By Jim Hynes
When the organizing committee launched the University’s 2010 Centraide campaign back on Sept. 28, it set two goals – to raise $325,000, and to increase the number of participating employee donors. The campaign was a success on both fronts.
The Centraide campaign officially came to a close on Dec. 22, having not only raised over $379,000, but with 893 employees participating, an increase of more than 250 over the 2009 campaign.
Centraide reaches out to thousands of Montrealers who need help in one way or another, funding a network of more than 350 organizations in the greater Montreal area every year. McGill’s 2010 Centraide campaign committee was co-chaired by Chandra Madramootoo, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and Vaughan Dowie, Executive Head of Public Affairs.
“We had targets we were able to meet and in fact exceed, and that’s gratifying,” Dowie said. “But it’s not us who deserves the credit, it’s the McGill community. We also had a really good committee from across the University on this, and we’re very appreciative of their work as well. I think we have a good basis for next year.”
Dean Madramootoo, for his part, said he was most impressed by the response he got when making the rounds during the campaign.
“When I phoned people up, just about everybody was very enthusiastic,” he said. “One thing that struck me was how much people at McGill care about the community. To see so many people come out and give, and the size of the gifts, was heartening. There’s a support out there for the community that I think is very real and tangible, and if you’re not in this kind of position (as co-chair) you don’t often get to see it or feel it. It was terrific experience.”
To learn more about McGill’s Centraide campaign, including how to become a contributor, please visit www.mcgill.ca/centraide.