The United Way announced Wednesday it's 2014 campaign goal is to raise $6 million. This year's theme is Unite to Change.
“We can only do it with the help of our many partners,” said Patricia Jelinski, CEO of United Way of Greater Victoria.
The $6 million goal, the same as last year, is just above the $5.8 million that was raised in 2013.
The United Way of Greater Victoria supports around 60 agencies and over 100 programs in areas ssuch as kids, poverty and communities.
In 2013, the United Way invested over $1.1 million to support children and youth; almost $750,000 to provide employment and financial security, housing stability and food security; over $2.2 million to support people facing challenges of isolation and personal crisis.
“We are bringing the community together to support a network of services and programs that provide for those vulnerable people in our community,”s aid Heather Skydt, director of communications and marketing at United Way of Greater Victoria. “What sets us apart in the region is that we're really collaborative in the work that we do.”
Skydt said the United Way is creating new strategies for reaching their goal this year, including an e-pledge pilot, in which four companies currently have the opportunity to submit their pledges to an online database, and more competitions between workplaces and post-secondary institutions in the area.
“We're really striving to engage with the new millenial generation,” said Skydt.