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Official Rules for United Way of Central New York’s
Step Up Challenge 2025 – 2026
Sweepstakes will commence on September 1, 2025, and conclude on August 31, 2026.
The sweepstakes will include 52 weekly prize drawings and 4 quarterly grand prize drawings. The random weekly prize drawings will be supervised by United Way of Central New York, Inc.
The random grand prize drawings will be supervised by The Bonadio Group officials or their assigned representatives, whose decisions are final with respect to all matters related to this sweepstakes.
Entrants must have their principal residence or their principal place of employment in areas served by United Way of Central New York’s annual Community Campaign.
All Step Up Challenge entrants will be eligible for weekly prizes. These prizes will be awarded by random drawings of all processed entries. Drawings will be conducted weekly on Mondays, beginning Monday September 8, 2025, and ending Monday, August 31, 2026.
All entries received prior to 11:59 PM (EST) each Friday will be processed for inclusion in the weekly drawings beginning the following Monday and continuing for drawings until the end of the sweepstakes.
All Step Up Challenge entrants will automatically be entered in the grand prize contest. Winners for each quarterly grand prize will be selected on the following dates: December 14, 2025, March 2, 2026, June 8, 2026, and August 31, 2026.
Entrants who win a weekly prize will be removed from subsequent weekly prize drawings but will continue to be eligible for the grand prize drawings. Entrants who win a Grand Prize will be removed from subsequent grand prize drawings.
To be entered in the grand prize sweepstakes, entry forms must be received by 4pm, 5 working days prior to the drawing dates. Prizes will be drawn at United Way of Central New York’s offices at 980 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13203. Winners will be publicly announced by the end of each designated sweepstakes month.
United Way of Central New York, Inc. and other contest sweepstakes sponsors are not responsible for lost, late or misdirected mail or entries not forwarded to United Way in time to be eligible for any drawing.
Weekly Prize Winners will be notified in person or by phone, email or by registered mail.
Once a weekly prize winner responds to contact, they will have 10 business days to accept their prize in person, and complete a waiver, at United Way of Central New York (980 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13206) during regular business hours (8:30am to 4:30 pm EST).
In the event that United Way of Central New York, Inc. is unable to contact a potential Weekly Prize winner despite reasonable efforts to do so, the prize will become property of United Way of CNY.
If the Weekly Prize winner is not qualified or unable to accept the weekly prize within 10 business days, the prize will become property of United Way of CNY.
Grand Prize Winners will be notified in person or by phone, email or by registered mail. If United Way of Central New York, Inc. is unable to contact a potential Grand Prize winner despite reasonable efforts to do so, an alternative winner will be chosen. If the winner is not qualified to accept the grand prize, an alternative will be chosen.
Once a grand prize winner responds to contact, they will have 10 business days to accept their prize in person, and complete a waiver, at United Way of Central New York (980 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13206) during regular business hours (8:30am to 4:30 pm EST) or in-person with a United Way of CNY representative.
The odds of winning will be based upon the number of valid entries received.
Those who accept the StepUp Challenge to increase their annual gift to United Way by $1 per week ($52 per year), or begin giving to United Way at this level, and return their pledge card to United Way will automatically be entered to win. No donation is necessary to enter or win.
A donation will not increase the chances of winning. An alternative entry form will be available during the sweepstakes on United Way’s website, unitedway-cny.org, or by sending a self -addressed stamped envelope to: United Way Step Up Challenge, United Way of Central New York, 980 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13203.
All entrants must meet and/or agree to comply with the following qualifications to receive a weekly or grand prize:
• Winners must sign a Waiver and Release Form granting permission for United Way of Central New York to use the winner’s name and/or likeness for the purposes of advertising, promotion and trade in connection with United Way of Central New York without further compensation to the winner; and releasing United Way and participating corporations, their franchises, subsidiaries, suppliers, advertisers and promotion agencies, employees and agents from any and all liability arising out of participation in this sweepstakes.
Limit one entry per person. Sweepstakes void where prohibited or restricted by law. Illegible entries will be disqualified. Employees of United Way of Central New York, Inc. and their immediate families and other household members are not eligible.
Prizes cannot be transferred, exchanged, or redeemed for cash or other merchandise. Prizes are subject to, and winners are responsible for, all applicable federal, state and local taxes (IRS form 1099). United Way of Central New York is not responsible for gift certificates rendered invalid due to bankruptcy or closing of a prize sponsor business.
Winner names will be posted on United Way of Central New York’s website, unitedway-cny.org. A full list of winners will be available after October 30, 2026, and may be viewed on our website, unitedway-cny.org or obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to United Way Step Up Challenge, United Way of Central New York, 980 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13203. All communications with respect to the sweepstakes should be directed to the foregoing address.
