Longtime community champions encourage Lehigh Valley to “Shine Bright for Education” and support United Way’s annual campaign

Allentown, PA, August 26, 2026 – As the 2026-27 school year begins, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley is proud to announce Rick and Amy Bucher as 2026 Campaign Chairs. As longtime champions of the Greater Lehigh Valley, the Buchers bring business leadership, education experience, volunteer service, and a deeply personal purpose to this year’s campaign.

“Amy and I are honored to serve as Campaign Chairs alongside the volunteers, donors and partners who make this region such a strong and caring place to live and work,” said Rick Bucher, who is also the President and Chief Executive Officer for Victaulic. “We’ve seen how this community shines brightest when neighbors show up for one another, helping families find hope, stability and opportunity when they need it most. We are inspired to help more of our neighbors access that support and build a stronger future.”

As part of their role, Rick and Amy are launching a Shine Bright for Education Challenge. By contributing to United Way’s Education Fund, donors help students strengthen reading and math skills, improve attendance and connect with caring adults who help them see what is possible. That’s why Rick and Amy are personally providing a dollar-for-dollar matching gift for donations to United Way’s Education Fund throughout the campaign.

“Every gift to United Way helps students access the support they need to learn, grow and thrive,” said Marci Lesko, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. “When donors invest in education, they help surround children and families with the resources, relationships and opportunities that can change a student’s path.”

That belief in helping children, changing a student’s path, and supporting families also guides the Buchers’ shared commitment toward education within the United Way. For Amy, that commitment began in the classroom, where she taught English and continues those efforts today through her volunteer work. She’s been a guest educator and reader during Read Across America, contributed her time to the Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley and has been a dedicated donor and supporter of Historic Bethlehem. She also conceived the signature gift of this year’s campaign, the Bethlehem Star, as a symbol of hope and shared purpose of the Lehigh Valley’s enduring spirit.

Together, Rick and Amy advocate for children facing cancer, a cause rooted in the loss of their daughter, Arden, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma at the age of two. Their experience deepened their commitment to helping families access the support, stability and opportunity needed to move from crisis to hope. Rick and Amy are active advocates and fundraisers for childhood cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, where Amy has served on the board for two terms and Rick serves as Chair Elect.

As the President and Chief Executive Officer of Victaulic, headquartered in Easton, Rick leads the global company with a focus on innovation. Under his leadership, Victaulic’s patent portfolio has grown substantially with the issuance of over 5,000 patents while the company’s research and development organization has doubled in size. His commitment to innovation and partnership extends through his service as President of the Lehigh Valley Partnership and as a Board Member of Lehigh Valley Public Media. He has been recognized among the Lehigh Valley’s Power 100, Power 300 leaders and received the Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award from the Minsi Trails Council. Rick is also a Board of Trustees member and Chair of the Executive Committee for the Manufacturers Alliance. He also serves on the FM Approvals Advisory Council, the University of Maryland’s Board of Visitors for the Department of Fire Protection Engineering, and the Tugboat Institute.

The Buchers encourage everyone in the Greater Lehigh Valley to get involved and join them as they kick off the campaign next month with United Way Day of Caring on September 15 and 17. As the region’s largest single-day volunteer effort, Day of Caring brings thousands of volunteers together with local nonprofits to complete hands-on service projects across Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties. Community members and workplaces are invited to get involved by volunteering for Day of Caring, hosting a workplace campaign or making a gift at www.UnitedWayGLV.org.

United Way’s 2026 annual campaign runs though March 31, 2027.

 

About United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
United Way fights for the health, safety and education of every person in the Greater Lehigh Valley and envisions communities where every person belongs and every person thrives. We strive to achieve this goal by assessing community needs, raising funds, investing in solutions and mobilizing our community to action. For more information, visit www.UnitedWayGLV.org

About Victaulic

Since 1919, Victaulic’s innovative solutions and design services continue to increase construction productivity and reduce risk, ensuring projects are completed safely, on time and within budget. With more than 6,000 employees and 50 facilities worldwide, Victaulic helps customers in 140+ countries succeed in the global construction industry. Learn more about how our solutions engineer confidence into every build at https://www.victaulic.com/

Information provided to TVL by:
AJ Suero