By McGill Reporter Staff
Led by McGill Mascot Marty the Martlet, Vice-Principal (Administration and Finance) Michael Di Grappa and Dean Peter Todd of the Desautels Faculty of Management, the largest contingent of McGillians in recent memory joined the annual March of 1,000 Umbrellas to kick off the 2012 Greater Montreal Centraide campaign on Wednesday.
Di Grappa and Todd are this year’s McGill campaign co-chairs.
Gathering on McGill College Avenue and proceeding along Ste. Catherine St. through downtown, the march drew thousands of representatives from various organizations and companies that support Centraide. McGill’s gang included student athletes, staff from Athletics, students and staff from various offices in the James Administration Building and other parts of the University.
The over-all goal of this year’s Greater Montreal campaign is $60 million, $2 million more than last year. McGill’s target for its own campaign this year is $450,000.
Centraide supports some 370 agencies throughout Montreal, the South Shore and Laval and helps about half a million people who need help in a wide variety of ways, under such umbrella issues as poverty, living conditions, the family, academic success and food security.
“The goal of this campaign is ambitious,” acknowledged Lino Saputo, Jr., Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of Saputo, who is co-chairing the 2012 Centraide Campaign. “But it reflects the magnitude of social needs in Greater Montreal, where too many people are still excluded and living in poverty. We have to do everything possible to give them a chance to take charge of their lives.”
To learn more about the McGill Centraide Campaign, including how to make a donation, go here.