5th Annual Runway & Rhythm event raises $3,363

Darke County United Way with Youniques, Montage Cafe, CenturyLink, Farmers State Bank, Littman Thomas, The Bootery, and Second National Bank celebrated the 5th annual Runway & Rhythm event on Friday, September 20th. The event raised $3,363 for the Bridge the Gap fund through United Way to help residents with mortgage, rent and utility assistance at or below 225% of the poverty level to help keep families safe in their homes, and make it through short-term hard economic times such as job loss or disability. 70 guests came to the event to enjoy drinks and food from Montage and a fashion show by Youniques. Frohna & Warner played wonderful music throughout the night sponsored by the Bootery. Participants bid on silent auction items, and guests brought canned food items for the local United Way partner pantries - FISH and Grace Resurrection Community Center.

The Darke County United Way board of directors and staff would like to sincerely thank Montage Café and Youniques for putting on such a wonderful event for the United Way. Their gracious generosity strengthens this community. Youniques fashion show featured the latest fall fashions with lots of colors and great fabrics. We also want to thank our other major sponsors including CenturyLink, Farmers State Bank, Littman-Thomas Agency, The Bootery and Second National Bank for supporting this event and our Bridge the Gap programs. We would like to give a special thank you to the Frohna & Warner for providing an evening of great music. The crowd loved singing with the band and dancing.

We would like to thank our lovely models from the fashion show including Linda Pease, Dalene Thomas, Kathy Lockhart, Krista Stump, Penny King, Susan Howell, PJ Copp, Cheryl Ganger, Stephanie Szymanski, Mary Riffle and Lauren Henry. United Way would also like to thank the following businesses for donating items for the event including: Youniques, The Bootery, Beauty Systems Group, Massage on Main-Betty Via, Darke County YMCA, Ivy League, Isabel Culbertson, KitchenAid® Experience, D’Alessio Italian Restaurant, Star Greenhouse, The Coffee Pot, Sweet Annie’s Cabin, Studio One, Country Primitives, Michael’s Fine Clocks, Bear’s Mill, Merle Norman, Sharper Image, Wieland’s, Turtle Creek Golf Course, Beechwood Golf Course, White Springs Golf Course, Touch of Heart Therapeutic Medical Massage – Diane Crawford, Tracy Briner, & Gianna Neff, Comprehensive Health Network, McDonalds, Midmark & The Inn at Versailles, Victoria Theatre, Double M Diner, Jan Roestmadji. For more information about Darke County United Way or to donate, visit www.darkecountyunitedway.org.