These organizations provided a joint submission to Dow and were awarded yesterday with a $1. Million gift from Dow Chemical.
I think all of you know, The United Way was one of the final 6 organizations, and we are truly proud to have made it to that level. All six were worthy community projects, as Don Fysh from Dow Chemical pointed out and I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to select one. As an organization that makes funding decisions on an annual basis, I know how difficult that whole process can be. The advantage United Way has, is we can spread out our funding over 27 agencies and not have to be in a position to pick one.
I would also like to thank Dow Chemical for this community gift, and for providing all of us in the community the opportunity to present proposals.
In addition, Dow Chemical has supported the United Way as has the employees and retirees since our very first campaign in 1957, and continue to do so. I want to thank Dow again for that support. Dow has been a great friend to the United Way and their support has contributed greatly to our overall success.
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After reaching 101.5% of the 2007 campaign goal of $1,840,000, the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton Board of Directors have approved the 2008/09 Community Investments to the organizations 27 Funded Agencies who provide 50 programs and services in our community.
The programs receiving an increase include the Lambton Seniors’ Handyman/Handywomen program, Lambton Elderly Outreach Transportation program, Salvation Army Medical Necessities program, Big Brothers Matching program and Mentoring program, (in the photo above), Boys & Girls Club Drop In Centre and After School/Homework Club, and the Youth Resource Houses partnership. All other programs and services will see their funding remain at last year’s level with the exception of one, which experienced a decrease in service delivery over the last year.
“The decisions are always difficult to make” said Community Investment Chairperson, Pam Gallant, “however with this year’s campaign success and the measurable outcomes and impacts provided by our funded programs, this round was easier than some in the past.”
Consistent to the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton’s reputation of being responsive to our community needs, Gallant announced four other investments in our community.
The first one being a third year Venture Grant of $16,000 to the White Cane Centre. The agency assists those with low vision or blindness to get information on vision services and support in our community. The White Cane Centre works very closely with the CNIB, a United Way Funded Agency.
The second Venture Grant in the amount of $30,000 was awarded to the Grand Bend Youth Centre. This Centre fulfills the diverse needs of both youth and seniors in their rural community.
The third community investment is a partnership between Union Gas, United Way and the Salvation Army. Union Gas has provided $7,500.00 to the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton for a program known as the ‘Winter Warmth Program’. This fund provides emergency financial assistance for families struggling to pay their gas bill and also focuses on energy conservation to assist these households in lowering their energy costs.
The fourth Community Investment is a $100,000 allocation to the Sarnia-Lambton Drug Strategy. The local strategy will focus on 10 priority recommendations for Lambton County. The full Sarnia-Lambton drug strategy can be downloaded from the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton website at: www.theunitedway.on.ca
Overall, the 2007 United Way Campaign officially raised $1,870,000.
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Thank you to the Children's Aid Society for their help this year. Shown in the photo above, Linda Evoy presents a cheque to Paddy Roach for over $1,000 to "Aid" the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton. Linda said the staff at Children's Aid on Kendall Street in Point Edward held special events in the fall of 2007.
Overwhelming support from organizations from throughout Lambton have made the 2007 United Way campaign raise a record amount of money in this most recent campaign.
The United Way Board of Director's will meet on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 to make final decisions on the 2008/2009 agency allocations.
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( 3 / 329 )"Thank you to everybody" is our message today. By now, I know everybody has learned that the 2007 United Way of Sarnia-Lambton has reached its goal of $1,840,000. In fact, we are currently about $20,000 over goal.
The entire community once again deserves all of the credit. Canvassers, Employee Campaign Chairs, Campaign Cabinet Members, contributors, Board and Community Investment volunteers, local media, and everybody else who played a role this year had in impact on the great success.
In the coming weeks, you will see the remainder of the cheque presentations in The Observer as we put the finishing touches on the 2008 budgets, and Community Investment Decisions.
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With donations like the one presented above from Hiawatha Slots employees, and a few more that we have yet to add, we will reach goal! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
We are still adding in Casino Point Edward Employees, and Cabot Canada employees and Cabot's corporate match. In all, we will exceed goal by about $10,000 or more. Excellent news, and news I know Campaign Chair Steve Pilkey could not wait to deliver.
