Change starts here. That was the message coming from organizers, speakers and spokespeople at the kickoff for the United Way’s 2012 fall fundraising campaign at the Edmonton Expo Centre on Tuesday.
As far as campaign chair Dave Mowat is concerned, life is good in the capital region but there is still a long way to go for many people to get out of dire financial straits and get off the streets.
“Even though we live in one of the most prosperous regions in Canada, more than 123,000 people live in poverty, and 41,000 of these people are children,” he said during his address to the crowd.
“There are many social issues and factors that contribute to poverty – issues like lack of education, homelessness, mental illness, addictions, cultural barriers and domestic violence. But these are just some of the struggles we often see. What about the ones we don’t see so easily?”
He went on the say that focusing on education, income and wellness are the keys to creating positive and lasting change for so many.
Along with the change that the United Way hopes to create throughout the populace, there are some changes behind the scenes as well and those feature a wealth of St. Albert talent.
Going along with the popularity of its campaign promotional video Change Starts Here from 2011, the United Way lined up a few notable locals for this year’s musical centrepiece that features a mashup of three original songs.
The video entitled Just Believe stars Dan Davidson, lead vocalist of local rock sensation Tupelo Honey, as well as up-and-comer Yasmeen Najmeddine.
Najmeddine, a Grade 9 student at Lorne Akins Junior High, plays guitar and sings for the opening of the video.
She said that the experience was fun, not just in that it gave her a high profile chance to show her musical and other performing talents, but she was also pleased to help the cause.
“It was my very first music video where I got to sing and act a little bit. It was really, really cool. I really wanted to be a part of it because it had such a great message.”
The video is now available for viewing online at www.myunitedway.ca.
Funding will go to help support a few St. Albert charities and community organizations as well. Along with the approximately 70 agencies, partnerships and services that the United Way assists, the St. Albert Family Resource Centre, St. Albert Food Bank and Community Village, and the Community Information and Volunteer Centre all stand to benefit.
Those groups join the numerous others that provide a wide variety of programs of services to the entire metropolitan Edmonton region including the Boys and Girls Clubs/Big Brothers and Sisters of Edmonton and Area, the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation, and the Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton.
The goal for this year’s campaign is $23 million, approximately $900,000 more than what the organization achieved last year.
In conjunction with the campaign of starting change, the United Way is also asking the public for its advice and ideas. Starting Oct. 9, people can visit www.myunitedway.ca and participate in community conversations to help the organization shape how it works with its partners to address many social issues like helping people get out of poverty.
For more information or to make a donation, visit their website or call 780-990-1000.
