THUNDER BAY – Each year, the local chapter of the United Way knows they can count on the City of Thunder Bay, Superior North EMS and the Thunder Bay Public Library to provide their biggest single donation.
This year appears to be no different.
On Tuesday the three municipal organizations handed over cheques totaling $117,000, which United Way of Thunder Bay CEO Albert Brule said will have a tremendous impact on their ability to offer services to funded agencies throughout the city in 2020.
“It’s a real boost to our efforts to raise money in support of the poverty initiatives that United Way agencies help deliver in our community and the efforts of the City of Thunder Bay, EMS and the Thunder Bay Public Library are just fantastic,” Brule said.
“It makes for a great day.”
Brule said the United Way is all about community and extending opportunities for everyone to be a part of making a difference in Thunder Bay.
It can’t happen without donations like the one made by the city and its employees. Businesses across the city are making a huge difference, he added.
“Workplace campaigns play a very important role. Individual giving, people helping out through their own person donations, we have corporate donors and we have a number of different events, so they’re all part and parcel to that big picture that enables us to invest as much as we can in addressing issues of poverty in our community,” said Brule, adding their happy with the campaign progress to date.
The United Way did not announce a campaign target in 2019, breaking from tradition.
Kelly Robertson, who chaired the city’s United Way effort, said the effort paid off – and will likely grow before the end of the year.
“It feels great and I’m very grateful to all the employees who work with Thunder Bay Public Library, Superior North EMS and the City of Thunder Bay for their contributions in funds raised, but also their volunteer time and their commitment to helping us work together with the United Way of Thunder Bay and out not-for-profit agencies to try to improve life’s circumstances for those who need us in their community,” Robertson said.
This year’s donation is about $17,000 less than was collected by the three organizations last year, and $36,000 less than in 2017.