Much like last year, about 40% of the campaign came in the past three weeks, but unlike last year, we were expecting it because all the reports we were getting from the many employee campaign co-ordinators this year was positive. Last year, you might remember, we were hearing not so positive news, and then suddenly, everything came together for us at the end.
It was great this year to receive more than $12,000 in donated stock; a new strategy we put in place and it presented a win/win for both the donor and the United Way.
That's all for now; I expect one or two more posts before Christmas.
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Staff at Ontario Power Generation in Courtright contributed over $12,000 in special events money and station sponsorship that increased the campaign totals to date to over $1.6 Million. In addition to this cheque, OPG employees also raised about $40,000 in pay roll deduction pledges to support the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton.
Helping us get to this level of the campaign, Paddy Roach and I picked up a record amount of money from Royal Polymers today, and received more good news from Woodbridge Foam employees in Corunna. Woodbridge will match the employee donations as well.
Tomorrow, Paddy and I will meet with the campaign team at NOVA to officially receive their total pledges. Some of the NOVA contributions and corporate match is already included, but we anticipate a much greater increase in the campaign tomorrow afternoon. Paddy is also planning to visiting the campaigners at the Point Edward Casino tomorrow.
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Brenda Marshall from SNC Lavalin presented Bruce Colborne with an envelope valued at over $13,200 which was enough needed to surpass the 75% level of the campaign. Congratulations to SNC employees for an outstanding job.
A few more donations are still expected today, and we hope to have the NOVA Chemical figures today or tomorrow.
Shell Canada will be announcing their donations shortly.
Check back often to get the latest news!
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Beginning tonight, for the first time, Sarnia Transit's annual Lights Tour will help raise money for the United Way. For just one dollar each, you and your family can ride the bus and tour the area's light displays. All riders will be asked to make a donation while on the bus. Tickets can be purchased at Bayside Mall where the tours begin. The tours will begin tonight, and will run tomorrow, (December 13), and Friday, (December 14), beginning at 6:45. Busses will leave every 15 minutes.
This exciting initiative will also take place on New Years Eve as part of the traditional Sarnia Transit Free Bus Ride Home event. All riders on New Years Eve after 9:00 PM will be asked to make a donation to the campaign at that time as they get a free SAFE ride home.
You may have noticed that the campaign has now hit $1,311,400 which represents 71%. We are anticipating more upward movement this week as other campaigns wrap up. We are hopeful that we will be in the igh 80% range by the end of the week.
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The news was all good at LanXESS on Monday at noon as the canvassing team presented a cheque to the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton some $9,000 more than last year's total contribution. All together, the employees, retirees, and corporate match contributes nearly 8% of the entire United Way campaign. While I accepted the contribution with Paddy Roach, and Bruce Colborne. I told the team of canvassers that we seemed to be for ever getting from 60 to 65 percent; about a week and a half. But then, in 5 minutes, LanXESS and employees put us up to 72%. Congratulations and thank you to everybody at LanXESS for their support.
A few more retirees have come in, and I have been talking with campaign organizers from some of the other plants today and they are close to announcing their totals. With some luck, we might be at 90% by the end of Friday.
Keep tuned for the latest!
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The United Way campaign has gathered some steam this week with more campaigns reporting results. In the photo above, Kathi from Lambton College who organized one of many raffles, and it appears that Lambton will finalize a wonderful campaign this year shortly. Faculty and students participated this year and not only was a lot of money raised, so too was the awareness of the United Way campaign, and plenty of school spirit!
LANXESS reports their final numbers on Monday and that will surely add to the overall Campaign total. LANXESS matches all employee and retiree donations.
Early Monday afternoon, we will be taking a photo or two with our friends from Sarnia Transit. We have jointly announced today that this holiday season, Sarnia Transit will once again be operating its’ Celebration of Lights bus tours in the city from December 12th – 14th. In addition to the $1.00 fee to ride, donations to the United Way through the farebox are being encouraged. Jim Stevens, Director of Transit said that this campaign will also be extended to include donations through the farebox during the FREE portion of the New Years Eve service between 9:45 p.m. and 2:45 a.m.
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