By Kristen Garrett
Herald Staff Writer

The United Way of Mercer County honored a Transfer man for his volunteer work and announced campaign allocations Thursday during the agency's annual meeting.

Tim Jablon received the Volunteer of the Year Award for his work over the years with various agencies in Mercer County. Angelo Stamoolis of the Community Counseling Center of Mercer County presented Jablon with the award.

Stamoolis said he considers Jablon -- who has served on the board of directors at Community Counseling for 10 years and has been president since 1996-- volunteer of the decade.

Jablon joked that he figured if he volunteered for enough nonprofit corporations eventually the Internal Revenue Service would consider him a nonprofit too.

In addition to his work with Community Counseling, Jablon is vice-chairman of the Mercer County Housing Authority, a Sharon Rotary board member and a Rotary Reader, a district chairman for the Boy Scouts of American French Creek Council, a United Way board member and a member of the steering committee for Farrell Area High School. Jablon is president of Wheatland Steel Processing and vice-president of both Graham Stamping Co. and Phillips Steel Co., all Wheatland.

"I don't do it (volunteer) to get awards but it sure is nice when you get one," Jablon said. He thanked his wife Sherri for her help and support.

James Micsky, executive director of the United Way, said Jablon is an example of how someone can step up and make a community a better place to live.

The company and employees of Wheatland Tube Co. were given the Henry G. Evans Award for their cooperate fundraising campaign for 2002-03.

The United Way allocated $792,486 to 24 member agencies.

The agencies received the following allocations: Mercer County Chapter of the American Red Cross, $54,500; Trumbull County Chapter of the American Red Cross, $6,045; ARC of Mercer County, $70,000; French Creek Council of Boy Scouts of America, Inc., $24,000; Brandy Springs Park, $21,000; Catholic Charities Counseling & Adoption Services, $40,000; Children's Aid Society of Mercer County, $39,900.

Children's Center of Mercer County, $39,000; Community Counseling Center of Mercer County, $41,000; Consumer Credit Counseling Service, $7,500; F.H. Buhl Club, $68,500; Penn Lake Council Girl Scouts of USA, $18,000; Grove City Meals-On-Wheels, $600.

Keystone Blind Association, $78,941; The Literacy Council of Mercer County, $7,000; Mental Health Association of Mercer County, Inc., $16,500; Mercer Area Library, $15,000; Mercer County Community Action Agency, $8,000; Mercer County Juvenile Advisory Council, Inc., $5,000; Prince of Peace Center, $22,500.

The Mercer Service Unit of The Salvation Army, $1,000; the Shenango Valley Unit of the Salvation Army, $73,500; Shenango Valley Urban League, $95,000; and Shenango Valley YMCA, $40,000.