Star donates $400K to the United Way
The goal was $175,000. The result was far beyond that.
Toronto Star employees raised $227,260.33 in this year’s fundraising campaign for United Way Toronto.
An added corporate donation of $175,000 brought the total to just over $400,000, a increase over last year’s $392,000.
Star publisher John Cruickshank said the long-standing partnership between the Star and the United Way was something he was particularly proud of, during the announcement of the final amount in the publisher’s boardroom on Friday.
“It’s one of those few things that cuts across everything in the organization, and as a result binds us even more closely,” he said.
Daniele Zanotti, senior vice-president of resource development at United Way Toronto & York Region, said the Star has been vital in spreading United Way’s message to the city. He told those gathered on Friday about a participant he met at another United Way event, who recently immigrated to Canada, took ESL lessons and improved her English by reading the Star every day.
When she saw an inset advertisement for a United Way campaign, Zanotti said, the participant told him she could spare a dollar per paycheque, despite her modest income.
“I felt like she had just given us a million bucks,” Zanotti said.
To make a donation, call 416-7772001or go to unitedwaytyr.com.