Brock University Rallies Together to Combat Poverty in the Community

The Brock community is pulling together to help build a better future for everyone in Niagara through the University’s annual United Way Campaign.

Brock’s 2024 employee workplace fundraising campaign kicked off Sept. 10 with the goal of raising $162,000 to support more than 150 life-changing United Way Niagara funded programs and initiatives addressing issues such as poverty, food insecurity, homelessness, mental illness, addiction, gender-based violence and social isolation.

“Brock was built by Niagara, and the United Way Campaign is a chance to come together and give back to our community. It’s one more way for the campus community to help transform the lives of individuals and families across the region,” said Provost and Vice-President, Academic Arja Vainio-Mattila.

The Brock campaign has raised more than $2.7 million since 2003, helping to support one in four people who will access a United Way Niagara funded program during their lifetime.

Every donation makes a difference:

• Giving $5 per paycheque (or $130 per year) can fill the hunger gap for up to 300 children at school.
• Giving $10 per paycheque (or $260 per year) can provide urgent mental health support for eight people in crisis.
• Giving $15 per paycheque (or $390 per year) can provide two people with safe emergency shelter and support services.
• Giving $20 per paycheque (or $520 per year) can help 10 people secure and maintain a stable source of income.

Faculty and staff can support the campaign by giving a one-time donation or an ongoing payroll contribution through Workday. Contributions will impact the local community or can be designated to a United Way anywhere in Canada or to a registered charity of the donor’s choice.

“Every dollar we give is going to help make Niagara a place where everyone has what they need, a place in our community and opportunities to reach their full potential,” said Koreen McCullough, Communications, Popular Culture and Film Academic Administrator and Brock’s United Way Campaign Staff Co-Chair.

Employee contributions can also be amplified through two matching programs:

• First-time donations to United Way Niagara of any amount will be matched dollar for dollar up to an additional $25,000.
• Existing donors who increase their annual gift to United Way Niagara by 10 per cent or more will have the increased amount matched up to an additional $50,000.

Those who donate will have chances to win a variety of incentive prizes throughout the campaign, including gift packs, goods from local businesses, Brock Sports annual passes and more. Details on incentive prize draws will be shared on the United Way campaign SharePoint site.

Employees can also support the campaign through two much-loved fundraising events: Souper Star and Trivia Night.

Souper Star, which takes place in Market Hall from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, invites employees to sample and judge seven soups served by Faculty Deans before voting on the winner of the Souper Bowl trophy. Tickets for the fundraiser are $20 and are available at the door (cash only) on the day of the event. The event is sponsored by Aramark and all proceeds will go to United Way. Employees are asked to register to attend through ExperienceBU.

Trivia Night will return for 2024 and event details will be shared in the coming weeks.