Friday, November 20, 2009, Ottawa – United Way Ottawa’s Leadership Donors (individuals who contribute $1,000 or more to the campaign) hit Scotiabank Place today for the invitation-only annual SENSational Friday event. Leadership Donors are an important segment in United Way’s campaign. In 2008, 7,414 Leadership Donors contributed more than $12 million.

United Way hosts the event to thank its 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 2,500 participants attended SENSational Friday. Children from Christie Lake Kids, Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, Le Patro, and the Boys and Girls Club/Rochester Heights satellite program also took part in the festivities.

“SENSational Friday is a small way for us to show our great appreciation to the people whose leadership and generous contributions help United Way make a difference in the lives of so many,” said Jamie McCracken, 2009 campaign chair. “The campaign is tough this year with the struggling economy, so the leadership of these donors is invaluable. But United Way needs the support of every person in this community — every gift is another brick for building a better community.”

Over the course of the afternoon and evening, thousands of people skated the home ice of the Ottawa Senators, met Bobby and Dennis Hull during photo and autograph sessions, took part in off-ice concourse activities such as mini-stick and slapshot hockey games, conquered the Tippy Ladder and Sparty Slide, and lined up to have their faces painted or their likeness immortalized in caricature. Hockey Hall of Fame, Team Canada and 2010 Vancouver Olympic memorabilia – including a replica torch! – were on display.

As a special surprise, United Way presented a Community Builder Award to Aaron Robinson. As Director of Fan and Community Development for the Ottawa Senators and General Manager of the Bell Capital Cup, Aaron has dedicated countless hours to this community and local charities such as United Way, Roger’s House, Child and Youth Friendly Ottawa, the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation, and the Sens Foundation in support of project s.t.e.p. In fact, the Bell Capital Cup, which attracts more than 500 teams each year, contributes at least $200,000 every year to minor hockey and local charities. Only months ago, Aaron was recognized by the Ottawa Business Journal as a dynamic and community-minded business leader, putting him in the magazine’s annual forty under forty for 2009.

The evening was capped off by the United Way Ottawa All-Stars who went head-to-head on the ice with the Ottawa Senators Alumni. Even with heavy-hitters such as Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of Canada, Cyril Leeder, Chief Operating Officer of the Ottawa Senators and Scotiabank Place, Wayne Wouters, Clerk of the Privy Council for the Government of Canada, and other familiar faces like Stuntman Stu, Terry Marcotte and Dan Séguin, the team was no match for the alumni who won 11 to 5.

For further information on United Way Ottawa, please contact:
Kate Headley, United Way Ottawa
Phone: 613-683-3823, Cell: 613-294-8128
E-mail: kheadley@unitedwayottawa.ca
Website: www.unitedwayottawa.ca