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United Way NWT campaign kicks off
Organizers, stakeholders and politicians gather to launch 2017 fundraising campaign

John McFadden
Northern News Services
Saturday, October 1, 2016

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
October is United Way month, and this year's fundraising campaign kicked off last Wednesday with a ceremony at the great hall at the legislative assembly building.

Politicians, including Premier Bob McLeod, two cabinet ministers, several MLAs and Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers were on hand.

NNSL photo/graphic

Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers, left, and Premier Bob McLeod cut a cake during a launch last Wednesday of the United Way NWT's 2017 fund raising campaign at the legislative assembly. - John McFadden/NNSL photo

Last year the campaign raised $238,668 said Jacq Brasseur, campaign coordinator and administrator of United Way NWT. The goal for 2017 is $246,000.

According to Lynn Elkin, association director of the Yellowknife Association for Community Living, an organization that works to create positive, inclusive activities for teens and adults with intellectual and other disabilities, the financial assistance provided by the United way has been invaluable to her organization.

"Having the United Way funding offered flexibility to engage with community organizations and volunteers to purchase supplies that allow individuals to try new things and to make sure those we serve are active members of the city," Elkin stated.

Among the Yellowknife groups that received funding this year were the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), Ecology North, Food Rescue, the Food First Foundation, the Foster Family Coalition for the NWT, Girl Guides, Mildred Hall School's Traditional Mentorship Program, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society of Canada, Northern Youth Leadership, NWT Breast Health/Breast Cancer Action Group, Yellowknife Scouts, Yk Cares and the Young Women's Christian Association (YMCA).

United Way NWT has also, in recent years, begun supporting multi-year funding for non-profits. In 2015, the organization chosen was the NWT Breast Health/Breast Cancer Action Group which has received a $5,000 commitment over three years. "Thanks to United Way NWT, women across the NWT will have access to up-to-date breast health information," said the groups treasurer, Marsha Argues. "Breast cancer patients will have an updated resource to support them in their treatment."

Funds collected in the past have also gone to support Food Rescue, an initiative where around 30 volunteers collect food from grocery stores, wholesalers and other businesses and redistributes it to non-profits across the territory. United Way NWT helps Food Rescue subsidize the salary for its driver, who delivers an average of 700 kilograms of food each day.

Premier McLeod said that people in Yellowknife and across the territory are well aware of the good work the United Way performs, and have shown it by donating, often through automatic payroll deductions.

"Through the employee payroll plan employees across the NWT have shown their generosity and continue to show their commitment by building stronger healthier communities by helping those with the greatest need by supporting the United Way of the NWT," McLeod said.

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