The United Way Chatham-Kent announced on Friday that their annual campaign has wrapped up, raising $1,707,707.
The announcement was made yesterday morning by the 2016 campaign co-chairs, Patricia Wright and Steve Pratt at the Campaign Touchdown Breakfast hosted by the Links of Kent and sponsored by Advanced Realty Solutions, Ross Insurance Brokers, Inc., and 94.3 CKSY FM.
The majority of funds raised are donated by individuals in the community or employees who give through a workplace campaign. The rest is raised through corporate gifts and special events such as Blenheim’s Art in the Garden, Harvest Run, Red Feather, 99.1’s Radio Hostage and Starlight Movie Night.
“It was an honour to be a part of the United Way campaign,” Wright said in a press release.
“I am very proud of what our community was able to accomplish, thanks to an amazing team effort. It was an incredible experience and it really opens your eyes to the hardships people in our community face each and every day. I also realize how lucky we are to have organizations like the United Way making a difference in the lives of the people living right here in Chatham-Kent.”
Pratt added: “Patricia and I have often spoken of how lucky we are to be able to give back to an organization that has helped us overcome some pretty big obstacles in our own lives. If I had to sum up the 2016 campaign with one word, it would be ‘gratitude’ – gratitude for the countless volunteers who donated their time to serve on our campaign cabinet, running a workplace campaign or a special event – gratitude for the courageous individuals who came forward and shared their deeply personal stories with strangers, family, friends, co-workers and neighbours to help them understand the real impact donors make on the lives of the recipients of their contributions; and most importantly, gratitude for everyone who chose to invest their hard-earned dollars to support the children, individuals and families who may need to access United Way’s funded programs and services in 2017.”
The money raised by the campaign will start being distributed locally almost immediately.
United Way volunteers will carefully review funding applications and make recommendations to the United Way Board of Directors in the coming weeks.
The fundraising target this year had been $1.9 million.
– Photo credit: United Way of Chatham-Kent
