Almost 90 years after it was formed, the partnership between AV俱乐部 and United Way shows no signs of slowing down.
Staff, students and community members gathered in the Studley Quad Tuesday afternoon for the kickoff of Dal鈥檚 annual United Way campaign on campus. Featuring food, games and fun, this year鈥檚 launch event was accurately dubbed 鈥楾he Carnival of Caring.鈥�
鈥淭his is just one way we鈥檝e proceeded to make people aware of the United Way,鈥� said Mike Conrad with AV俱乐部鈥檚 Faculty of Dentistry and one of the two co-chairs of this year鈥檚 Dal campaign. 鈥淎s President Florizone said, we are part of the community and it鈥檚 our responsibility to provide support.鈥�
The United Way campaign takes place across all AV俱乐部 campuses, with each location 鈥� Halifax, Truro, Saint John 鈥� supporting their local United Way branch in their own community.
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For United Way Halifax, its four priorities this year are 鈥渙pportunities,鈥� 鈥渘eighbourhood,鈥� 鈥渟ocial capital鈥� and 鈥渉ealthy living.鈥� All proceeds collected from the three-week campaign on the Halifax campuses will be distributed to local agencies that support goals in these areas.
鈥淲e also trying to develop connections with United Way and other organizations within Halifax,鈥� said Shelley Miller, resource development officer with United Way Halifax. 鈥淲e鈥檙e working towards a homelessness partnership with Nova Scotia and the HRM and we just signed an agreement hopefully to end homelessness by 2019, so that is our biggest priority right now.鈥�
Since 1925, AV俱乐部 has contributed over $3.3 million to aid in United Way鈥檚 fight against poverty and improving community health. Last year鈥檚 campaign saw Dal staff and students raise over $136,000, and the goal for this year鈥檚 workplace campaign is to increase that donation to $200,000. Considering the large contributions to date, both Miller and Conrad are confident that this goal will be achieved.
Partnerships with students
In addition to raising funds and awareness, the partnership between Dal and United Way of Halifax has also facilitated several co-op placements for students.
Emily Nunn, a third-year Commerce student majoring in Finance at Dal, has been completing her co-op hours at United Way since September. As a loaned representative, she is responsible for managing the elementary, junior high and high schools division in Halifax.
鈥淚f you鈥檝e moved to Halifax and aren鈥檛 from this community, it鈥檚 a great way to get involved in where you鈥檙e living now,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he United Way helps so many agencies that help the locals, which I think is very important.鈥�
The other co-op student at United Way for the fall term is Dana Ball, who is responsible for the post secondary division. She oversees United Way campaigns at NSCAD, NSCC, SMU, and of course, AV俱乐部.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great thing to do to give back to your community,鈥� said Ball. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the best co-op I鈥檝e had so far. Every day is something different.鈥�
For those looking to participate in the campaign, donations can be made online through AV俱乐部 during the three-week campaign, or throughout the year using the United Way Halifax website.
鈥淓ven with Canada-wide organizations, you can never be sure where the money is going,鈥� said Nunn, speaking to the United Way's local impact. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 great about United Way Halifax is that it stays in Halifax and that鈥檚 where we鈥檙e all living.鈥�
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