Correspondent photo / Sean Barron Bob Hannon, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley’s president, accepts a $10,000 check from Gabe Perrotta, center, and Caitlyn Sapp, both of whom are students in Youngstown State University’s Sokolov Honors College, during a news conference and check presentation Tuesday at YSU.

YOUNGSTOWN — Caitlyn Sapp and Gabe Perrotta spent much of last summer painting driveways, though it wasn’t to demonstrate, dramatize or dive further into their artistic talents.

“Last summer was very busy,” Sapp, a fifth-year Youngstown State University student majoring in exercise science and psychology, said.

That’s because Sapp and Perrotta, both of whom are teaching assistants in YSU’s Sokolov Honors College, were spearheading the driveway painting projects as part of a larger fundraising effort on behalf of the United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley.

Long after the paint dried, the two students found themselves presenting a $10,000 check to United Way during a press conference and check presentation event Tuesday afternoon in YSU’s Fok Hall.

Sapp also was part of a coordinated effort to “design, adapt and execute” the fundraising plans they and their fellow students devised, she said.

Perrotta, a YSU senior and biology major, added that painting the driveways of university faculty members, staff, alums and others connected to YSU was the largest fundraising initiative they conducted. The project ran for four to five months, she said.

In addition, many of the students performed smaller fundraisers in area restaurants, from which a percentage of proceeds went to United Way.

She and Sapp also have participated in UW’s Satur-Day of Caring, an initiative in which volunteers meet every third Saturday of the month to unload meat, produce and other groceries before packing then delivering the items to shut-ins, seniors, families and others in need.

“All of the money stays here. We take it very seriously that you’re out raising the money for us,” Bob Hannon, UW’s president said as he accepted the $10,000 check.

“It’s exciting to see young people getting involved with us.”

The funds will go a long way toward assisting many children and people who are vulnerable and struggling, Hannon said, adding that his agency is continuing efforts to build on its number of area partnerships.

“United Way helps so many people throughout our region, throughout our Valley,” YSU President Bill Johnson said after having praised the students for their fundraising efforts.

The students’ project is in lockstep with their desire to contribute to the area’s betterment, largely because they have a long history of engaging with the community, Amy Cossentino, associate provost and the Sokolov Honors College’s dean, said.

The level of community outreach displayed in the UW fundraising venture also aligns with YSU’s overall efforts to further reach out to those in need, Cossentino added.

To that end, the university is putting together an application to apply for the Carnegie Foundation Elective Classification for Community Engagement, which aligns with YSU’s commitment to partner with community agencies and organizations to address a variety of needs in the region, she explained.

Cossentino said the application must be submitted by April 1. YSU officials will know the outcome by January 2026, she noted.