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Costco employees Patrick Davidson, warehouse manager, and Melanie Turvey, front end manager, display the Chairman's Award for raising the most money in the fall 2012 campaign.
The Grande Prairie & Region United Way surpassed the $1 million mark in donations
during its fall 2012 campaign – a new record for the local charity. The final tally of
$1,005,890 was announced on Thursday night at the Champions of Change Awards
Dinner held in the Teresa Sargent Hall in the Montrose Cultural Centre with a sold-out
crowd of 240 people.
"It's a huge landmark for the community," said Gladys Blackmore, executive director
of the Grande Prairie & Region United Way. "That million dollar figure had been
hanging over our heads for a couple of years now and we feel that the community
deserves a good pat on the back."
A sizeable chunk of the total came from the first-ever volunteer fundraising campaign
north of the Peace River, which brought in $84,000. "That money will stay in
communities in the North Peace Region," she said.
A variety of awards were handed out to recognize the accomplishment of individuals,
organizations, and businesses of all sizes that worked tirelessly to raise money for the
United Way campaign. "We're recognizing organizations that have really stepped up
and provided some really great opportunity for people to make a difference in their
community," she said.
The Chairman's Award, which recognizes the workplace that raised the most money
for the campaign, went to Costco Wholesale for raising $100,521. "They had 100%
employee participation," she said. "They did an exceptionally good job of running a
campaign and we're really proud of them."
Patrick Davidson, warehouse manager at Costco, said during the month of October all
265 employees at the Grande Prairie Costco contributed a small amount directly off
their paycheque to the United Way campaign.
"Some do a dollar, some do $50 or $75," he said. "It really creates a good
atmosphere trying to get everyone involved in the campaign." Davidson said
Costco understands it is important to give back to the community.
"We all have families and we as well need some of the resources that United Way
offers," he said.
Two new 'Little Engine' awards were added this year, recognizing workplaces with
fewer than 10 and 20 employees. "The amount that they raised is significant in
relation to the size of their organizations," said Blackmore of Fashionista, winners
of the Little Engine prize for under 10, and Faber LLP Chartered Accountants
who took home the Little Engine under 20 award.
The money raised during the campaign will be used to support more than 30 local
agencies that fall into three main categories:
Support for kids, healthy living and overcoming poverty.
By late March or early April the Grande Prairie & Region United Way will be hosting a
"big cheque event" to distribute the money out to the different agencies.
Other award winners:
• Best first time campaign: Rainbow International & Turcon Construction Group
• Leadership campaign team of the year: Weyerhaeuser Grande Prairie
• Outstanding campaign team of the year: City of Grande Prairie
• Rising star award: Investors Group Financial
• Quantum Leap Award: Pembina Pipeline Corporation
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