Dorota Gasienica-Kozak loves being a member of the United Way Board of Directors because, “we help change lives everyday.” She is also solicitor for the organization. Mrs. Kozak is a partner in the KingSpry law firm and chair of the Adoption/Assisted Reproductive Technology practice section. She also practices in the areas of Family Law and Estate Planning.

Mrs. Kozak is the Past Chair of the Board of Governors for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. She was a Girl Scouts Take the Lead honoree in 2018, a “YWCA Woman of the Year” for 2014, and in 2016, she was named a Woman of Influence by Lehigh Valley Business. A graduate of the Leadership Lehigh Valley program, Mrs. Kozak is a former member of the board and was the 2012 Leadership Lehigh Valley Alumni of the Year. She has been named a Rising Star honoree by Super Lawyer Magazine and Philadelphia Magazine.

Mrs. Kozak earned dual degrees from DeSales University in Politics and Criminal Justice. Mrs. Kozak graduated from Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law. She is an ardent volunteer with many community organizations including the Girl Scouts, IronPigs Charities and the Bradbury Sullivan LGBT Community Center.

Joe Savage serves as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President at Victaulic Company Inc. Savage joined Victaulic in August 2006, and was previously Vice President, Finance.

Prior to joining Victaulic, Savage spent 13 years at United Technologies’ Carrier Corporation based in Syracuse, New York, and held numerous financial executive positions there including Vice President of Finance for its North American Commercial business unit. Savage is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in the State of New York.

Savage’s community activities include Chair of the Saucon Valley Foundation for Education Innovation and President of the Saucon Valley Lacrosse Club. He is currently serving on the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY, and held a board seat with United Way of Central New York. He was also a trustee of the Toys for Tots Foundation in Central New York.

Savage lives in Saucon Valley, Pennsylvania with his wife, Suzanne, and their four children.

Tony and Adrienne DaRe of BSI Corporate Benefits will serve as United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley's (UWGLV) 2023 Campaign Chairs. In this role, the DaRe’s will volunteer to lead United Way’s largest annual fundraising effort, which raised a record-breaking $22,642,018 in 2022.

As United Way Tocqueville Society members since 2018, the DaRe’s are deeply committed to giving back through their leadership and service. Through their leadership, BSI Corporate Benefits has become one of 19 members of the United Way Cornerstone Society, increased their contributions through their workplace campaign each year, and achieved 100% participation among employees the last three years. 
 
Along with serving on United Way’s Campaign Cabinet since 2019, Tony actively leads local councils, boards, government and health committees serving as an expert employee benefits consultant and volunteer. In 2020, he was named Lehigh Valley “Community Service Person of the Year” and has been recognized as a “Power 100” three times for being an individual who helps shape the Lehigh Valley and influence the quality of life throughout the region. Most recently, Tony was named an Entrepreneur of The Year^® 2023 Greater Philadelphia Award finalist for being a transformative entrepreneur and leader of a high-growth firm focused on building long-term value through purpose, growth and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.

With more than 30 years dedicated the world’s largest nonprofit, David Lewis is humbled to serve as President of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley since 2013. Under his leadership, the UWGLV team has raised and invested record-setting amounts to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents throughout Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties. In 2021, UWGLV made the most significant community investment in the organization’s 103-year history, a record breaking $22 million. With a passion for helping people in need and a gift for partnership building, Lewis has raised more than $300 million throughout his career.  
 
During his tenure as President, UWGLV has been recognized among the top 40 of 1,800 United Ways located around the world, specifically as a Center of Excellence. Using innovative and collaborative leadership, Lewis has led the Greater Lehigh Valley to adopt a Collective Impact model and mobilize around three, bold and common goals. Since setting those goals in 2014, third grade reading rates have improved, 17,000 more people have access to affordable food and 50 percent more seniors can stay safe and healthy at home.
 
Lewis spent the early part of his career as a social worker with middle and high-school students and later transitioned to fundraising to reach more people in need. He began working with United Way in 1988 as campaign director in Southeastern Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), served as Vice President of Resource Development in Camden County, New Jersey and was Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in Lancaster County. He joined UWGLV in 2012 as Vice President, Resource Development.
 
Lewis holds a B.S. in social work from Elizabethtown College and M.S.W. in social work administration from Rutgers University. He’s been recognized by Lehigh Valley Business as a Game Changer – Most Admired CEO of a Nonprofit and honored with The Salvation Army’s Spirit of the Lehigh Valley award.
 
Lewis has three adult children: Joshua, Jacob and Riley and a grandson Jack Elliott. He resides in Hellertown and loves living and working in a community where so many people care about helping their neighbors.

Marci Lesko currently serves as Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary at United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, having been part of the organization since 2006. In her current role, Lesko provides leadership across the organization, with special focus on strategic technology, data operations, human resources, diversity, equity and inclusion, community impact, board development and more. Lesko’s background in supporting and leading community spans a variety of complex social issues and she is grateful for the opportunity to help improve lives and community conditions through the United Way. 

