UBC Reports | Vol. 49 | No. 2 | Feb.
6, 2003
UBC United Way Campaign surpasses goal; Slonecker honoured
for exceptional service
By Erica Smishek
2002 was a goal-smashing, record-breaking and award-winning
year for the UBC United Way Campaign.
With final numbers still to come, the campaign raised at least
$470,000 — well beyond the goal of $400,000 and more than
any previous campaign.
“Maybe our goal for next year will be to change that
four to a five,” Deborah Austin, the chair of the 2002
campaign, said with enthusiasm.
Austin was nominated for the 2002 Employee Campaign Co-ordinator
Award at the recent Scotiabank and United Way Community Spirit
Awards, which annually celebrate the work and dedication of
volunteers in the Lower Mainland. The UBC campaign was nominated
for the Leadership Giving Campaign Award.
In addition, University Relations Director Charles (Chuck)
Slonecker received the Individual Exceptional Service Award.
“Chuck has been a United Way champion at UBC for the
past decade,” said Natalie Meixner, vice-president of
the United Way in the Lower Mainland. “He has worked
closely with many exceptional Employee Campaign Chairs over
the years and he has personally delivered pledge cards to
each of the Leadership donors across the university campus.”
The campus had 137 leaders this year, who each gave $1,000
or more to the campaign.
“UBC has the largest number of Leadership donors of
any United Way campaign in the Lower Mainland — a legacy
created by Chuck,” said Meixner. “He is a past member
of our Campaign Cabinet and a true friend to United Way. Chuck
will be retiring from UBC this year, but what he has achieved
for our community will last a lifetime.”
Austin expressed gratitude to Slonecker and the other volunteers
who make such a vital difference to the campus campaign.
“We have 30-40 core planning members who come back
time and time again,” she said. “They know how to
organize, they know who to contact, they have exceptional
institutional knowledge, they are constantly knocking on doors
and visiting deans and getting the word out.”
Austin attributes the United Way’s appeal to the fact
that donations stay in the local community. The United Way
of the Lower Mainland provides funding to more than 100 local
agencies working to meet the health and social needs of a
significant number of people in diverse situations.
“When you get in and you dig deeper, you realize that
the United Way is truly a charity that looks at supporting
needs area by area in our community,” she said. “There
is also the fact that people can target their donations. People
just want to give and the United Way makes it very simple
for them to do so.”
