United Way’s 2017 target: $1.85 million
The local United Way has set its sights on $1,850,000.
That’s this year’s goal for the United Way Peterborough and District’s 2017 campaign, down 7.5 per cent from the 2016 goal of $2,000,075.
The campaign officially launched Tuesday morning at the United Way’s annual breakfast at the Evinrude Centre.
About 300 people turned up for the event, many wearing plaid to suit this year’s theme.
Neil Morton, campaign chairman, initiated the trend as a reminder that we’re all part of the same family.
“Plaid is a great equalizer for everyone. You could be a room with an upper, middle and lower class person and we’re all the same,” said Morton, founder of PTBO Canada.
In keeping with that theme, fleecy, plaid scarves will be sold throughout the campaign to raise money for the United Way. They’re $25 apiece.
There’s also a Petes Plaid Night event Nov. 2 at the Memorial Centre. The Peterborough Petes will face the Sarnia Sting in what will hopefully be a plaid-filled arena. Tickets to the game are $20, with $7 going to the United Way.
A plaid theme isn’t the only new addition to this year’s campaign. United Way also introduced a youth ambassador and a text-todonate initiative.
Cuddles for Cancer founder Faith Dickinson, 15, will be raising the United Way ’s profile among local youth. She’ll be encouraging schools and students to get involved with the UW and to make a difference in their community. She’ll also be explain what the United Way does and who they help.
“A lot of people don’t know how many people they support and they support a lot,” said Dickinson, a Grade 10 student at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School.
Morton asked Dickinson to join his cabinet to help reach a younger audience.
“I really want to tap into youth. It’s not just about hitting the target for me, that’s really important, but it’s also about getting the United Way and its impact on peoples’ radars and what they do in the community,” Morton said.
The text-to-donate initiative lets people donate $20 to the campaign through a simple text message. To donate, text UWPTBO to 20222.
Morton said the local United Way is the fourth chapter in Canada to use the texting model and the smallest city to pick it up.
“We think microdonations are a very powerful form of people being able to give a little bit,” he said.
During Tuesday’s announcement, United Way officials also shared the outcome of the 2017 Paint the Town Red, a fundraiser where eateries donate a portion of their sales that day. The event garnered $15,187, which goes toward the campaign. That’s up 50 per cent from last year.
Jim Russell, CEO of the United Way, said this year’s campaign kicked off strong.
“There has been more early momentum on this campaign year than any that I’ve been apart of in the last six years,” Russell said.
The CEO attributes the early success to Morton and his campaign cabinet.
“People are on fire and they’re working early. We usually just get going today,” Russell said after Tuesday’s breakfast.
Russell said he’s pleased to see a youth ambassador added to the team this year to help connect with younger residents.
“You need youth talking to youth, you don’t need old guys like me,” Russell said.
While raising funds to support the United Way’s 16 partner agencies is the goal behind the campaign, Russell said engagement is equally as important.
“The more we encourage all of our citizens, especially youth, to think about community and what builds a local community ... we’re all better off,” he said.
NOTE: To purchase tickets to the Pet es Plaid Night, contact Lisa Smith at 705-742-8839 or lsmith@uwpeterborough.ca. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.