The campaign is now officially underway as the Day of Caring is now behind us.
Currently, we have $567,108 in pledges which represents 30.2% of our $1,875,000 goal. More than 2,000 people have already pledged.
In the photo above, NOVA volunteers assist during the Day of Caring at one of many senior's homes allowing them to keep safe and in their own homes.
We expect some more growth on the thermometer this time next week as the Suncor employee campaign officially wraps up. Last year, Suncor's two week intensive campaign raised about $120,000 representing the employees' donations, special events, and the corporate donation. The goal this year is an impressive and challenging $126,000; a 5% increase over last year.
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( 3.1 / 24 )
While at NOVA Last week, I received a surprised donation from Ed Linton representing the Boilermakers local 128 as well as the secretaries and planners at Kel-gor. Ed presented my with a donation of $267.00 plus Ed told me that the President of Kel-gor will add another $200 to the total...and yes, it isn't my best picture. ;)
With this donation, we are creeping ever so close to the first $500,000 which represents nearly 27% of the campaign goal.
Busy week this week with campaign events.
Suncor employees kickoff their campaign today, and the Day of Caring on Tuesday officially kicks off the Sarnia-Lambton overall campaign.
On Wednesday, Ontario Power Generation kicks off, and on Thursday, Lanxess and St. Clair Ethanol hold kickoff BBQs, and NOVA St. Clair will begin their employee canvassing.
And On Friday, Warden Jim Burns has planned a bus trip to the Rogers Centre to see the Boston Red Sox come to town to play the streaking Blue Jays. Tickets are still available.
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( 2.9 / 25 )
In the photo above, Trevor Williams - Leader, PE Manufacturing for SCRS and Moore Sites and his team of cooks keep pace at the Turnaround BBQ that also raised funds for the United Way. At the BBQ, which took place one week before their scheduled Kickoff BBQ next week, there was a donation jar, and other fundraiser activities for the United Way.
Today is a quiet day on the campaign trail but activity levels pick up next week highlighted by the Day of Caring on Tuesday.
A reminder that you can keep track of United Way campaign progress, not only by visiting the United Way website, but by subscribing to The Observer, and listening to local radio.
Observer subscribers have noticed that my weekly column can be found in the Life section of Saturdays, complete with a United Way Photo of the Week.
Beginning next week, our 30 second commercials start up on Tuesday and a 60 second United Way update will also air on The Fox FM on Tuesdays. You can also hear me live with Jim Weir on Country CHOK at 7:40 AM each Monday.
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( 3 / 22 )
Thanks to our friend Duncan Bristow, I have a photo of Paul Cooper, a long time active Imperial Oil Employee taking time out to enjoy a sausage (or two) at the annual Imperial Oil BBQ yesterday. The event went very well and thanks to all the employee volunteers who helped make the BBQ such a success. Duncan has also contributed another photo of the BBQ that will accompany my column in The Observer on Saturday so be sure to check that one out!
Overall, the campaign continues to do well. Currently, we have $468,000 in pledges so far and the retirees are continuing to lead the way in terms of reaching their divisional target.
NOVA has one of their campaign kick offs today at the St. Clair site so I'll have a photo of that event tomorrow right here on my blog. NOVA St. Clair is in the middle of a turnaround so the BBQ is likely to be a success as well.
By the way, for others planning a United Way BBQ, you might be interested in reading this; Oktoberfest sausages out sold hot dogs at Imperial Oil on a better than 2:1 margin.
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( 3 / 29 )
Congratulations to John Kirby, winner of the grand prize draw for a trip for two aboard the Saginaw. In the photo abiove, Stephanie Bettridge from our office assists Gary Atkinson, the Shell Canada Loaned Representative draw the three winning tickets.
Ross Kerby won the second place prize, a helicopter tour of the Sarnia area donated by Enbridge Pipe Line, and Chris Corrion won the night stay at the Benmiller Inn near Goderich, Ontario.
Lower Lakes Towing, owners of the Saginaw donated the grand prize, and the Benmiller Inn donated its prize as well. In total, the United Way raised $5,100 from this draw.
The campaign is not officially underway yet, but we are approaching the 25 per cent total of the campaign goal of $1,875,000. Retiree donations have come in strong and are slightly ahead of last year.
We have had one of the most active summer seasons with the Tenors concert in June, the Great Lakes Cruise draw in July and August, two Sun Set Movie nights at the Dow People place in partnership with Avolution Multimedia, and personally, my parents moved from Bracebridge to Sarnia in early August.
Presently, we are gearing up for the Day of Caring on September 16, 2008, and Gary Atkinson, the Shell Canada Loaned Rep. has already been on the job assisting the early employee campaigns for about two weeks. Bruce Colborne, our Imperial Oil Loaned Rep. will begin September 15, 2008.
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( 3 / 29 )
Congratulations and Thanks to Chuck Hall of the Co-operators Insurance in Grand Bend for hosting the second annual Co-operators BBQ in support of the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton.
With help from Chuck's wife Barb, daughter Amy, and Paddy Roach, the BBQ raised over $500 this year. In the photo above, Paddy, Barb, and Amy prepare for the first of many customers of the day.
