York University's spirit and commitment to the United Way has received some special recognition. Earlier this fall, the United Way honoured York with a new award to celebrate the University's successful 2005 fundraising campaign.
The award highlights the special effort made by members of the York community who raised a total of $193,542 for the 2005 campaign. Of that total, $184,036 was raised from individual contributions and $9,506 from various special events such as the annual President's Pancake Breakfast, the Basket of Hope contest, the highly popular Facilties Services Car Wash and the Atkinson Holiday Bazaar, to name a few. In addition to the award, York University was also listed on the United Way's honour roll printed this summer in The Globe and Mail. York received the special commemorative plaque which recognizes employees in workplaces whose campaigns raised $100,000 or more from individual donations.
"In some workplaces their campaign total represents a combination of individual pledges and corporate gifts, that is, the company itself makes a gift. In our sector, which is called the University and Colleges Division, we don't see corporate gifts," said York's United Way campaign co-chair Sue Levesque. "In our sector all the money comes from individual donations or through special events like bake sales, pancakes breakfasts and cup of soup sales."
"There were only two institutions among the nine who participated in the University and Colleges Division of the United Way of Greater Toronto campaign to receive this special award and those institutions are York University and the University of Toronto," said Danielle Chateau, York's United Way campaign co-chair. "This is the first time the United Way has recognized the University and Colleges Division in this fashion. I congratulate everyone in the York community for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the United Way."
The 2006 campaign is quickly approaching and this year's campaign goal is $190,000. Critical to the success of the campaign is the important role that special events and canvassers play in helping York achieve its goal.
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| Above: York's 2005 United Way team |
This year's campaign will kick off with an exciting new event, 10km for The United Way, a 10-kilometre run and walk which is scheduled to take place on the Keele campus on Sunday, Oct. 29. Additional event details will follow. But in the meantime, the event team is in the process of recruiting volunteers and race participants. For more information, visit the 10km for The United Way Web site.
Other key events will include the president's annual Pancake Breakfast on Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 8:30 to 10am, in the Central Square cafeteria, the return of York's Cup of Soup Week, the return of old favourites and a host of new craft and bake sales planned just in time for holiday shopping.
If you would like to be involved in the campaign planning, are willing to serve as a canvasser in your department, or would like to organize a special event for your area, contact this year's campaign co-chairs Danielle Chateau at ext. 55597, or Sue Levesque at ext. 77529.
For more about the work performed by the United Way group of agencies, visit the United Way of Greater Toronto Web site.