UVic president heads region-wide United Way campaign

by Maria Lironi

Poverty, isolation and loneliness, family stress and breakdown, violence in society, and substance abuse—these are the community priorities that the United Way of Greater Victoria tries to address.

Last year the United Way received more than $117,000 from UVic donors to help make this happen, and this year it should get even more. That’s because UVic President David Turpin is chair of the United Way of Greater Victoria’s 2002 fundraising campaign.

“I’ve accepted this position because of my belief that the United Way helps make our community a better place for everyone,” says Turpin. “In this spirit, I invite everyone to support the campus campaign, and in doing so, continue the important role that UVic plays in sustaining the community that helps sustain us.”

The United Way provides critical funding to 39 human care agencies in Greater Victoria, with a high percentage of donated dollars going to benefit people directly. The safety net provided by United Way-funded programs includes help for families, children, seniors, youth, people with disabilities and emergency services.

“Having Dave as the overall campaign chair is fantastic because it really does show that UVic is part of the Greater Victoria community,” says Don Jones, director of alumni relations and the chair of this year’s campus campaign. “Of course, the addition of [business professor] Rebecca Grant’s leadership committee, which is aimed at increasing the number of donors who give more than $500, is making a real difference. We’ve already signed up several new leadership donors.”

Last year, the United Way campus campaign set a record for donations—and it’s a record this year’s organizers hope to break. The UVic community pledged over $117,000 in 2001. This year’s goal is $120,000. Jones says the campus campaign is off to a great start and has already raised a third of its goal.

In addition to direct donations, there are a number of campus-wide activities that will contribute to the campaign’s success. These include e-mail Bingo, the fountain BBQ, the Book-for-a-Buck/Tune-for-a-Loon sale in November, the Bug Push, and Casual Fridays, when members of the campus community pay a loonie to dress down.

United Way pledge forms have been distributed around campus. All participants are eligible for several draw prizes including two grand prizes—a deluxe weekend at Dunsmuir Lodge and an iBook from the UVic Computer Store.

Watch The Ring and the UVic home page for regular updates on the campaign and its related events, or check out the campaign Web site at <unitedway.uvic.ca>.

(Rob Kruyt photo)