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$83,000 donated Perfect playing benefits charity

Westinghouse Electric CEO Danny Roderick, left, presents a check for $83,000 to Leslie Osche, executive director of the United Way of Butler County, before the start of the Pirates/Red Sox game Wednesday at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Westinghouse donated $1,000 for every error-free game the Pirates played so far this year.

PITTSBURGH — When the Pittsburgh Pirates don't commit an error in a game, they usually win.

In games they didn't commit an error this season, the United Way of Butler County always won.

Leslie Osche, executive director of the United Way, accepted a check for $83,000 from Westinghouse Electric CEO Danny Roderick Wednesday night before the Pirates' 9-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox at PNC Park.

Westinghouse donated $1,000 to the United Way for every errorless game the Pirates played this season. The company will continue to do so for the Bucs' final 11 games of the regular season.

“This is one of the bigger checks we've ever received,” Osche said. “We fell a little short of our campaign goal of $1.6 million this past year, so this definitely helps.”

The United Way raised $1.4 million in its most recent fundraising campaign.

Tracey Rapali, director of charitable giving and community outreach for Westinghouse, said, “We've been involved with the United Way for 100 years and this was a good theme for us.”

Roderick said rewarding error-free performance is a positive message to send.

“Our desire is to have an error-free workplace every day, just like the Pirates want to have an error-free game every day,” he said. “Absolutely, this is a good message for our employees.”

This marked the first year Westinghouse tied its United Way donation into the Pirates' on-field performance and “we're very happy with it. We plan to do it again next year.”

Roderick threw out a ceremonial first pitch before Wednesday night's game.

Westinghouse, which has its headquarters in Cranberry Township, worked with Joe Arnstein, an account executive with the Pirates, to set up the error-free donation program.

“We've had donations tied to on-field performance before,” Arnstein said. “So much has been donated to a charity for every strikeout, every hit ... This is the first one we've had tied to playing flawlessly in the field.

“Next year, we hope to get a $162,000 donation,” Arnstein added, referencing the 162-game regular season schedule of the Pirates.

But Osche was pleased to receive this year's donation.

“This is exciting,” she said. “We're grateful to Westinghouse, and the Pirates are always active in giving back to the community. Their caravan stopped in Butler in the offseason to help with our winter shelter.”

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