SickKids raises fundraising awareness at Halloween event
SickKids workplace volunteers take part in the Halloween costume contest held on October 31, 2011. The event raised awareness about United Way Toronto. See pictures from the pumpkin-carving contest at the Flickr set.
The staff members at SickKids have started their efforts well before kicking off their official fundraising campaign for United Way Toronto by holding Halloween pumpkin-carving and costume competitions to raise awareness of the cause. By getting staff engaged early, the fundraising committee is hoping to see more people take part and give this year.
SickKids’ goal is an ambitious yet achievable one this year—11 for 11. This means an 11 percent increase in staff participation for 2011, over last year’s number. It’s a goal employees are on their way to achieving, having one of the highest participation rates among all hospitals in the city.
To get things started, for the pumpkin-carving contest, teams had the weekend to pick up the donated gourds from Whittamores Farm and carve them. On Halloween morning, they were displayed, voted on, and then auctioned off, with all proceeds going to United Way.
For the Halloween costume competition, staff participation reached the 11 percent goal, with employees and children dressing up in creative and even homemade costumes of characters from the Harry Potter series, Angry Birds, a group of Lego blocks, the Smurfs, and more. SickKids’ Vice-President, Strategy, Performance and Communications Jeff Mainland opened the competition with CTV News anchor Andria Case acting as the emcee.
Plus, with United Way Toronto’s goal of raising $116-million for our community this year, this increase in effort shows that SickKids employees are willing to come together in a common cause of caring for our community.
Campaign Co-Chairs Melody Hicks, Director, Ambulatory Programs, Child Health Services and Gary Nero, Director, Support & Network Services, plan to officially kick off their hospital’s fundraising week on November 21, which will involve lots of activities such as a 50/50 draw, art auction and daily prizes for pledges. A SickKids team of climbers also took on the Enbridge CN Tower Climb for United Way this year in October, raising $1,160 for the cause.
As Jeff Mainland, Vice President, Strategy, Performance & Communications, and SickKids United Way Campaign Executive Sponsor explains, “SickKids staff members are dedicated to improving the lives of the patients and families that come through our doors. By supporting the United Way, we extend this commitment beyond our doors. It is important for us to support our great community!”
Good luck with your fundraising campaign this year SickKids, and thank you for your support!