In addition to being a proud member of Women United, Lesko serves on several boards and is affiliated with many community improvement efforts such as the Lehigh County Suicide Prevention Coalition, as Board Chair for Pennsylvania’s Family Support Alliance, as Vice Chair of LINC, as Board Chair of Enduring Keys, Inc., as Chair of the Ways and Means Committee of the Concourse Club of Palmerton, and as co-creator of the Lehigh Valley’s DEI Practitioner Network.

Lesko has won several distinguished awards for her work, including the Human Relations Commission (2005), The Donley Award for Children’s Advocacy (2016), Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania Take the Lead Award (2017), Community Achievement Award/Woman of Influence Award from Lehigh Valley Business (2018), the PBS39 Fred Rogers Good Neighbor Award (2018), and led the United Way to receive the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center Community Leadership Award (2021). 

Lesko holds a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education from Illinois State University (1999) and a Master of Professional Services in Organization Development and Change Management from Pennsylvania State University (2022).

 

Paul Hurd is Chief Philanthropy Officer at United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV) and is responsible for overseeing the fundraising component of the organization. His responsibilities include working with the executive team to develop key strategies to increase corporate, employee and individual giving; ensuring effective volunteer management in support of resource development goals; and building and supporting relationship management within the organization.

Most recently, Hurd has held leadership positions at Thomas Jefferson University and Lehigh Valley Health Network. He has successfully led capital campaigns and has raised millions of dollars for each organization including several million dollar-plus gifts.

Locally, he serves on the Muhlenberg College Alumni Board and is a Director of the Andre Reed Foundation. Hurd holds an A.B. in Communications from Muhlenberg College and an M.S. in Telecommunications from Kutztown University. He and Susan, his wife of over 25 years, have two adult children, Matt and Abby.

Debra Klocek is V.P. Finance, Administration, and Treasurer for United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. Klocek has held the top finance spot at the Lehigh Valley location since 2010. Klocek is responsible for all financial and fiscal management aspects of the organization and the development of UWGLV’s financial management strategy. She also contributes to the development of the organization’s strategic goals as a member of the executive team.

Klocek is charged with overseeing United Way’s $22 million annual fund with the guidance of the Finance Committee that she manages -- a volunteer team comprised of some of the brightest financial minds in the Lehigh Valley. Klocek also oversees the audit committee. She is also responsible for endowment, capital budget acquisitions and the gift acceptance policy for United Way’s 22,000 donors.

Klocek’s extensive knowledge of United Way began in 1995 when she was hired as an Administrative Director. She was responsible for all accounting functions, accounts payable and receivables, financial reports, budget, and the coordination of the annual audit. In 2003, Klocek was named Grants Administrator and was responsible for the management of $1 million in grant revenue which increased her knowledge of Federal, State, and local government policies. She was then promoted to Controller in 2005 where she directed and managed the daily financial operations of the organization.

Laura McHugh serves as the Vice President, Marketing and Communications for United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV)–the first in the organization's history. In this role, McHugh leads strategic communications as well as oversees all messaging, content, digital communications, advertising and events. 

McHugh most recently served as Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications for UWGLV. She is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist, producer and writer with an extensive background in media and nonprofit work. 

Along with her two Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards, McHugh’s work has earned her fifteen Emmy nominations, two National Educational Telecommunications Association awards and two Truth in Finances Awards from the Pennsylvania Institute for Certified Public Accountants. In October, she received the ATHENA Leadership Award from the Women’s Business Council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. McHugh serves as President of the Board of Governors for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Mid-Atlantic Chapter and as a volunteer committee member for ArtsQuest.  

McHugh holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Maryland, Philip Merrill College of Journalism and has more than 15 years of reporting, producing and hosting experience in both commercial and public television news. She lives in Allentown with her husband and two children.

Jill Pereira’s professional background includes working in high-need communities in the Lehigh Valley serving diverse populations spanning the fields of mental health, juvenile justice, children and youth, public housing and public education.  Jill’s drive to positively impact the interconnectedness of systems has brought her to United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.  She has taken on increasing levels of leadership in evolving roles throughout her nine-year tenure.  She is currently responsible for overseeing UWGLV’s $5 million annual investment in education and for creating and executing on the strategies needed to improve youth outcomes across the region.    
 
Jill is passionate about working with underserved communities, building capacity and creating opportunity for change.  In addition to her own personal story connected to resilience, Jill completed a life enhancing study abroad program in Quito, Ecuador while earning her BSW degree and continued intentional work with the Hispanic community in the Lehigh Valley upon returning and completing her Master’s degree in Social Work from Marywood University in 2004. 
 
Jill has presented at numerous local, state and national conferences on the Community School model and the role a United Way can play in large-scale social change efforts.  She was named one of the Lehigh Valley Business Forty Under Forty recipients in 2015 for her work at United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.  Jill lives in Palmerton, Pennsylvania with her husband and three beautiful children.