THUNDER BAY Michael Nitz is encouraging Thunder Bay residents to bring the campaign home for the holidays.
The chairman of this year’s United Way fundraising effort, Nitz said he’s hopeful they’ve still got time to hit their $2.6-million goal, despite only reaching $1.4 million to date, with four weeks left to reach their target.
“We’re feeling good where we are,” Nitz said Wednesday at Intercity Shopping Centre, where Sears Canada Inc. employees spoke about their participation in annual employee campaigns.
“Year over year we’ve done a lot of work to try some new things this year. We’ve really engaged the community in communicating with them more about the 29 agencies and 63 programs we support. We feel that our efforts all through the year are paying off.”
Nitz, who said his confidence stems from the fact that several other employee campaigns are closing in the coming weeks, nonetheless is asking people who plan to give ahead of the Dec. 31 deadline to come forward.
And those who haven’t considered giving in the past, he’d love them to become first-timers and contribute to a cause that impacts one in three people in Thunder Bay.
“We really look to the community to help us make it happen, to make a difference in the community,” Nitz said. “It is a goal for the community … so we’re looking forward to finding out where we end up and having the maximum impact that we can.”
Nitz’s wife Dawn, a primary-care paramedic, was also on hand on Wednesday and said she sees first-hand the importance of the programs offered by the United Way.
It’s a cause she and her husband have supported the charity for nine years as leaders of the way.
Her support started at work and has grown over time.
“Knowing there is something for (my patients) after me, after emergency to help them when they’re in need, as far as domestic violence or Canadian mental health and that kind of thing. I also didn’t realize until after the fact there was stuff out there for myself and police, for people who deal with crisis at work,” she said.
She’s confident the campaign will ultimately hit its goal.
“I think they can do it,” Dawn Nitz said.
Michael Nitz said he’s encouraging those who have made their donation to take to social media and get a conversation started on why it’s important for others to give.
“For more information on ways to give and the impact your gift makes,” he said, “please got to uwaytbay.ca.”
