United Way Centraide Windsor- Essex County
Lorraine Goddard, Director, Community Impact & Development, United Way/Cen traide Windsor-Essex County
The Herb Gray Parkway is opening new paths of support for United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County.
When the Windsor Essex Mobility Group put its Parkway project in motion less than two years ago, “they reached out to us,” remembers Lorraine Goddard, Director, Community Impact & Development, United Way/Centraide WindsorEssex County.
“They said we want to be a good corporate citizen and we want to support the community; we think the best way for us to do it is through the United Way because you touch so many causes,” Goddard says.
The group launched a workplace campaign. “They did a number of different fundraising initiatives. In the first year of our relationship, they raised over $100,000 for the community through United Way,” Goddard says. “I really have to applaud their leadership.”
“Many of the leadership came from outside of our community. To have that level of commitment and generosity of heart, mind and spirit is really commendable.”
The group sits on the United Way’s campaign cabinet and gets involved in community events as well as hosts their own. At a recent community fundraiser, a Windsor Essex Mobility Group employee was the highest individual pledge earner. “They’re very active, very committed,” Goddard says.
Noting the group’s generosity with time and dollars, Goddard finds, “They are wonderful people to work with.”
“Last year, we would not have made goal if it wouldn’t have been for the Parkway to jump on board and to raise what they did,” Goddard admits. “To have a new company come in and invest themselves that much is really unique.”
She also praises the Herb Gray Parkway itself. “I think the Parkway when it’s done is really going to strengthen the community and its economic viability. I think all of those things are good for the community.”
More positive news for Windsor-Essex is yet to come through another emerging collaboration between United Way and the Parkway people. “It is still under wraps,” says Goddard, hinting, “It will be significant.”
“They’re very, very excited about it. It’s great to have partners that are as excited as you.”