To the editor:
Thank you to the Capital News for your Sound Off poll asking the question: “Will you be giving a donation to the United Way fundraising campaign this year?”
The results posted in the Wednesday, Oct. 2, edition might leave some to think we’d be disappointed with a “no” response of 89 per cent.
But we actually think that is fantastic. Looking over participation rates from campaigns over the previous five years, the percentage of Central Okanagan residents who have contributed to the United Way campaign has hovered around 1.5 to three per cent.
That’s why our goal this year is about increasing participation an extra one per cent, or 1,800 more people, and the immense ripple effects that would have on the health and stability of our community.
A participation rate of 11 per cent, as your poll indicates, would be an unprecedented show of generosity, allowing the United Way to invest three to five fold in an important network of local charities doing amazing work for children and families, and vulnerable adults and seniors.
CRA statistics indicate about 23 per cent of Canadians claim charitable tax credits on their income tax filings, while research conducted by Imagine Canada finds that 84 per cent of Canadians self-identify as donors.
Increasingly, private philanthropy is becoming the vehicle to create the programs and services we as citizens want to see in our communities.
One of the key roles of our United Way is to encourage and facilitate this investment.
Thank you to the 11 per cent who said “yes” to supporting this year’s campaign. We look forward to hearing from you.
Marla O’Brien
executive director,
United Way of the Central and South Okanagan Similkameen
