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By Tara Sharpe
McRae and United Way campaign assistant, UVic student Vitaly Kazakov. Photo: UVic photo services
The UVic 2009 United Way campaign ended well in the red—in a very good way. The UVic community raised $303,410 for the United Way of Greater Victoria, easily filling the billboard campus thermometers by exceeding the campaign goal of $275,000, and placing UVic in the number two position for top donors in the city.
A number of fundraising initiatives took place across campus over the 12-week campaign, including the annual kick-off BBQ on Sept. 21 (bringing in more than $2,200); the annual book sale hosted by UVic Libraries (stacking up a new record-breaking total of $13,525.50); the two inaugural events organized by UVic commerce students, namely the JDC West dunk tank and Commerce Students’ Society garage sale (with the sale alone cashing in over $1,100); the annual Hearts and Hands craft fair (adding nearly $1,500 to the coffers); the new chemistry show performed by UVic associate chemistry professors Drs. Alexandre Brolo and Scott McIndoe (raising over $1,400); the second annual Plasma Car Race (collecting a whopping $3,828.50); and the campus-wide coin drive (collecting $3,864.44 in big and small change). Event photos.
Throughout the campaign, prize draws added to the excitement and overall sense of friendly competition. Generous donations were received from various sponsors.
The number of individual campaign donors in 2009 was similar to last year’s at 623 donors versus 619 in 2008, while leadership donors ($500 or more) were up 3 per cent over last year.
“I am so proud of our campaign committee and especially the campus community for its generosity,” says UVic’s 2009 campaign chair Norah McRae, executive director for UVic Co-operative Education and Career Services. So far, the UVic campus community has raised nearly $1.3 million for the United Way of Greater Victoria since 2005.
Although UVic 2009 United Way contributions wrapped up at the end of the calendar year, the campus campaign continues to accept donations through the new year. You can fill out a pledge form from the UVic United Way website or for other information, visit www.uwgv.ca.
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