Many people deserve credit for the success of the United Way of Mercer County’s 2006 campaign, which surpassed its $1 million goal.

“We do a very nice job, I think, in our little corner of the world … taking care of people,” said Executive Director Jim Micsky.

Those who gave their time and dollars are to be commended, and a few who went the extra mile were honored at the organization’s 32nd annual meeting Thursday at the Radisson Hotel of Sharon in Shenango Township.

Campaign co-chairs John and Kathryn Lima chose Sharon Regional Health System as winner of the first Campaign Chair Award.

Giving increased by 102 percent in that campaign, Mrs. Lima said, and the hospital’s medical records division has gotten early contributions for the next campaign.

This generosity “illustrates the importance of the person at the top,” Mrs. Lima said, before introducing hospital President and Chief Executive Officer John Zidansek to accept the award. She noted that he attended every employee meeting about the campaign.

The Limas presented the Henry G. Evans Memorial Award to Black, Bashor and Porsch LLP, Sharon.

One hundred percent of the accounting firm’s staff gives to the United Way and they “dug a little deeper” in recent years, Mrs. Lima said.

People from the firm have also served on boards, panels, committees and cabinets for the United Way over the years, she said.

The Limas received special recognition for their work on the campaign. Women’s Leadership Initiative Co-Chair Laura Ackley presented the Sharon couple with a framed collection of photographs and articles from The Herald’s coverage of the United Way. Lima is the newspaper’s publisher.

“The best decision I ever made was to have a fantastic co-chair,” Lima said of his wife. Mrs. Lima is president and owner of Faro Enterprises, which provides business development, marketing and fundraising services and training.

“They changed a lot of things,” Ms. Ackley said, noting that Mrs. Lima is the first woman to chair a campaign for the agency.

The Limas have been “hands on” and created partnerships with members of the United Way cabinet and a “nice sense of teamwork” that people are excited about, Ms. Ackley said.

“They’ve been very instrumental in putting their money where their mouth is,” Ms. Ackley said.

Alex Sanchez, vice president of the United Way of America, was featured speaker. Philanthropic giving is on the rise in America, but donations to the United Way are not keeping pace, he said.