Sheri Lowie and Datta Pillay flank Alison SamsonCampaign co-chairs Sheri Lowie and Datta Pillay flank donor Alison Samson, who won an extra day’s vacation at the wrap-up reception for the campus United Way fund-raising effort.

United Way campaign on track to top target

The campus campaign for United Way has reached about $95,000 in donations and pledges, just shy of its $100,000 goal, with several fund raisers still in the works, organizers reported at a celebratory reception Tuesday.

“We are expecting to bring in a further $15,000,” said co-chair Datta Pillay. “We owe a big thanks to all the donors and especially to our volunteers.”

He noted the committee revamped the campaign format, attracting contributions from 321 individuals—up 74 from 2014. That number will continue to rise as stragglers submit their pledge forms.

Still to come are “casual dress” passes for 2016, which permit employees to dress less formally each Thursday for an annual donation of $50, and February’s iClimb challenge, which will see participants take on flights of stairs at the WFCU Centre.

Lorraine Goddard, chief executive officer of United Way Windsor-Essex County, said the charity makes a big difference to the community.

“Last year, more than 55,000 people accessed our services,” she said.

Alison Samson, director of graduate academic services, won an extra vacation day in a draw for donors in attendance at Tuesday’s appreciation event. Other winners in the prize draw included:

  • Srabanti Chitte, a Garmin Vivofit fitness band
  • Susan McKee, a Keurig coffee brew system
  • Mary Kuznik-Matos, a portable Blue Tooth speaker
  • Brent Lee, an iPad Mini
  • Marian Doll, Apple TV
  • Charles MacDonald, a gift card for Mezzo Ristorante
  • James Higginson, a Blu-Ray disc player
  • Vincent Georgie, a one-terabyte portable hard drive
  • Theresa Whelan, a portable charger
  • Romina Oulevey, a Cuisinart toaster
  • Karen Pillon, a set of noise-cancelling headphones
  • Lorna Stolarchuk, a Cuisinart 5-in-1 griddle
  • Thomas Puskas, an extra day’s vacation;
  • Bala Kathiresan and Wren Montgomery, tickets to each of the University Players three productions in winter semester;
  • Jamie Crawley, Esaignani Selvarajah, Barry Adam and Jeffrey Quinlan, two-ticket passes each to the School of Creative Arts music concert of their choice;
  • Patricia McTaggart, one year’s membership in the Forge Fitness Centre.

President Alan Wildeman initially won a pass for six months’ free parking on campus, but returned it for a second draw, which awarded the prize to Rachelle Badour.