United Way campaign continues to gather steam, now 30% of total goal

By DAVE BROWN
Executive Director,
United Way of Sarnia-Lambton

After several BBQ lunches, chili, and other lunches, we are pleased to see the annual campaign has reached almost 35% of the $1.85 million goal.

While the campaign continues to lag last year, the campaign is progressing at a good rate.  So far, the campaign is on par with where we expect to be and we will get a huge boost on Thursday afternoon when NOVA employees announce their totals.

NOVA Employees got off the good and early start this year and have run a well-organized, high intensity campaign with a huge team of people among all four of their sites.  Adding to the growth this week is the fact that NOVA will match all employee donations dollar for dollar.

Suncor Energy commenced their campaign on Thursday and traditionally run a similar campaign as NOVA but over a two week period.  Sun Employees are usually the first campaign to complete their drive and often we look at Suncor as a bit of a barometer to the overall success of the drive.  This year, with NOVA completing this week, and then Sun the following week, we will have a good idea I think how things will go the rest of the way.

Earlier, Styrolutions announced they were at about 80% of their employee campaign the first day they started so early indications are very positive from that worksite.

Non industrial campaigns have also begun their drives.  Department of Fisheries and Oceans held their kickoff lunch on Thursday and Teppermans’ a traditionally great supporter of the United Way announced that 100 per cent participation among their employees is a definitely possibility. 

The Village of Point Edward will kick off their campaign this week with a presentation at the village office.  Education campaigns have already begun, mostly in the Secondary Schools in Lambton and an expanded Online campaign for five St. Clair District School Board schools will begin later in October.

As of this morning, the United Way has raised $635,000 from 2008 donors.  I think we should be in excess of $750,000 by Friday, and would have surpassed 2,100 donors by then as well.

Tags: 30% of goal, campaign, lambton county news, sarnia news, United Way of Sarnia-Lambton