It’s time to show your support for the United Way

The annual UVic United Way campaign got off to an early-morning start on Oct. 3 with a breakfast for leadership donors at the University Club. More than 200 UVic employees are leadership donors who contribute more than $500 per year (per person) to the United Way of Greater Victoria.

“We thank all the leadership donors for their strong support—bringing this group together and recognizing their generosity was a great way to begin our campaign,” says Mary Ellen Purkis, UVic’s dean of human and social development and 2012 chairperson of the campaign steering committee. “UVic is consistently one of the top three United Way donors in the Greater Victoria area, and we are confident that our community will continue to support this important cause.”

UVic faculty and staff will receive pledge forms via campus mail during October and are encouraged to return them as soon as possible for a chance to win great prizes. Employees can choose to donate via payroll deduction using the pledge forms. Online donations are also accepted at www.uvic.ca/unitedway/donate/online/index.php.

Fall United Way fundraising events at UVic include the Plasma Car Races on Oct. 30, the UVic Libraries Book and Record Sale on Nov. 16 and 17 and the Hearts and Hands Craft Fair on Nov. 20. Check the website for details of these and other events at www.uvic.ca/unitedway/.

In 2011 UVic raised more than $270,000 for the United Way of Greater Victoria, which assists people in need in our communities. Nearly 128,000 Victorians are helped by United Way-supported programs and services delivered through 67 agencies. The United Way is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. For more information: http://uwgv.ca/

Visit the UVic United Way website at www.uvic.ca/unitedway/ or follow the campaign on Twitter at twitter.com/UVicUnitedWay.