Hot total for 2007 United Way campaign

The University of Victoria’s 2007 United Way campaign has blown the tops off the large billboard thermometers that have been heating up on campus since last September. As of mid January, total collections had topped out at approximately $252,500, easily surpassing the university’s largest-ever campaign goal of $250,000.

“We’ve seen such an incredible degree of enthusiasm and generosity from the campus community,” says Clint Hamilton, the UVic 2007 United Way campaign chair and UVic’s director of athletics and recreation, “and the result will make a good ‘Go Team!’ cheer for next year’s campaign. Together we can keep the momentum going.”

Despite losing a competition with Royal Roads University based on increase in per-capita contributions and participation rates, UVic faculty, staff and students helped drive our campaign to a record level through individual donations and successful fund-raising initiatives.

For individual donations, campaign advocates encouraged one-on-one conversations with colleagues about the United Way. A number of fund-raising events contributed to the successful campaign, including the Dr. Zonk wacky chemistry show ($2,016), the annual book sale hosted by McPherson Library staff ($5,190), the annual Hearts and Hands crafts fair ($1,485), the Engineering Students Society’s VW Rabbit Push ($1,009), the sale proceeds from local band Two Old Goats’ CD ($1,550), the September barbeque launch event ($2,395) and more.

At the end of last year, the philanthropic spirit was echoed on campus by the two annual “Food for Fines” initiatives: UVic library staff waived a total of $3,160 in fines, UVic Campus Security Services reduced a total of 319 fines in December, and both programs resulted in canned goods and food donations to those in need over the holiday season.

Throughout the 2007 United Way campaign, prize draws added to the excitement and sense of friendly competition. Generous prize donations were received from various sponsors; information about the prizes is available at http://unitedway.uvic.ca/prizes.htm.

The United Way thermometers will be packed away until the next round of United Way campaign giving. But the real winners—the one-in-three Victorians who are helped by the United Way—will have a chance to feel the warmth of what a quarter of a million dollars can bring for many more months to come.