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by Christine Roulston
Looking for an easy way to make a big difference in your local community?
The University of Victoria’s 2006 United Way Campaign kicked off last week—a chance for the campus community to help the United Way target problems such as poverty, loneliness, violence and substance abuse in the Greater Victoria community.
“This is the start of what we hope is the university’s most successful campaign to date,” says Dr. Penny Codding, professor of chemistry and chair of UVic’s 2006 campaign. “There are several features of this year’s campaign that we really hope will get the campus community to ramp up its support for an organization that makes such a difference in greater Victoria.”
As an extra “thank you” to donors this year, draw prizes are available every day of the campaign. The sooner pledge forms are returned, the earlier people are available for the prizes. Sheila Adams of medieval studies was the driving force behind acquiring the many prizes, which range from spa services and ski weekends to gourmet meals.
In an effort to further spread the word about donating to the United Way, more departmental representatives than ever from across campus will meet one-on-one with co-workers from their respective departments and answer any questions they may have.
“We’re making extra efforts to inform campus of what the United Way does to help the community and how your money makes a big difference,” says Codding. “The volunteers play such as important role in this and every aspect of the campaign.”
Fundraising events will run on campus until the campaign wraps up at the end of November. A book sale at McPherson Library is the major fundraising event for the month of October. Organizers are asking for donations of books, records, CDs, tapes, videos or DVDs. The sale takes place Oct. 17 and 18 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The United Way of Greater Victoria’s role is to identify the community’s top human care priorities and to fund effective programs and services that address five community identified priorities.
In 2006 it provided funding for 78 programs and services in the area. This year 100,000 people in Greater Victoria will benefit from a United Way program.
For campaign updates and a list of upcoming events visit http://
unitedway.uvic.ca/.
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