Centraide at Concordia: 93% of the way to $190,000!

Is your generosity seeking an outlet? It’s not too late to give. The official closing date of Concordia's 42nd annual United Way/Centraide campaign is Friday, December 16.

So far, the university community has raised $175,000, or 93 per cent of its $190,000 fundraising goal. The money collected will be distributed by the umbrella charity to more than 350 local agencies that help people overcome poverty and exclusion.

“It’s thanks to the generosity of our students, staff and faculty that we’re able to donate a substantial sum every year to this island-wide effort,” says Bram Freedman, vice-president of Advancement and External Relations, whose office heads up the campus initiative.

“It’s incredibly heartening to see our community’s collective instinct to give.”

Still time to contribute

There are many ways to support Concordia’s campaign between now and December 16. For staff and faculty, the easiest way to give is by making a donation via payroll deduction. A contribution of $8 per biweekly pay period actually costs you only $5.35 and generates an annual donation of $208.

You can also make a secure donation here.

Concordia’s Got Talent!

They brought the audience to their feet.

Concordia’s Got Talent – Beatles Review, held on November 23 in the D.B. Clarke Theatre, pleased the crowd with retro tunes and sing-along lyrics. It also raised $2,200 for Centraide. All You Need is Love, indeed.

Highlights: pasta and more

Highlights of the 2016 campus-wide campaign also include two pasta lunches, which raised $2,480.

The annual raffle earned $1,745 for Centraide, and the 50/50 draw raised $1,240.

Many thanks

At a special thank-you reception on Monday, December 5 in the lobby of the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex (EV Building), Andrew Woodall, dean of students, thanked everyone who gave their support, solicited donations, sold raffle tickets and hosted Centraide events.

This includes the volunteers, the Concordia University Part-time Faculty Association, the Concordia University Faculty Association, the Association of Concordia University Management and Administrative Employees, Hospitality Concordia, Food Services, Aramark, Instructional and Information Technology Services, Facilities Management, Pekarna Bakery and others who donated prizes and/or their services to make the campaign successful.

Raffle and 50/50 prizes awarded at the reception included a Nespresso coffee machine and Best Buy gift cards worth up to $750.

“We’d also like to extend a special thank you to the university’s department directors and chairs for letting the Centraide team give a testimonial at staff and faculty meetings,” said Woodall after the closing event.

“This had a definite impact on fundraising.”

The big picture

Concordia’s effort is part of the larger Centraide of Greater Montreal campaign, which in 2015-16 invested $42 million in local projects and agencies that help support one resident in seven in the region.

“There’s a compelling and pressing need,” says Freedman.

“You can imagine it, at the personal level, and that’s why Concordia is so committed to supporting Centraide every year.”

Learn about the history of Centraide at Concordia and donate now.