INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / OCTOBER 2, 1990

Bavarian fundraiser to raise spirits and dollars

yA Oktoberfest celebration for
staff, faculty and students
will be the highlight of a campus-
wide campaign to raise money for
the United Way.

“We want everyone to come to
Oktoberfest and have a lot of fun,”

Committee. “Participation is our
primary goal. We're trying to cre-
ate an awareness about United
Way activities at the College.”
The Oktoberfest party, tenta-
tively set for Thursday, Nov. 1st
from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Douglas

says John McKendry, co-chair of
the Douglas College United Way

Room, is still in the planning
stages, but McKendry says it

Questions most frequently asked about |
the United Way

Q. Thear your expenses are pretty high — what about your costs?

The costs of running our campaign is just under 10 per cent, which is one of
the lowest expenses for any charity in North America. Because we have our
United Way Endowment Fund, administered by the Vancouver Foundation,
most of that cost is covered, so that 98 per cent of your donation goes directly
into services to help people. We're working very hard to increase the Fund so
that it will generate enough interest to pay all campaign expenses.

Q. Ithink government should do more... that’s what I pay taxes for.

Taxes can’t possibly pay for all the services people need. Government does
support the budgets of many of our agencies, but they count on United Way’s
annual sustaining grant to provide their guaranteed vital core funding. The
voluntary dollar also ensures volunteer control of an agency.

Q. I don’t like (specific agencies).

We understand and respect people’s wishes not to support specific
organizations, and your donor choice program can be a real help to you. You
can specify which agencies you would prefer to support and we will honour
your wishes.

Q. Are all these services free for anyone? Why should I pay for someone to
lose weight at the YMCA Health Club?

Some agencies have a sliding fee scale for people who can’t afford to pay.
However, no-one who needs a service and cannot pay is refused help. That's
the whole concept of a United Way.

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And the YMCA’s Health Club is self-supporting and uses no United Way

 

 

funding whatsoever. The annual sustaining grant made to the YMCA is used
to fund social services.

Q. Isupport my own favorite charities. Why should I give to the United Way
as well?

 

I’m sure the charities you support appreciate and count on your help. One of
the most important things to consider about United Way is that, with one
donation, you will be helping 89 agencies and services in the Lower
Mainland, which every year provide services to 500,000 local people. That’s
tremendous value for your donation, and only 2% goes into costs. And if you
wish, you can still donate to your favorite charity through our donor choice
program.

Q. My (husband/wife) already gives at work. Why should I give too?

United Way of the Lower Mainland is a total community effort, the results of
which benefit everyone who lives here, whether they realize it or not. If both
husband and wife work, each is asked to give a thoughtful share of what they
earn. The success of each workplace campaign depends upon individual
donations.

continued on page 5

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promises to be great. “We'll have
German music as well as Bavarian
food to give us the Octoberfest at-
mosphere,” he says.

Mark Crozet, co-chair of the
College’s United Way Committee,
says the committee will host other
special events to promote aware-
ness and raise money.

“We're planning to auction off
College Board members to depart-
ments throughout the College,
who can use them at their leisure
for either the morning or the after-
noon,” says Crozet.

“We will hold a turnaround
raffle involving Deans and staff,
which gives the winner the chance
to experience what it is like to bea
Dean. We will also 50/50 tickets
at the Oktoberfest: half of the
proceeds will go towards the
United Way, the other half will go
to the winner, chosen in a random
draw.

“We're also planning to attach
an employee pledge card to all
pay cheques, including a coupon
for Oktoberfest refreshments.
Anyone who returns the pledge
card with a donation, will be
entered in a draw to wina prize.”

A firm date for the Oktober-
fest celebrations, as well as more
details concerning other special
events planned by the College’s
United Way Committee, will be
published in the next edition
of the Inside newsletter on
October 16.

 

 

Resirccennniemanmnenee