At the 2017 Annual Campaign Kick-Off tonight, Campaign Chair Elizabeth Downey-Sunnen announced a goal of $1,725,000.
The United Way’s Mission is “to improve lives and build community.” Donations to and through the annual United Way campaign are invested in programs that help people cope with the numerous challenges of daily life – those associated with poverty, addiction, mental illness and physical disabilities. In 2016, over 40,000 residents turned to a United Way funded program in search of hope – hope that their life situation could and would get better for themselves and for their families.
Those on hand to pledge their support at the Kick-Off Event included Union Gas, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Service Canada, Lanoue Chevrolet, the Chatham-Kent Labour Council, the Christian Labour Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, InTouch Connection, the University of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus, Community Living Chatham-Kent, MC Business Solutions, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Shirley Davies, Councillor Brock McGregor, Municipality of Chatham-Kent and many of the agencies who administer United Way partner programs. The United Way staff also pledged their contribution of over $15,000 in support of this year’s campaign.
“The community support displayed tonight is beautiful. We have received over $300,000 in pledges throughout the course of this evening. My team, along with other United Way volunteers and staff, will work tirelessly over the next three and a half months to achieve – and hopefully kick the heck out of – our goal,” said Elizabeth Downey-Sunnen.
“Setting this year’s goal was an informative process for our team. In our hearts, we all wanted to ensure that each of our partner programs would be fully funded and available to anyone in Chatham-Kent who needed to use those services. In order to do that, we would need to raise close to three-million dollars. We really did our homework this year, consulted and collaborated with our community leaders and key stakeholders, and the goal we felt we could realistically achieve while ensuring no further cuts to currently funded programs and services would be 1,725,000”, added Elizabeth.
Help spread more hope in our community by donating to this year’s campaign by calling (519) 354-0430 or by visiting www.uwock.ca to make a confidential, secure on-line donation.
To pledge your support or get involved in the 2017 Campaign please contact Tom Slager at (519) 354-0430 or at [email protected].