United Way Perth-Huron gathered with partners and supporters at the Best Western Plus, Arden Park Hotel to celebrate the spirit of the Perth-Huron community. After a record-setting campaign that raised $2,345,792, it was time to recognize the donors, volunteers and organizations who enable the organization’s work across the region.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of our community throughout the campaign,” said United Way Perth-Huron Executive Director, Ryan Erb. “This has been a challenging year for everyone, locally and beyond, with costs for individuals, families and organizations continuing to rise, but donors from across Perth-Huron really stepped up to help support our work. We appreciate the generosity and caring of the place we call home.
“I would also like to thank our outgoing Campaign Co-chairs, Rob and Leslie Edney. They held these roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we appreciate the energy and enthusiasm they invested in United Way and building our Perth-Huron communities through a very challenging time.”
“It has been a pleasure and an honor to be able to work with, and cheerlead for, the communities within Perth-Huron,” said Campaign Co-Chair, Rob Edney. “We have met incredible individuals looking to support and advocate for the vulnerable within their communities, as well as championing policies and projects to remove impediments to housing, dispelling stigmas around homelessness and creating a more equitable community in which all citizens have the opportunity to thrive.”
United Way also announced the new campaign co-chairs for the next two years, John Wolfe and Kristin Sainsbury.
Guests at the sold-out event enjoyed dinner generously provided by the Hayter family and heard about the positive impact their support has on local lives from speakers including Vicky Parent from Huron Safe Homes for Youth, Meagan Partridge from United Way, Kyle Betts from the Canadian Mental Health Association Huron Perth and Kathy Vassilakos from United Housing. Executive Director Ryan Erb spoke about building a better community, and performer Kelly Walker also sang.
United Way presented Volunteer Spirit awards to Lee Anne Andriessen, Andrea Bernard, Don Dingwall, Tabitha Fisher, Wendy Haggitt, Susan Moffat and Patricia Smith. Penny’s of Blyth, Festival Hydro and the Huron Perth Catholic District School Board received Community Spirit awards. FIO Automotive Canada topped the list of workplace fundraising campaigns by raising almost $96,000. FIO also provided a dollar-for-dollar corporate match.
United Way would like to thank our event sponsors; Gold: Best Western Plus, The Arden Park Hotel (the Hayter Family), Silver: Chartwell Anne Hathaway Retirement Residence, Famme & Co., Horizon Solutions, KDB Law, RE/MAX a-b Realty, Bronze: IATSE Local 357, investStratford, Samsonite, SBS Metals and the Stratford Festival.