With the spirited support of two of Western’s indigenous drumming groups, Western campaign organizers announced the grand total of its 2015 campus-wide fundraising campaign benefiting the United Way of London & Middlesex. The campaign raised $717,858 this year, bringing Western’s total contribution since its first organized campaigns – dating back to the 1990s – to nearly $11 million.
This year’s campaign theme focused on Growing Stronger Together and aimed at helping Western staff, faculty, students and retirees understand how critical their United Way support is in helping to nurture a caring and supportive community. Campus members showed their support in any number of ways including volunteering to organize special events, climbing stairs or donating through payroll deduction.
“Western takes great pride in its role as one of the largest workplace contributors to the United Way of London and Middlesex,” said Western President Amit Chakma. “We are excited that this year’s campaign saw an increase in engagement with student groups on campus as well as the involvement of GenNext in a number of unique projects across the community.”
President Chakma, was joined by Andrew Lockie, Chief Executive Officer for United Way of London & Middlesex, at an announcement event Thursday where they expressed gratitude to campaign volunteers as well as the thousands of campus community members who all did their part – and more – to reach this outstanding result.
“Western University’s faculty, staff, retirees and students continue to demonstrate, year after year, what it means to be partners in creating lasting change in London and Middlesex County,” Lockie said. “Their generous contributions of time, money and expertise reflect their unwavering commitment to improving lives locally.”