[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/UnitedWay_logo.jpg” caption=”The McMaster community raised more than $200,000 for the United Way, exceeding the goal by $20,000.”]Increasing educational awareness and reaching the financial target. Those were the two goals identified in August by McMaster's 2007/08 United Way committee. From there, a detailed strategic plan was developed to achieve these goals. Six months later, all of the hard work paid off with the achievement of the financial target, and an enormous boost in United Way awareness throughout the McMaster community. With the original target set at $180,000, the campaign exceeded this with a grand total of $200,256.

The United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton hosted its annual gala at Carmen's Banquet Centre on Feb. 7, and the campaign total was announced at $6,703,280, just $3,200 beyond the $6.7 million target. Even closer to home, the Hamilton Agency raised $4,702,021, which was $2,000 above target.

The funds that McMaster raised beyond its target have played an integral part in helping the Hamilton Agency exceed its goal, and thus helped to carry the United Way of Burlington & Greater Hamilton through the critical point of their target.

“On behalf of the McMaster United Way committee and the recipients of services provided through United Way funding, please accept our thanks for making this the most successful campaign to date,” said Lisa Boniface, 2007/08 committee co-chair.

It all started on Sept. 22 with the pre-launch to the campaign at the McMaster Employee Spirit Society Marauder football game. With Boniface, campaign co-chair, performing the opening kick and a 50/50 draw raising the campaign's first donations, the campaign was well on its way to achieving both goals.

From there, many individual projects and events led the way to success. Events that McMaster hosts every year, such as the annual mitten campaign, the DeGroote School of Business bake sale and the IRC stair walk were well sponsored and supported by both employees and students. New events like the silent auction and the parking space lottery also raised the profile of the campaign, while contributing to the financial target.

The committee soon realized that hosting events and contests were not the only ways to raise the profile of this campaign. For the technologically adept, methods of communication have morphed into viewing information online instead of physically attending presentations.

This year, the McMaster United Way campaign posted several YouTube videos, and also created its first weblog. Through e-mail and the use of McMaster's website communication tools, these online sources were available at the press of a button and constantly refreshed with new information.

Throughout the campaign, the progress could be tracked from the thermometer located near the Sterling Street entrance of campus and on McMaster's United Way website. Week by week, the mercury rose as the campaign became closer to reaching its target. The mercury is still rising, in fact, as the final figures are being officially added to the campaign's tally.

The campaign would not have been a success if not for the support of our donors. Regardless of the events and activities run by countless volunteers, individual donations are the mainstay of the campaign.

Whether you have made a one-time donation, or have chosen to have a monthly payroll deduction, these funds make up the majority of the revenue that goes toward reaching (or exceeding) the financial target.

Thank you for your generosity, support and willingness to participate. As they say at the United Way, “Without you, there would be no way.”