Campaign Kick Off Breakfast

On September 23rd at 7:00am the United Way Central & Northern Vancouver Island kicked off its 2011 fundraising campaign with a Kick Off Breakfast at the Vancouver Island Convention Centre.

Nearly 500 people attended the event MC'd by Hudson Mack of CTV News. Coast Capital sponsored the breakfast - which was a fabulous selection of baked goods, hot food and fresh fruit - and the Woodland's Jazz Band played for the crowd until the morning started with a blessing from Councillor Geraldine Manson, Cultural Advisor, Snuneymuxw First Nation. There were even two RCMP officers in attendance dressed in their reds!

We heard an amazing talk on the value of leadership from United Way past-president Marlene Toivonen. She spoke eloquently about how each of us can lead in both large and small ways. Giving our time, our money or setting a good example, are ways we can all be leaders.

A Loaned Representative from VIHA shared a powerful, personal story of how a United Way agency supported her return to life after experiencing a violent attack. Her words rang true to so many of us - you never know what's around the corner in life and any one of us at any time may need the services on an agency supported by the United Way.

Dr. Ralph Nilson invited nine others from the VIU community to attend the fundraising event, including Bernie Heise, 2010 VIU Loaned Representative and myself, Adrienne Wanhill, 2011 VIU Loaned Representative (pictured below). On a totally random note, I had no idea how tall Dr. Nilson is up close! He was very gracious and I was happy to have the chance to thank him personally for the Loaned Representative opportunity.

Dr. Nilson spoke passionately to the audience about VIU's connection to our community - the same community which benefits from the great work of the United Way and the Funded Community Partners - and VIU's involvement in the Loaned Representative program, which allows United Way to keep it's administration costs down, while still doing the valuable work of fundraising and relationship building during campaign time. I feel the benefit is truly mutual - the United Way receives an extra pair of hands at a very busy time, and when the campaign is over, VIU has an employee with a new set of skills and a real sense of involvment in the fabric of the community.

The United Way hosts Kick Off events up and down Vancouver Island to raise funds and to recognize the valuable contributions of corporate investors and community partners. The Central VI breakfast was an opportunity to enjoy a fabulous meal, network with collegues and collaborators, have some fun and raise some money, all in an hour and a half on a Friday morning!