The Queen’s community has set a new standard in giving, donating more than $450,000 to the university’s annual campaign in support of the United Way of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington.
The fundraising total continues to grow as donations are being accepted through to the end of the year.
Faced with the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic Queen’s staff, faculty, retirees, and students have thrown their support behind the KFL&A community.
A key component to this growth has been the introduction of ‘Department Champions’ across the university who communicate with colleagues and peers to help promote the campaign’s initiatives and goals and share what it means to support the United Way.
“Despite the challenges of the pandemic and hybrid work environment on a traditional campaign, the hard work by our department champions and our committee shows in this year's amazing total,” says James Ligthart, chair of the Queen’s United Way Fundraising Campaign Committee. “The dedicated group of staff, faculty and retiree volunteers from across the campus make this campaign possible. The total reflects their hard work.”
A year after topping $400,000 for the first time, the Queen’s campaign, the largest workplace campaign for the United Way of KFL&A, continued to grow.
Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane, a member of United Way KFL&A’s campaign cabinet, hosted a virtual speaker series for Queen’s taking a closer look at how the United Way of KFL&A and local agencies are addressing the needs of people facing serious issues in our community and how our donations are helping to make a difference.
“I am proud that so many at Queen’s gave to this year’s campaign. The United Way is essential to the health and wellbeing of our community,” Principal Deane says. “I am grateful to our supporters at Queen’s for their generosity particularly in a time when the pandemic is putting a further strain on the services that United Way agencies provide. I would like to personally thank all of our Queen’s staff, faculty, students, and retirees for contributing to the campaign and to all those who volunteer their time to assist with the work of the many United Way agencies.”
Last year, the United Way assisted nearly 80,000 members of the community through 70 agencies and 220 programs.
DONATIONS CONTINUE
As the single largest workplace campaign between Toronto and Ottawa, the Queen’s community makes a significant difference and helps meet and overcome many challenges faced by the KFL&A community.
Donations to the 2021 Queen’s United Way Campaign can still be made at queensu.ca/unitedway.
On Nov. 25, the United Way KFL&A announced that it had exceeded its fundraising goal of $3.8 million.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the United Way KFL&A has seen increased demand across the communities it serves, and service providers facing new and greater challenges.
Donations can also be made to the United Way’s Gift of Hope campaign.
Article originally published in the Queen's Gazette.