Each year as autumn approaches we can count on leaves turning from green to red and yellow, the air turning a little cooler, and the generosity and good will of Yukoners making us all proud.
Every October, the United Way of Yukon unfurls its banners and looks to our close-knit community to come together to support very worthwhile projects and offer help to those less fortunate.
And each year, Yukoners come through with flying colours.
This includes folks who work for the Government of Yukon and donate generously through our Workplace Charitable Campaign.
In 2012, the Yukon government campaign raised a total of $70,217, an increase of $15,071 over the 2011 campaign. When these results were combined with the funds raised at the Annual Pancake Breakfast and Silent Auction for United Way of Yukon, a total of $86,906 was raised by government employees to support local charities.
I applaud the generous spirit of giving that exists within each and every department of government.
With these funds and the countless donations from so many generous Yukoners, in March 2013 the United Way of Yukon was able to distribute a total of $130,000 to organizations in the territory, including Challenge Disability Resource Group, Child Development Centre, Bringing Youth Toward Equality (B.Y.T.E.), Dawson Shelter Society, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society Yukon, Gentle Steps Equine Therapy, Learning Disabilities Association of Yukon, Skookum Jim Friendship Centre and Yukon Association for Community Living. All these organizations deliver services directly to children, youth, families and people with disabilities in Whitehorse, Dawson City, Watson Lake and other Yukon communities.
I am told this year’s breakfast and auction raised almost $22,000, which would certainly suggest that United Way of Yukon is in for a banner year of fundraising in 2013.
The United Way of Yukon was founded in 1994 with the first campaign taking place in 1995. This year marks the 19th annual Yukon United Way Workplace Campaign which has, thanks to the extreme generosity of Yukoners, raised more than $1.9 million for United Way of Yukon. One hundred per cent of workplace donations made during the October campaign go directly to local, Yukon-funded projects.
To those who have already participated in a United Way event, or given a donation of any size, I say thank you. For those of you who have yet to decide on a donation, I urge you to give whatever you can. Together, we really do make a difference.
Premier Darrell Pasloski
Whitehorse