November 21, 2008, Ottawa – United Way Ottawa’s Leadership Donors (individuals who contribute one thousand dollars or more to the campaign) hit Scotiabank Place today for the invitation-only annual SENSational Friday event.
The event is a way to thank United Way/Centraide’s Leadership Donors for their tremendous support of the community campaign. Each year this event is a huge success with donors and their families, and this year was no exception as more than 4,000 participants attended SENSational Friday.
“This is a generous community, filled with people who come together time and again to help those who need it the most,” said Sal Iacono, 2008 campaign chair. “SENSational Friday is a way for us to express our appreciation to these people who, through their donations, are helping others in their community.”
Leadership Donors are an important segment in United Way/Centraide’s campaign. In 2007, United Way/Centraide had more than 6,700 Leadership Donors who contributed almost $11 million to the campaign.
Over the course of the afternoon thousands of people took part in off-ice activities including photo sessions with Ottawa Senators players, skill games from the Hockey Hall of Fame, and one of the highlights of the event, the appearance of a legend in Canadian hockey – Larry Robinson. Children from many agencies including Overbrook-Forbes Community Resource Centre, Patro d’Ottawa, and Somerset West Community Health Centre also took part in the evening’s festivities.
As a special surprise, United Way/Centraide presented a Community Builder Award to Spartacat. Beyond his well-known spirit at Ottawa Senators games, Spartacat is also committed to giving back through many appearances at community events and knows the value of generosity. The United Way/Centraide Community Builder Award recognizes how Spartacat has touched the lives of so many people.
This event was made possible thanks to the generous support of SENSational Friday’s presenting sponsors, The Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and Scotiabank Place; and the event sponsors, Scotiabank, The Ottawa Citizen, Mattamy Homes, Jubilee Fine Jewelers, Accenture, Canada Post, and CTV Ottawa.
About United Way Ottawa
United Way Ottawa’s mission is to bring people and resources together to build a strong, healthy, safe, community for all. By bringing people together from all parts of our community to identify, develop and provide solutions to community needs, we promise that the donations we receive go where they are needed most. In 2008, United Way Ottawa made a record community investment to support more than 200 projects, programs and partnerships, in more than 100 community organizations.
For further information on United Way/Centraide Ottawa, please contact:
Kate Headley, United Way Ottawa
Phone: (613) 683-3823, Cell: (613) 294-8128
E-mail: kheadley@unitedwayottawa.ca