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United Way kicks off annual campaign

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The United Way Perth-Huron made a stop in Mitchell last Wednesday, Sept. 24 to kick off their annual fall campaign.

“Last year when the campaign was finished and the investment was made in the various communities, West Perth was the beneficiary of nearly $700,000 of our campaign,” said Perth-Huron United Way executive director Ryan Erb.

“It means that we’re investing in services that are provided in West Perth – that total investment is a significant amount of the campaign.”

Joining them Wednesday on a bus tour throughout Perth and Huron counties, including stops in Stratford, St. Marys, Exeter, Goderich, Wingham and Listowel, were campaign co-chairs John Bates, of Perth; and Wayne Smith, of Huron.

Bates said the bus tour helps raise awareness about the United Way, its 2014 campaign goal of $1,170,000 and the United Way’s important role in the community.

“Whether it’s youth focused, family and literacy, poverty, hunger, all these things are real barometers of strong, healthy communities,” said Bates. “I look forward to working alongside the United Way to help build those strong communities, tackling those various issues.”

This year’s United Way campaign goal of $1,170,000 is about $19,000 more than what was raised last year, and $55,000 more than their campaign goal from 2013.

“The need always outweighs what we raise,” said Erb. “We have to be realistic so we put together a goal we think we can achieve but there’s always more requests, and typically it’s about $150,000 more than what we have to give in a given year.”

Bates said he is confident that the United Way can reach its fundraising goal this year.

“We think it’s an attainable goal,” said Bates. “We hope to be able to deliver the services across both counties and meet the demand.

“I believe from a policing perspective, that we help to build strong communities. The United Way is one of the leaders in building strong communities,” he added. “There are so many issues in each and every community across Perth and Huron counties that need to be tackled.”

Mimi Price, CEO of the Stratford-Perth YMCA, was also in attendance for the United Way campaign launch and bus tour.

“The United Way helps to level the playing field so that (in our case), all youth can become involved in something,” said Price, who’s organization operates the youth centre downtown. “Both the United Way and the YMCA look at building potential, building community and how we do that, is one person at a time.”

She pointed to a local example that the Stratford-Perth YMCA and several other organizations work together on and contribute to.

“By helping with our youth centre here in Mitchell, we can really help to build a better community for all of us.”

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