In This Issue
We're Eating Our Way to United Way Success
U of G spirit and culinary skills move campus campaign to halfway mark
BY MARY DICKIESON
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| Baking in support of the United Way is an annual tradition for staff members in Financial Services. Showing off some of this year's wares are, front row, from left: Andrea Klein and Nancy McCarvell. Middle row: Jane Douglas, Sue Rush, Nancy Nelson, Diane Gilbertson, Brenda Reynolds and Glenn White. Back row: Lili Campagnolo, Liz Golden, Marisa Reginato and Bernadette Wall. Photo by Rebecca Kendall |
At the University of Guelph, the annual United Way campaign has become synonymous with fun, friendship and food . . . a lot of food. In addition to the kick-off barbecue, the eight-week campaign is filled with pancake breakfasts, chili luncheons, barbecues, bake sales and raffles for homemade goodies. If you've returned your pledge form to your United Way canvasser, you could also win a decadent dessert or a bottle of wine in the incentive draw.
This is the harvest season, so who wouldn't want to take home a pumpkin pie, an apple cinnamon Bundt cake or a tray of squares? Those were just a few of the treats that were on the table at the seventh annual United Way bake sale and raffle held Oct. 16 in the University Centre. Fourteen bakers from several areas in Financial Services contributed their culinary skills and raised $800 for the United Way.
“We're fortunate to be able to hold this annual bake sale,” says Revenue Control manager Glenn White. “We have a front counter and a steady stream of people visiting our area, so our staff are pretty busy throughout the day, but they're also passionate about supporting the United Way. I'm always amazed at how much time they put in after hours to make the sale a success year after year.”
What makes it even more impressive is knowing that their efforts are duplicated all over campus by dozens of volunteers organizing special events to support the campus United Way campaign. You can attend theatre performances, a book sale, a jewelry party and a costume party — all supporting the United Way.
Special events like these contributed almost $46,000 — more than 10 per cent of the total — to last year's United Way campaign, says Lee Anne Clarke, office manager for the Central Student Association and financial co-ordinator for the University's United Way committee.
This year, Clarke has tallied $1,600 from a student-run lottery organized by the committee's student co-chair, Suba Naganathan, and $1,520 from the Department of Athletics, which routinely donates $1 for each ticket purchased at one home football game. This year's game was the Sept. 6 season opener against Queen's. On Oct. 2, the annual Central Animal Facility/Animal-Care Services bazaar, barbecue, bake sale and raffle raised $2,100.
When combined with pledge-form donations, these events have helped the 2008 campaign reach halfway to its $440,000 goal, with six weeks to go.
United Way co-chair Jennifer Beehler of the Department of Clinical Studies says she, too, has been enjoying good food and fun at special events held at the Ontario Veterinary College.
“Working, socializing and eating together at these events gives us a chance to get to know the people we see in the halls,” she says, “and we can all feel good about supporting an organization that helps so many people in our community. It's often been said that the University community has a culture of caring, and that's true, but we also have a culture of camaraderie, and the United Way campaign really demonstrates that.”
If you missed OVC's pancake breakfast Oct. 16, don't despair! Beehler says you can still join her for a chili lunch Nov. 13 at noon in the college's sunken lounge.
Here are some other United Way events happening on campus:
- Oct. 24 — Chili lunch from noon to 1:15 p.m. at PJ's in Macdonald Stewart Hall, sponsored by the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, tickets $10.
- Oct. 24 — Jewelry party from noon to 2 p.m. in Room 390 of the University Centre, sponsored by Co-operative Education and Career Services.
- Oct. 30 — A three-kilometre walk and five-km fun run hosted by the Central Animal Facility/Animal-Care Services, starts at 12:15 p.m. at Arboretum and East Ring roads. A minimum of $25 in pledges is required to enter. To register, send e-mail to ligrooco@uoguelph.ca.
- Oct. 31 — Lunch, costume party and “University Idol” competition, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Peter Clark Hall, sponsored by the Office of Research and Hospitality Services, tickets $10.
- Nov. 3 and 4 — The Department of Geography's fifth annual used-book sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the UC courtyard. To donate books, see Marie Puddister in Room 239 of the Hutt Building.
- Nov. 10 — “It's a Mystery to Me” dinner theatre hosted by the CPES dean's office at 6:30 p.m. at the Springfield Golf and Country Club. Tickets are $47; call Allison Kelly at Ext. 56176.
- Nov. 10 — Theatre on the Edge improv performance at 7 p.m. at PJ's in Macdonald Stewart Hall, sponsored by the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, tickets $10.
- Nov. 14 — Draw date for two tickets to the Nov. 25 Maple Leafs hockey game against the Atlanta Thrashers, $2 per raffle ticket or three for $5, buy tickets at Revenue Control on UC Level 4.
- Nov. 14 — Draw date for a large gift basket of gourmet foods, tickets $2 each or three for $5, buy tickets at Communications and Public Affairs on UC Level 4.
To stay updated on United Way events and campaign progress, visit www.unitedway.uoguelph.ca.