Fort McMurray United Way – Ft McMurray's Homepage

The Fort McMurray United Way Announces They Have Reached Amost Half of Their Fundraising Goal

The Fort McMurray United Way recently announced that the organization has reached half of their fundraising goal of $8 million so far, but the agency still has a way to go in order to completely reach the ambitious goal that they have set. A press release sent out last Friday from United Way announced that they were slightly short of the 50% mark for the goal set this year, and there are still a few weeks left in the fundraising campaign. Campaign chairperson Marty Giles said “We are in good shape, but we have to keep the energy up until the last dollar comes in. The agencies are counting on us.”In the last week there have been a number of events held n Fort McMurray and the Wood Buffalo region to help with the fundraising goals set by the agency. There was an annual KD gala at the Centre of Hope, and the Suncor-Syncrude President’s Cup hockey game also help raise funds for the organization.

The Fort McMurray United Way press release about the fundraising campaign included a statement from the executive director of the United Way, Diane Shannon. The statement read “We are so grateful for the generosity we are witnessing, especially during these challenging times.” Just weeks ago the agency announced that they had received a much higher than expected number of funding requests from non profit organizations in the area. Approximately 32 different groups have requested funds, and the total amount of funding requested was around $7.5 million.

In spite of the tough economic situation for many in the area the Fort McMurray United Way has set a very ambitious fundraising goal for their efforts over the next few months, $8 million. According to the United Way region spokesperson Russell Thomas the goal may seem daunting but it is necessary. “(The board) really felt that, looking out over the next twelve months, there was no question that the demand on the agencies were going to go up,. They felt really strongly about the focus of this campaign being about meeting the needs that exist in the community. While it may seem daunting, in light of the economy, I think (the board is) really trusting the nature of people in Fort McMurray, which is to rise to a challenge and to look after each other. We are hoping that we are going to be able to reach more people with that story…there’s a high level of optimism, at the various teams that are out at site and in town here that they are going to be able to do that.”

When times get tough and the economic situation is bleak more people in the area turn to agencies like the Fort McMurray United Way for assistance that they need. The $8 million fundraising goal reflects an accurate prediction of the increase in assistance that local residents will need in the next year. Last year the group made more than $8 million so setting the goal at this level is not unreasonable.