MIKE DENOVE

“The United Way brand derives its character from the local needs and initiatives of our region.”

Mike Denove was raised with an understanding of hard work, commitment, dedication and  a strong philanthropic spirit. These are the same values he and his wife, Dana, instill in their children today. A father of soon-to-be three children, and a partner at Ernst & Young, Mike makes it a priority to support United Way both financially and through volunteering.

His support of United Way goes back 15 years, to when he graduated from Penn State in 2002. Early on, Mike recognized the importance of United Way. “United Way is the foundational lifeline for the majority of our non-profit agencies in the region,” he said.

He appreciates that United Way is the source of many great initiatives like the Be There campaign to promote school attendance and PA 211 Southwest, United Way’s  resource and referral service that is a lifeline for people in need. “These are programs that United Way has developed and fostered to meet the basic needs of so many of our neighbors,” he recounted.

One of Mike’s most memorable experiences with United Way was leading the development of United Way’s Next Generation Committee. Mike served as the committee’s first co-chair. “United Way’s acknowledgement of tomorrow’s donor was a leading edge indicator that we’re focused on how our younger generation thinks and how best to serve them,” Mike reflected. “Young professionals want to be much more connected to the cause.”

Mike enjoys being a member of the Tocqueville Society as it “allows an individual to liaise with like-minded individuals in our region who share the same commitment and passion for giving back to the community that we all call home,” he commented.

Despite his hectic schedule, Mike wants to make it a priority to not lose sight of the issues impacting the local community. “The problems we hear about from our national media platforms are real and present in our own backyards,” Mike said.