Staff sees value in United Way support

By Shelley Boettcher

Albi Sole, operations manager at the University of Calgary’s Outdoor Centre, doesn’t hesitate when it comes to describing why he donates his hard-earned cash to the United Way. He says he believes in the organization’s power to do good.

“ I don’t have the energy and the time to research all the various charities that are out there,” he says. “It’s great that somebody else is out there who can do that, and those charities that might otherwise be missed have an opportunity to be helped.

“ This is an efficient way of raising money.”

Sole made his first contribution, “a humble amount,” he says modestly, when he started working at the university in 1977.

Last year, however, he was a Leader of the Way, one of those who donate $1,000 or more in one year to the United Way. He has his donation deducted, bit by bit, from his paycheque every month.

“ It’s not painful at all, and it makes a big difference,” he says.

About 5,770 Calgarians were leadership-level givers in 2004. In total, they gave about 46 per cent ($17.4 million) of the $37.8 million raised for the United Way last year.

Harold Lemieux, volunteer co-chair of the United Way’s leadership committee, says leadership giving is essential to the success of the United Way’s annual campaign.

“ It not only raises more funds, but it shows leadership to the rest of the people who participate, and it goes toward making Calgary a better place to live for everyone,” says Lemieux, the former head of Shell Canada’s legal department.

“ The real value of the United Way is that it helps fund programs for agencies to help people get out of the problems they’re in and be successful in life.”

Why do leadership givers donate so much? Because they can, and for that, they’re grateful.

“ I’m fortunate to be in the position I’m in, and I feel that I want to pay back to the community,” says Midge King, associate to the President at U of C.

Dr. James McGhee, a professor in U of C’s department of biochemistry and molecular biology, says he gives because he’s “extremely fortunate, and it’s obvious that there are others out there who aren’t as lucky.”

He didn’t start off as a leadership giver, he says; rather, he slowly increased his donation each year since he started giving to the United Way about 10 years ago. Like many others, his contribution is deducted each month from his paycheque, and he says he appreciates how easy it is to give to the campaign.

Brenda Tweedie, U of C’s executive officer of the Senate, assistant to the chancellor and ceremonies officer, tries to increase the amount that she gives each year.

“ I’ve just always felt that I have to do my bit, and that it’s an important thing to do,” says Tweedie.
“ There are lots of people who need help. ”

The University of Calgary’s United Way campaign began Oct. 11 and runs until Oct. 31. Please visit www.ucalgary.ca/unitedway to find out how you can make a difference in people’s lives.

For more information about leadership giving, please contact Helen Kominek, U of C ’s United Way Leadership Co-ordinator at 220-2145 or kominek@ucalgary.ca