United Way of Halifax Region

(Halifax, NS) United Way of Halifax Region kicked off today with Campaign Co-Chairs announcing a goal of $6 million for the community. Jamie Baillie, President and CEO of Credit Union Atlantic and Steve Murphy, Senior News Editor and Anchor, CTV Maritimes were on stage at the launch before an enthusiastic audience of United Way volunteers, donors, funded agencies and supporters. 

Baillie and Murphy are repeating their 2008 roles as Co-Chairs in 2008 when they exceeded the community goal of $5.8 million raising a total of $5.84 at a time when the economy was a challenge for everyone. The two men decided to return to lead the 2009 Campaign because they believe the impact United Way has on thousands of people participating in programs is vital to our community success.

The campaign will be conducted across the community with the help of 5000 volunteers actively organizing and canvassing in their workplaces. United Way raises money through payroll deduction with 70% of t he funds raised coming from workplace employees while the remaining 30% is made up of corporate donations, special events and individual community donors not affiliated with a workplace. The final achievement will be announced in February, 2010.

East Coast Music Award nominee Aaron MacDonald and his band performed at the kick-off and launched a song that he wrote for United Way. Titled United (We Can Carry On), the singer/songwriter from Mabou is donating the rights to United Way. United Way is featuring the song as the track on a video to be shown in 1000 workplaces across the community to inspire giving. It will be posted on United Way’s website at www.unitedwayhalifax.ca and on YouTube following the launch.

United Way was founded in the Halifax /Dartmouth community in 1925 to support individuals, families and organizations so we can all reach our potential.  The vision is to support residents in neighbourhoods so they are thriving, supportive and safe places, to share knowledge, resources, skills and services with community partners and to work to ensure everyone can have a healthy life and participate in the community. Currently 100 programs are funded as a result of the money raised in the 2008 campaign.

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For more information, contact:
Carole McDougall
Director of Communications
United Way of Halifax Region
902.461.3082 (office)
902.499.3054 (cell)