The Brock University United Way campaign has set a fundraising goal of $130,000 in 2014.
Brock’s latest campaign kicked off Tuesday with its popular Souper Star Lunch at Guernsey Market.
All 140 Souper Star Lunch tickets were sold, and $1,400 was raised. Six Sodexo chefs made leek and potato, chicken wing, mulligatawny, autumn harvest vegetable, Spanish lentil chorizo sausage, and pumpkin and black bean soups.
The potato and leek soup made by Chef Ron, and served by Goodman School of Business Professors Ernest Biktimirov and Carmen Cullen, won the coveted Soup-er Bowl with 51 votes from hungry judges.
“It’s such a great event for staff to get together and share their lunch hour and do something fun and taste some of the amazing soups that Sodexo puts on for us,” Brock United Way staff co-chair Diana Panter said. “It’s a fun event that staff love to attend.”
Last year’s campaign raised more than $150,000 for United Way St. Catharines and District, which funds 70 programs delivered by 40 agencies. Money benefits those who need the most help across Niagara, such as youth, people with physical or mental disabilities, and the elderly.
“(That) was astronomical,” Panter said. “That was the most we had ever raised in a campaign, so we were very happy with the results.
“We wanted to increase it (this year) but we didn’t want to be too ambitious.”
The next event is a Spin-A-Thon Oct. 31. Cost is $100 per team of eight (limit of 18 teams) or $15 for an individual.
Each team member will spin for 50 minutes, with a 10-minute transition between teammates. Register at the Walker Complex registration desk with cash or cheque.
The Spin-A-Thon replaces the Halloween Fun Run, which lasted for three years. After rain dampened attendance in 2013, the decision was made to create an indoor event that would also give staff and students the chance to do something active.
“We felt moving it to an event indoors would be safer,” Panter said.
Participants can still dress up for Halloween, and there will be a prize for most money raised.
Other events include Trivia Night Friday, Nov. 14 at Club Roma. Tickets are $30, or $200 for a table of eight. Tickets are available from the Centre for the Arts box office x3257.
Brock employees have been generous over the years in their support of the United Way. Last year 21% of employees donated money through a monthly payroll deduction. The campaign wrap-up and appreciation party is slated for Tuesday, Dec. 9.
