Throughout our community the United Way of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington is helping a wide range of services and organizations that offer much-needed support.

As the largest single workplace fundraising campaign in the region, the Queen’s United Way Campaign plays a key role in enabling these service providers as they work towards forming the building blocks of early education and ending youth homelessness to promoting physical and mental wellbeing and improving access to shelter and affordable housing.

This year the United Way KFL&A has set the fundraising campaign goal at $3,551,000. The Queen’s United Way Campaign Committee has set its fundraising goal at $370,178.

It’s another example of how Queen’s – its staff, students, and faculty members, both active and retired – continues to contribute to its surrounding communities.

“The United Way provides hope, a sense of belonging and dignity. From alleviating hunger and poverty, to providing support to women and children fleeing violence and abuse, the United Way’s programs directly, and indirectly, benefit everyone in our community,” says Tom Harris, Interim Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) and Executive Sponsor of the committee. “I strongly encourage members of the Queen’s community to donate. Every little bit helps. It is amazing what the United Way can do to change lives locally.”

Last year, more than 53,000 people benefited from United Way KFL&A-funded programs.

Throughout the campaign, a number of events are held at Queen’s to promote the campaign and raise funds. Committee members are also attending faculty and departmental meetings to promote the campaign and explain how each donation – no matter the size – makes a difference.

“Queen’s University continues to lead the way in our community through its support of the United Way of KFL&A,” says James Ligthart (Athletics and Recreation), chair of the Queen’s United Way Campaign Committee. “Last year the Queen’s community contributed more than $368,000 to help United Way agencies build and strengthen our community. The donations by Queen’s staff, faculty and students along with the dedicated work of our volunteer committee make the Queen’s United Way campaign truly special.”

The benefits for the community are clear.

For example a donation of $2 per week provides winter boots for 11 children this winter, a $5 donation per week provides 203 meals at two local soup kitchens, while a donation of $20 per week provides 20 women with work attire and support to gain employment.

Donating is easy.

Queen’s community members can back the United Way through payroll deduction, a one-time gift, credit card, cheque or cash. 

To make a donation online through the United Way’s ePledge system, simply go to queensu.ca/unitedway and fill out the forms. On Oct. 7 all Queen’s faculty and staff received an email with the subject “Queen’s United Way needs your support,” containing a direct link to their custom e-pledge page. Please note that if you donated last year and selected the auto-renewal action, no further action is required unless you would like to change your donation. 

As of Tuesday, Oct. 22 the Queen’s campaign had raised $185,753, or just over 50 per cent of its goal.

Follow the Queen’s United Way Campaign Committee on Twitter and Facebook.

Visit the United Way KFL&A website for more information.