Roy – Laser signed Photo of N.Y. Giants  # 80 Victor Cruz
• Rick Blood, LeRoy --  $20 gift certificate to the Pok-A-Dot in Batavia
• Alexis O’Geen -- $10 gift certificate to Applebee’s
• Lawerence Taylor, Palmetto, Fla. -- $10 for the Last Place Duck
• Colleen Czubinski, Batavia -- $25 for the 25^th Place Duck in honor of our 25^th Anniversary of the Duck Derby

Chapter 193 of the Vietnam Veterans of America sponsored the 25th annual Duck Derby in Le Roy today, with an assist from the Le Roy Volunteer Fire Department.

Luke Gottsi won. Rich Noble, second, and Jerry Castantino, third.