GIVE AND SHOP LOCAL THROUGH PHILANTHROPOLY: A GIVING GAME!

United Way of Greater Lorain County is inviting the community to support local causes and locally owned businesses through Philanthropoly: A Giving Game. Participants can explore shops, restaurants and gathering places across Greater Lorain County while earning entries for a chance to win a $1,000 cash grand prize.

Philanthropoly: A Giving Game includes a gameboard listing eight local businesses and providing participants an opportunity to earn up to five entries into the competition. To start playing, participants make a gift of at least $5 to United Way of Greater Lorain County to earn their first entry. Donations can be made on our website using the button below, where visitors can also find a printable gameboard and the full list of participating businesses.

Participants may then choose to earn up to three additional entries by visiting the local businesses listed on the gameboard and making a qualifying purchase. Each purchase earns a sticker towards completing one of three property sets – Retail Row, Tasty Trail and Beverage Boulevard. Each completed property set is good for one entry. Participants can earn a fifth bonus entry by completing a volunteer shift with United Way. Volunteer shift sign ups are also available on our website. 

This year’s participating businesses are Kreations by Kianga in Elyria; Szabo Apparel in Vermilion; Ship to Shore Books Records & Coffee in Lorain; Uptown Pizza in Oberlin; Doc Watson’s Café in Amherst; The Wine Room & Tavern in Avon; Speak of the Devil Cocktail Bar in Lorain; and Haven Brewing Company in Oberlin.

Entries must be submitted by December 11, 2026, whether a player earns one entry or all five. Participants can email a clear photo of their gameboard to general@uwloraincounty.org or mail the original to United Way of Greater Lorain County, 642 Broadway, Lorain, OH 44052. The winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries on Dec. 14.