United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Celebrates Double Win at 2024 Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy Awards for Impactful Community Initiatives
We are proud to announce that United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley received two prestigious honors at the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy Awards, recognizing our work in both youth mental health advocacy and entrepreneurial support. These wins highlight United Way’s commitment to driving positive change in the Lehigh Valley and creating a lasting impact in our community.
“2023 StartUp Lehigh Valley” (Category: Entertainment – Long Form)
The first Emmy win celebrates United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s role in supporting entrepreneurship through the 2023 StartUp Lehigh Valley event. This pitch competition showcases the innovation and creativity of local entrepreneurs. Designed to uplift and spotlight the next generation of business leaders in our community, StartUp Lehigh Valley fosters a thriving environment for startups to pitch their ideas and receive crucial support from key community partners.
Held in October 2023 at Factory LLC in Bethlehem, the event was a collaboration between United Way, Lehigh University, WFMZ, Ben Franklin Tech Ventures and The Factory. United Way’s Laura McHugh hosted the event along with Bo Koltnow and United Way was proud to sponsor and support this business initiative. The Emmy win for StartUp Lehigh Valley further underscores United Way’s dedication to fostering economic growth and innovation in our region.
“Youth Speak Up Lehigh Valley” (Category: News/Program Promotion/PSA – Campaign)
The second Emmy was awarded for the Youth Speak Up Lehigh Valley campaign, produced by Laura McHugh in collaboration with eMediaWorks’ Dr. Teri Haddad and Matt Lewis, Resilient Lehigh Valley and Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts in Bethlehem. This campaign was launched in December 2023 in response to the Surgeon General’s assessment of declining youth mental health across the nation. Recognizing the critical need to address this issue locally, United Way, along with Resilient Lehigh Valley, took decisive action to amplify the voices of local youth.
Through a powerful partnership with Aevidum, the campaign sought to create impactful video content that resonates deeply with young people and fosters meaningful communication between them and their parents. Rooted in the urgency of the youth mental health crisis, #YouthSpeakUpLV continues to make a difference by providing resources and building awareness around the mental health struggles many young people face today. A special thank you to Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and Lehigh County for funding support for #YouthSpeakUpLV.
These two Emmy Awards reflect United Way’s enduring mission to create lasting change in the Greater Lehigh Valley. From tackling the urgent youth mental health crisis to promoting entrepreneurship and business innovation, these initiatives showcase how our collaborations and partnerships are paving the way for a brighter future.
