UWSVI Announces its 2023 Fundraising Campaign Goal: $5M
Victoria, BC (September 14, 2023) – Today, United Way Southern Vancouver Island (UWSVI) announced that its 2023 fundraising campaign goal will be $5 million.
UWSVI’s 2023 Campaign Chair, Darlene Hollstein, made the announcement at UWSVI’s free, public campaign kick-off event, in Centennial Square.
“With the entire community uniting with us, I am confident we will meet this target,” says Ms. Hollstein. “As UWSVI has witnessed in the last 86 years of its existence, individual donors, workplaces of all sizes, labour unions, and businesses step up every year because they know that their support helps local people.”
Donors have been issued a challenge by three generous major donors. Two sets of long-time United Way supporters, Dick and Linda Auchinleck, and Beverley King, announced today that they would match new leadership gifts, and the increased portion of any existing leadership donors, up to $100,000. (The “Leadership” level comprises donations of $1,200 and greater to UWSVI.) Their challenge, which runs until October 31, allows these leadership-level donors to effectively double the value of their donations.
The positive impact of donations to UWSVI is felt throughout the community, especially for those whom UWSVI prioritizes in what it calls its three “areas of action”: seniors, families, and people with mental health and addictions challenges.
Diana Gibson, Executive Director of the Community Social Planning Council (CSPC) of Greater Victoria, provided first-hand testimony to the transformative power of UWSVI’s fundraising. Gibson told the assembled crowd at Centennial Square about United Way’s funding of one program and how significantly it has helped local families in need.
Recently, UWSVI has been particularly concerned about the mounting stresses on families in Southern Vancouver Island, including the increasing cost of inflation, the lack of affordable local housing, and rising food costs.
UWSVI is directing resources to mitigate some of these challenges by supporting local social service agencies as diverse as CSPC, the Cridge Centre, and neighbourhood houses throughout the region.
This year, UWSVI awarded grants to 63 agencies and 77 programs, plus five Youth in Action micro-grants in the community. With a greater amount of money raised, UWSVI can provide more funding to these programs and/or expand its grants to include more agencies in a network of service providers, provided they meet UWSVI’s stringent granting criteria.
“There are many ways to unite with us and support UWSVI during this year’s fundraising campaign,” says Erika Stenson, Executive Director of UWSVI. “Individuals can make donations in person or online, which is an easy option. Workplaces can kick off their own fundraising efforts, which are often fun and creative team-building exercises. And businesses can provide their corporate support.”
Purchasing a ticket to the Community Campaign Raffle, which will close on October 13 (with an “early bird” draw on September 29), is another way the public can help UWSVI make its fundraising goal. The raffle’s grand prize is a travel package, comprising WestJet tickets anywhere they fly, a hotel voucher, a holiday photo shoot provided by Flytographer, and luggage from the Bay Centre. Tickets are only $50 ($125 for three and $200 for six) and after September 14 are available at uwsvi.ca.
The campaign kick-off event was supported by the City of Victoria, the Victoria Labour Council, BC Transit, Wheaton Chevrolet Buick Cadillac GMC, Max Furniture, CHEK, CFAX 1070, 107.3 Virgin Radio, CTV Vancouver Island, Black Press, the Times Colonist, Used.ca, and Island Savings.
The community campaign raffle is supported by WestJet, Flytographer, the Bay Centre, Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort, Victoria Symphony, Pagliacci’s, and Fairmont Empress.
About United Way Southern Vancouver Island
For 86 years, United Way Southern Vancouver Island (UWSVI) has served the local community and remains dedicated to supporting people in areas where they need it most. We believe everyone in the Greater Victoria region, which includes 13 municipalities and 11 First Nations and the Southern Gulf Islands, should have the opportunity to reach their potential. Last year, UWSVI supported close to 63,000 individuals on Southern Vancouver Island in building better lives. That is almost one in six people in our region being helped by a United Way Southern Vancouver Island initiative or funded program.
MEDIA CONTACT
Erik Lambertson
Director, Marketing + Communications
United Way Southern Vancouver Island
Office: 250.984.2269 ext. 265
