The United Way’s 2017 fundraising goal is not about raising a certain amount of money, but officials announced on Wednesday a goal of “changing the odds” for Londoners.
READ MORE: United Way kicks off 2017 campaign with Harvest Lunch at Budweiser Gardens
Roughly 2,500 people attended the annual 3M Harvest Lunch at Budweiser Gardens, which mixes a tasty meal with philanthropy. This is the first year, however, that a single monetary goal was not announced.
“Usually we’re unfurling a big banner with a multi-million dollar number on it,” Kelly Ziegner, CEO of the United Way London and Middlesex, told AM980.
“But we felt this year it’s really important for us to talk about what our impact is and not so much a focus on that financial goal.”
As part of changing the odds, the United Way aims to fund 16,000 counselling sessions, 8,000 after-school spots for kids, and four neighbourhood resource centres.
“It’s important for us to tell the story of what the impact is when you give to United Way and that was what was getting lost,” Ziegner explained.
“A gift as small as $27 can help a help a woman escape an abusive relationship. Every dollar makes an impact and when we talk about multi-million dollar campaign goals it’s really hard for people to understand where their $50 makes a difference in that.”
— With files from AM980’s Liny Lamberink.
- ‘Shock and disbelief’ after Manitoba school trustee’s Indigenous comments
- Several baby products have been recalled by Health Canada. Here’s the list
- Canadian food banks are on the brink: ‘This is not a sustainable situation’
- Invasive strep: ‘Don’t wait’ to seek care, N.S. woman warns on long road to recovery
Comments