Tickets for our Upper Great Lakes Raffle are selling very well. People from the Sarnia-Lambton area are realizing what an opportunity this is to be the only two passengers on the Saginaw owned by Lower Lakes Towing. In fact, grand prize winners will stay in the luxurious owners quarters as part of this once in a life time trip.
Interest is also building for the second place prize, the helicopter tour of the Sarnia area. Personally, with today's hectic life style that we all face, the third place draw will be well received staying a night at the Benmiller Inn and Spa.
Call or email me for tickets.
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( 2.9 / 25 )
The Nordic Tenors concert went very well and all those who attended said the concert was excellent. Thanks to Jonna Easterby, Grace United Church, and Van Goozen Music for helping make the concert such a success.
I wanted all of you to be aware of the first ever Upper Great Lakes Cruise raffle we are holding.
We have three prizes available to be won with the grand prize being a 5 to 7 days cruise for two from the Sarnia area to the Upper Great Lakes, likely to Thunder Bay, and back aboard the Saginaw.
This would be a great trip for ship enthusiasts as well as people who have a general appreciation of the Great Lakes and all the scenery they have to offer.
Second prize is a helicopter tour for two of the Sarnia area, and third prize is a night’s stay for two at the Benmiller Inn and Spa near Goderich, Ontario.
All of our sponsors who not only made these great prizes available, but have donated them as well. Lower Lakes Towing, owners of the Saginaw donated the cruise, Enbridge Pipelines donated the helicopter tour, and Benmiller Inn and Spa donated the night stay.
The draw will take place on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 and the cruise will take place shortly thereafter. No definite date and time is available as a result of scheduling and possible delays during the summer months. We and Lower Lakes Towing will work with the prize winners as best we can to accommodate the winners of the cruise.
Tickets can be purchased at the United Way office at 250 North Christina, or by calling (519) 336-5452. More information and ticket orders can also be accessed on the United Way website at www.theunitedway.on.ca. Tickets are $10 each, or 3 for $25.
A photo of the Saginaw is shown above.
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( 3 / 36 )
In the past day or two, interest has started to heat up over the return of the Nordic Tenors to Sarnia; their only Canadian visit.
Many will recall we had the Nordic Tenors in concert in June, 2006 and it was a great success. formerly known as the Royal Danish Tenors, the group has now added a second Soprano to join Cecilia and this new addition has been a big hit in the early stages of their tour.
Tickets are just $20 and can be purchased by emailing me directly. We can take VISA, or Master card, or whatever payment option are best for you.
I hope to see you at the show.
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( 3.1 / 53 )My good friend Rick Garcia the Executive Director of the United Way of St. Clair County came up with a terrific idea this past winter. Rick suggested that we swap jobs for a day; get a chance to see how United Ways on the opposite side of the Canada/US Boarder do things.
I wasn't sure how it was going to work at first, but Rick was right. It ended up being a great day, and one that I look forward to doing again.
I had lined up some media interviews for Rick in Sarnia, and both Paddy and Pamela from the office here took him to various agencies, United Way meetings, and took him to lunch at the NOVA St. Clair River Site BBQ.
I also began my day with a 30 or so minute radio show on the Port Huron Country Station, and began my tour of the United Way offices in Port Huron which by the way is about a kilometre away from our offices across the St. Clair River. Dick Cummings, the Resource Development staffer in Port Huron was a great host taking me to several of their agencies for tours and presentations. The day capped off with me participating in the CRC Meeting; what we call our Community Investment Committee Meeting.
Rick and I plan to do other cross border initiatives this year with all of our staff, and on September 16, we will hold what we believe will be the first ever International Day of Caring. Both our United Ways will hold a Day of Caring the same day.
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( 3 / 56 )So far, our planning for the 2008 Campaign is right on schedule.
Paddy Roach and I are continuing to make our corporate visits to managers, and CEOs all across the County gearing up to meet or surpass last year's record amount raised. So far, we have raised nearly $200,000 which would put us ahead of last year at this point in time.
Paddy and I look forward to meeting Amy Wettges who will be the Imperial Oil Employees campaign chair this year, our area's largest United Way Employee campaign.
The United Way Board of Directors approved a Venture Grant for the Big Sisters that was announced yesterday.
Pam Gallant, Chair of the United Way Community Investment Committee, was pleased to announce a $30,000 Venture Grant to the Big Sisters of Sarnia-Lambton for their Big Bunch Program.
Big Sisters provide mentoring to children across Lambton County deemed to be “at-risk” between the ages of 5 – 18 years. “The mentoring offered by a Big Sister has a profound and positive impact on a Little Sister. Results have shown that these girls and young women are less likely to get into trouble with police, become teen mothers, abuse drugs and/or alcohol, or drop out of school”, says Gallant.
Big Bunch is a group mentoring program that was specifically designed to provide service to the children and adolescents currently waiting to be matched with a Big Sister. Six girls from the waiting list are matched to three Big Sister volunteers and together they meet bi-weekly for a period of 6 months. Girls are grouped together by age to ensure that appropriate activities are arranged and to strengthen group dynamics and relationships. Girls can be placed in a Big Bunch group until they are matched to a one to one Big Sister on a longer term basis.
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