YOUNGSTOWN — As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate lives into 2021, the William M. Neckerman Jr. Charitable Foundation and Jane F. Lamb Charitable Foundation have donated a combined $50,000 to allow the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley to continue its response work.

These two foundations, Neckerman Foundation which is led by trustees Jim Sisek and Rye Dalton and Lamb Foundation led by Sisek, were the first to step up last year when the pandemic took hold of the Valley. Their generosity allowed United Way to create a COVID-19 Response fund, inspiring other individuals, foundations and organizations to contribute.

Since March 2020, the two foundations have contributed a combined $162,500 — $85,000 coming from the Neckerman Foundation and $77,500 coming from the Lamb Foundation.

“We know that Bill Neckerman and Jane Lamb would want to be at the forefront helping the people of the Mahoning Valley, so we are proud to maintain their legacy by funding these important programs and initiatives run by the United Way,” said foundation trustees Sisek and Dalton, in a joint statement.

With this funding, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley has made a major impact: feeding 3,000 people with its Satur-Day of Caring food giveaway, delivering to seniors, shut-ins, and families who cannot get out due to the threat of the virus. Since last spring, United Way said it has distributed $85,000 in grocery store vouchers to more than 2,000 students and families from 19 school districts across the Mahoning Valley in 2020.