York’s 2007 United Way Campaign launched on Tuesday, Nov. 6, with the President’s Annual Pancake Breakfast. York President & Vice Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri, together with Leadership Campaign co-chairs Eileen Fischer and Naguib Gouda and other senior York administrators, served pancakes to a hungry crowd. The York mascots, dancers, cheerleaders, 
student musicians and student leaders, as well as a dedicated team of staff canvassers, helped keep the atmosphere festive. Almost 400 people attended the breakfast.
Right: York President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri demonstrates his pancake prowess to York VP Academic Sheila Embleton (second from right) and Atkinson Dean Rhonda Lenton
"This year’s pancake breakfast broke all records," said York’s United Way Campaign Chair Sue Levesque. "Many thanks to Sodexho management and staff for their generous and enthusiastic support. The breakfast raised $806, setting the tone for a successful campaign."
Also on Tuesday, the Atkinson Holiday Bazaar saw an array of vendors selling their wares and donating to York’s United Way Campaign, raising a total of $300. "The holiday bazaar was also very successful," said Levesque. "Many thanks to the Atkinson Dean’s Office for all their hard work."
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Left: From left: Judy Horwood, co-ordinator, administrative support services, Office of the Vice-President Finance & Administration; Naguib Gouda, executive director, Alumni & Advancement Services; and Kelly Glaze, co-ordinator, administrative support services, Office of the Counsel, get ready to enjoy some pancakes
York’s 2007 United Way Campaign goal is $190,000. Pledge card packages should have arrived in mailboxes last week. If you have not received a pledge package, contact Levesque at levesque@yorku.ca. Members of the York community who return their pledge cards before Nov. 30 – the close of the official campaign timeline – will be eligible for great prizes including:
- Tea and conversation with President Shoukri and Leadership Campaign co-chairs Fischer and Gouda. Fischer is a professor of marketing in the Schulich School of Business and Gouda is executive director, Alumni & Advancement Services;
- Two tickets to Tennis Canada’s 2008 Rogers Cup semi-finals;
- Tim Horton’s coffee maker and gift basket donated by Aramark;
- Sport York gift certificate for an instructional course of winner's choice between Jan 17 and mid-March, 2008;
- Lunch for two at The Underground Restaurant in York’s Student Centre, donated by The Underground.
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Right: The team from Sodexho Cafeteria in Central Square with Shoukri (centre), York VP Students Robert Tiffin (second from right), Naguib Gouda (far right, back row), and Cynthia Archer, University librarian (far right, front row).
There are many more fun United Way events lined up for the remainder of the campaign, including the annual, and very popular, Cup-A-Soup week hosted by the Offices of the President, Vice-Presidents, University Secretary & General Counsel, Alumni & Advancement Services and the York University Foundation. Cup-A-Soup will run Nov. 19 to 23, from 12 to 2pm in Central Square on the Keele campus. Buy a delicious cup of soup and roll for $3. Soup kindly donated by Petal Food (Michaelangelo’s).
Right: Atkinson student Jerome Flynn gets set to tuck into some pancakes
Also, on Nov. 28, the highly successful York University Clothing Swap for the United Way returns. Practise sustainable shopping while reducing and recycling.
Bring a minimum of three clean, new or gently worn pieces of modern adult clothing, shoes or accessories (belts or purses) to The Underground in the York Student Centre, between 8 and 9:30am on Wednesday, Nov. 28. Then return between 12 and 2pm and, for a $5 entrance fee, you can try on a variety of outfits and walk away with a whole new wardrobe! The $5 entrance fee will go to the United Way. All unclaimed items will be donated to a local charity.
Those interested in volunteering at the clothing swap should send an e-mail to uwswap@yorku.ca. For more information on this event, visit the York University Clothing Swap for the United Way Web site.
For more information, visit York University's United Way Web page on the University Events & Community Relations Web site. Visit the United Way of Greater Toronto Web site to learn more about the campaign and the people who benefit from the organization.