Latrobe, PA • November 11, 2009:  It was not until she heard loud banging in her basement that Doris Kovac, 43-year resident of Latrobe, realized that the comfort of a new furnace donated and being installed by Donahue’s Inc., was a reality for her this winter.  Thanks to the generosity of Regis “Butch” Donahue and GBG Supply of Youngwood, this individual and another senior in Export will be warm with their new Amana 95 gas heating systems. 

Butch Donahue and Barry Radel of Donahue's, Inc. share the

warmth of a new furnace with Doris Kovac of Latrobe.

When Doris received a call about the new furnace, from Kathy Bartolomucci of the Area Agency of Aging (AAA) in September, she said, “I could not believe it.”  Her furnace was 20 years old and rusting.  She needed a new heating system.  Kathy’s call was triggered by Barry Radel, Comfort Consultant of Donahue’s, Inc., who came up with the idea of helping seniors in need.  Finding the right senior was the challenge. The right connection was made to recipients, like Doris, through local Faith in Action programs found in our area. 

Doris Kovac admires her new furnace donated and installed

by Donahue's, Inc and GBG, Inc.

Faith in Action programs are volunteer networks that provide basic and necessary services for seniors to help them remain safe and secure in their homes.  Laurel Area Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers (LAIVC) serves the Greater Latrobe area and Ligonier communities and Forbes Trail Faith in Action serves the Murrysville, Delmont and Export area.  These programs, along with four others in the area, serve hundreds of seniors and are supported or funded by United Way of Westmoreland County.

Thanks to individuals at Donahue’s Inc., AAA and LAIVC, the dots were connected to a senior in need. Each installation was valued at $3,000 to $3,500 and will translate into tremendous savings as the new furnaces are 95% efficient. Butch and Barry hope this in-kind support for seniors will become an annual tradition.  

United Way of Westmoreland County is a nonprofit organization that invests its resources in efforts that solve critical community problems with measurable results.  Covering Westmoreland and portions of Fayette and Armstrong counties, we serve over 50,000 people through partnerships in three targeted areas: Helping Children & Youth Succeed; Building Strong Neighborhoods & Communities and Supporting Vulnerable & Aging Populations.  For more information, please contact us at (724) 834-7170 or www.unitedway4u.org.