Concordia wraps gift to Centraide
The final numbers are in. This year’s Centraide campaign at Concordia managed to raise close to $190,000 — 95 per cent of its stated goal.
The Vice-President, Institutional Relations and Secretary-General, Bram Freedman, took over the campaign from the President’s Office two years ago. Freedman says that in spite of the fact the university’s fundraising effort fell just shy of reaching the $200,000 mark, the campaign was a great success.
“Obviously we set the bar high for ourselves by putting $200,000 as our goal, and the fact that we got so close is a testament to the generosity of the Concordia community and the hard work of the volunteers on the campaign team,” he said, before vowing to return to lead the campaign again next year.
The first annual Community Celebration Meal was the final fundraising event held on campus. Property Manager Pat Pietromonaco from Facilities Management hosted the lunch, which raised over $1,000 for the campaign.
A group of musicians from Concordia’s Department of Music, including professor Dave Turner (sax), students Julien Sandiford (guitar), Philippe Caron-Turbide (bass), Mathew Higden (drums) and special guest vocalist Fabiola Cacciatore from Concordia’s Financial Services Department entertained the crowd of diners, and received enthusiastic applause for their efforts.
Members of this year’s Concordia Centraide Campaign steering committee included Nancy Curran, Gerry Jones, Jay Mazzamauro, Elena Raznovan, Miriam Posner, Enza DeCubellis, and Linda Hubert.
A team of 25 Centraide ambassadors from the various departments on campus also helped out by announcing events, selling raffle tickets and raising awareness.
Anyone who wishes to learn more about Concordia’s Centraide campaign, or who would like to help out next year as an ambassador is encouraged to contact the steering committee by emailing: centraide@concordia.ca.
Concordia’s campaign is one of the top 50 work-based campaigns included in the larger Centraide of Greater Montreal Campaign, which aims to raise $59 million this year. So far it has raised just over $50 million. The money raised is distributed among 360 community agencies that help support over half a million people.
Related links:
• Centraide of Greater Montreal
• Concordia Centraide campaign
• “Celebrating Centraide” — NOW, November 22, 2011
• “Final Stretch for Centraide” — NOW, November 16, 2011
• “Helping Those in Need” — NOW, November 1, 2011