The more, the merrier for United Way drive
The focus of the 2015 United Way campaign is on increasing the number of donors who support the annual fundraising drive.
Last year’s campaign had 11,000 donors, and this year’s goal is to attract 2,000 more.
“What people have seen in the past is a big financial target, but what we’re leading with this year is participation,” said Patricia Jelinski, CEO of United Way Greater Victoria. “We’re talking about how you can get involved.
“If we have more people participate, obviously we’ll be more successful.”
The 2014 campaign raised about $5.8 million, which funded more than 100 programs supporting 80,000 people. Jelinski said she would like to see a return to the $6-million mark this year, and individuals can make that happen.
“It’s people participating and engaging with us, getting involved in their workplace campaigns, donating online, supporting an event that we hold,” said Jelinski, who was speaking at the 2015 campaign launch Wednesday in Centennial Square.
Some people think they can’t do much as an individual, but, she said, “individuals, if they just do what they can, they become part of something really big.”
That’s the “Power of You,” this year’s campaign theme, Jelinski said.
Joining in the festivities was Margaret O’Donnell of the Oasis Society for Spiritual Health, one of the many agencies that benefits from United Way funds. The financial support is vital, O’Donnell said.
“It makes all the difference in the world because it grounds us in a stability and a predictability of service,” she said. “The work has been to enter into relationships with people who are homeless, who have a mental-health issue or addiction challenge.”
The key is to address the “inner place” or “oasis” of each person, O’Donnell said — a process that can include country retreats to St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Metchosin.
Among local politicians at Wednesday’s event was Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins, who lauded the effect of United Way on her municipality.
“We received some funding last year for a youth arts program,” she said. “The space is being prepared, the program will roll out next year.”
She said the initiative will be run out of the Esquimalt Recreation Centre.