United Way in final push of campaign

Campaign Coordinatoors from our 2009 Campaign. At the this event the total amount raised will be annouced. 
If your Workplace has been part of our 2009 Campaign and need more information please contact our office 
or please email. Campaign@unitedway.org for more information

Successful campaign - United Way exceeds its $800,000 fundraising goal this year

Source-JEANNE GAGNON - Herald-Tribune staff

Local residents and businesses were not afraid to open their wallets to help the less fortunate as the United Way of Grande Prairie and Region raised $879,652.43 during its fall campaign.

“We were very pleased with the results and very appreciative of the support of the community,” said this year’s campaign co-chair Lorne Radbourne. “We really wanted to ensure that the funded agencies the United Way supports, certainly had a little more to work with and not a little less, because I think the needs are certainly increasing, not decreasing.”

The charity announced the results at a luncheon attended by a record 220 people.

“Most of the money that we bring in comes from individual donors who, I think, realize that the need in Grande Prairie is high for certain groups of people and it’s important to support those individuals who need social services. It builds a better community,” said the charity’s president Gladys Blackmore. The money raised this year exceeded the fall campaign’s goal of $800,000. The culture of giving created by the United Way’s and the community could explain the success of this year’s campaign, said Radbourne.

“I think the United Way developed its support over the years,” he said. “People really think that what the funded agencies provide in terms of support, is a part of the vision of all of us for Grande Prairie as a caring and compassionate community.”

And this raises the bar high for next year, said Blackmore. “We have been raising the bar every year for as long as I know of, so I guess next year we’ll try for more,” she said. “It would certainly be nice to get close to $1 million next year - (that) doesn’t mean that will be our goal, but ...”

Last year, the United Way also exceeded its goal, raising more than $775,000.

“Last year, we raised $175,000 over our goal,” said Blackmore. “The fact that we raised $80,000 over our goal this year is still a big step up but it’s not as big a step. So, that might be a reflection of what is happening in the community.”

In 2008, the United Way of Grande Prairie and Region provided quarterly allocations and grants to 24 community partners from Grande Prairie to High Level.