United Way Central Alberta recently announced that they have broken their fundraising record for the year.
Their annual Community Campaign raised a record-breaking $2,304,062, which will go towards the many programs and persons supported by United Way.
“The generosity and commitment to our community shown year after year by our volunteers and donors is truly inspiring. We believe this increasing support is in large part due to United Way’s hard work to show donors how their dollars are making a measurable impact in the community,” explained Robert Mitchell, CEO of United Way Central Alberta during the announcement event last Friday. “This year’s campaign surpassed all previous years, which of course means we have more funds to invest in creating a further community impact.”
United Way is well known for their support of strictly pan-Canadian organizations and works with local chapters of the organizations they support, to ensure the dollars raised stay within Central Alberta.
The money they raised during their Community Campaign will be redistributed to other agencies via the new tri-pillar investment framework, which divides organizations into income, education, and wellness categories.
After a review of agency financial information and meeting with representatives of each agency, officials with the organization develop recommendations that are forwarded for consideration by the Community Impact Council of United Way of Central Alberta.
“It is so rewarding to see Central Albertans rally behind the cause of neighbours helping neighbours. This is how community is built,” said Lynne Mulder, United Way campaign co-chair. “By giving so generously in 2014, Central Albertans have shown their commitment to supporting ongoing, positive change in our region.”
Dustin Sundby, who co-chairs alongside Mulder, added that he believes, “United Way’s approach of allocating funds to programs that get to the root cause of a problem resonates with the local business community.”
Sundby and Mulder were supported by a team of volunteers dedicated to helping Central Albertan’s ‘Get off the Bench and Bring Change’ during the 2014 campaign. The pair stated this sense of ‘get up and go’ was evident in the campaign from start to finish.
During the Touchdown Breakfast in which the announcement was made it was also stated that the United Way has begun their celebrations for their 50th anniversary, which will see the organization begin to plan for their 2015 United Way 50th Anniversary Campaign.
The breakfast also hosted a number of awards given to top performing donor accounts. Awards for the Top Three Workplace Contributors went to NOVA Chemicals, DOW/MEGlobal and Shell Canada. The Community Builder Award – Sustained Growth went to MNP and the Royal Bank of Canada, with the Community Builder Award – Significant Growth going to Wel-Can Welding and Finning Canada. The Welcome Aboard Award was presented to SGS Canada.
jswan@reddeerexpres.com
