In the News
August 13, 2013
The United Way of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington is gearing up for its 2013 fundraising campaign.
John DiPaolo, vice-president of operations, said the behind-the-scenes activity is starting to ramp up as the campaign’s launch nears.
Things kick off at a buffet breakfast on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the Ambassador Conference Resort, beginning at 7 a.m. Tickets are $15 per person.
Lori MacDonald, the Correctional Service Canada’s regional deputy commissioner for Ontario and the campaign chair for the 71st annual fall campaign, will help announce the new goal in front of 600 volunteers.
MacDonald’s role is to lead a campaign cabinet made up of community volunteers who head up various sectors and divisions that range from finance to retail and education, explained DiPaolo.
“She is very energetic and enthusiastic and is a tremendous leader,” he said.
The organizers are in the goal-building phase right now, analyzing how previous campaigns worked and coming up with a goal specific to each sector.
“And then all those sectors roll up into our overall goal,” DiPaolo said.
That figure will be announced at the end of the breakfast.
The organizers are also checking in with the individual workplace campaigns to make sure they are ready to launch.
To raise the money, a list of events will be held to both educate the public on what the United Way does and help participants have a little fun at the same time.
First up is the Seeing Is Believing tour, during which United Way volunteers get to see how the money that is donated makes a difference in people’s lives.
One will be held Thursday, Aug. 22, and a second on Friday, Sept. 20.
The volunteers will board a bus at the Memorial Centre at 9 a.m. and spend the next four hours touring a variety of agencies and program sites to see where the money goes and how it is used.
On Sunday, Sept. 8, will be the 20th edition of Fare for Friends, a showcase of more than two dozen of the area’s best restaurants and a dozen of its wineries and breweries held at the Vimy Officers Mess at Canadian Forces Base Kingston.
The event was launched in 1993 by Clark Day, Joanne Langlois and Michele Langlois. In its past 19 years, it has raised $1 million.
Tickets are $160 each.
“Lots of great food, lots of fun, live music, a live and silent auction,” said DiPaolo.
They are looking forward to good weather for the day, he added.
“I think in the 20 years it has only rained once. It’s usually a nice, bright sunny day, knock on wood.”
For the more adventurous, the annual Commando Challenge will be held Sept. 14 at the confidence course at CFB Kingston.
Businesses and organizations send a team to climb, run and shoot their way through a series of obstacles and other challenges. The team-building day always puts the participants’ physical, emotional and mental strengths to the test.
“It’s three-quarters of a day long and they go through all kinds of fun drills that a cadet would probably go through in training,” said DiPaolo. “It’s very competitive. It’s a pretty fun day.”
Exclusively for high school students aged 13 to 19, the Starlight Film Festival will be held Friday through Saturday, Nov. 8 and 9, at the Cineplex Odeon on Gardiners Road.
As well as the movies, the event will offer free arcade games, unlimited popcorn and a free hotdog. The cost is $20 per ticket.
The touchdown breakfast is set for Friday, Nov. 29, also at the Ambassador, when the amount raised during the 2013 campaign will be announced.
Last year’s campaign, under chair Lloyd Fleming, brought in a record $3,403,260, 2% higher than the 2011 campaign.
The United Way funds more than 80 programs and services, helping more than 85,000 people. More than 2,000 volunteers in 400 workplaces run the campaign locally.
Source: Michael Lea, Kingston Whig-Standard
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