Brock University was recognized Thursday night at a celebration event for United Way Niagara’s 2018 fundraising campaign.

In a room filled with hundreds of donors, volunteers and charity representatives, Brock’s United Way committee co-chairs accepted the Campaign of the Year Award, which recognizes an organization that achieved tremendous success in their workplace campaign.

“This is a University-wide accomplishment,” said committee co-chair Lynn McCleary, Associate Professor, Nursing, after the event. “Our enthusiastic committee members and generous faculty and staff are the reason we were so successful. They recognize the importance of giving to our local community and funding programs that help our friends, family and neighbours.”

More than $186,000 was raised in the University’s largest employee fundraising campaign to date, far surpassing Brock’s 2018 goal of $145,000 and last year’s $160,000 accomplishment.

Brock University raised more than $186,000 for the 2018 United Way campaign. Pictured from left: Brock President Gervan Fearon; Kevin Jong, Director of Development, United Way Niagara; Sandy Howe, Associate Director, Experiential Education and Brock University United Way Committee Co-Chair; Lynn McCleary, Associate Professor, Nursing and Brock University United Way Committee Co-Chair; and Frances Hallworth, Executive Director, United Way Niagara.

“It’s amazing what a group of dedicated and caring individuals can achieve,” said Brock’s United Way committee co-chair Sandy Howe, Associate Director, Experiential Education. “The money raised supports programs that will strengthen and enhance the quality of life for the people who are most vulnerable in our community.”

In addition to the 16 per cent growth in donations over 2017, highlights of Brock’s 2018 campaign included a Souper Star Lunch kickoff event attended by 200 employees, the University’s first move-a-thon for United Way, a raffle for Toronto Maple Leafs tickets, a Hot Chocolate for Hope pop-up awareness event and record-breaking attendance at the ninth annual Trivia Night.

“We are extremely grateful to Brock’s committee for the creativity, growth and effort they contributed to the 2018 campaign,” said Frances Hallworth, Executive Director for United Way Niagara. “We are humbled by the generosity of all of the volunteers and donors at Brock who contributed to this result.”

Brock University has a long history of supporting United Way as one of their Top 20 workplace campaigns. Since 2003, the University community has raised more than $1.9 million. Approximately 50 per cent of United Way Niagara’s 2018 campaign achievement of more than $5.2 million came from workplace campaigns like Brock’s.

The University was also recognized Thursday night for its annual sponsorship of a Brock co-op student. Fourth-year Business Administration student Megan Truong has been working in United Way Niagara’s office as a communications and campaign assistant since January.

Brock University President Gervan Fearon and Associate Vice-President, Ancillary Services Bryan Boles were acknowledged as members United Way Niagara’s Board of Directors and Campaign and Major Giving Cabinet, respectively.

Brock alumna Caroline Sherk (BA ’16) was announced as United Way Niagara’s 2019 campaign chair. At 24 years old, Sherk is the youngest chair the organization has ever had.

United Way Niagara funds 114 local programs and special initiatives that help more than 163,000 people annually.

Employees still wishing to make a donation to Brock’s United Way campaign can donate online.

More information on the University’s United Way fundraising campaign can be found on SharePoint.