Brock’s United Way Committee aims to give hope to those facing hidden struggles, such as food insecurity and mental health challenges, with the launch of the University’s 2023 United Way Campaign.

The annual employee workplace fundraising campaign kicked off Tuesday, Sept. 12 with a team of Brock employees competing in a fire truck pull celebrating the launch of United Way Niagara’s community campaign.

“Brock has an important role to play in helping Niagara to thrive. Supporting United Way Niagara is one way we can break down barriers created by poverty in our community,” said Interim Vice-President, Administration Jennifer Guarasci, one of the Brock senior administrators who participated in the fire truck pull.

This year, Brock’s campaign aims to raise $162,000, which will support more than 140 United Way Niagara programs, collaborations and special initiatives addressing poverty and often interconnected issues such food insecurity, homelessness, mental health and well-being, addiction and social isolation.

“This campaign really is about the Brock community reaching out to support our neighbours across Niagara,” said Colleen Whyte (BRLS ’97), Associate Professor with the Recreation and Leisure Department and Brock’s United Way Campaign Faculty Co-Chair. “United Way funded programs supported more than 175,000 people in the local community last year. We may never know the challenges each of those people face behind closed doors, but we can help to improve their lives.”

Every donation makes a difference:

• Giving $5 per paycheque (or $130 per year) can provide 13 students with nutritious food at school.
• Giving $25 per paycheque (or $650 per year) can provide mental health support to 36 people in crisis.
• Giving $45 per paycheque (or $1,170 per year) can provide emergency shelter for a family experiencing homelessness.

Faculty and staff can support the campaign by giving a one-time donation or an ongoing payroll contribution through Workday. Contributions can be designated to a United Way in any community in Canada or to a registered charity of the donor’s choice.

The impact of employee contributions can be increased through matching programs:

• First-time donations to United Way Niagara of any amount will be matched dollar for dollar up to an additional $25,000.
• Existing donors who increase their annual gift to United Way Niagara by 10 per cent or more will have the increased amount matched up to an additional $50,000.

A highlight of the 2023 campaign is the much-loved annual Souper Star Lunch fundraiser, which will take place Thursday, Oct. 19. Employees will be able to sample and judge seven soups served by Faculty Deans before voting on the winner of the Souper Bowl trophy. The event is sponsored by Aramark and all proceeds will go to United Way. Tickets for the event will go on sale in the coming weeks.

Since 2003, the Brock community has raised more than $2.6 million for United Way. In 2022, Brock was United Way Niagara’s largest employee giving campaign and second largest workplace campaign, raising $173,321.

The committee is seeking department canvassers to meet with units across campus and share information about United Way Niagara and Brock’s campaign. Email Michelle Leone (BRLS ’05, MA ’08) at mleone@brocku.ca to find out more about volunteering as a canvasser.

Questions about the campaign can be directed to Whyte at cwhyte@brocku.ca. To learn more about Brock’s United Way campaign and to make a contribution, visit the United Way campaign SharePoint site.