Wednesday, May 5, 2010, Ottawa – United Way Ottawa announced the final results of its 2009 fundraising campaign at its annual general meeting this afternoon. Surpassing the $31.7 million goal, a record-setting $32,581,690 was raised thanks to the dedication and generosity of supporters throughout the community. At the meeting, United Way also welcomed new members to its board of directors and thanked the outgoing members who have invested their time and expertise into this community.
“The success of United Way’s campaign is something to be celebrated by our whole community. It was the support of so many volunteers, donors and other champions that led to this remarkable final total,” said Michael Allen, President and CEO, United Way Ottawa. “This success represents an increased level of philanthropy in an already very caring community, during a time where the need is greater. It provides for a much-needed community investment that will address priority issues and needs. It was our community that raised this money and our entire community will be stronger because of this accomplishment.”
“This campaign serves as a reminder of all the good that is out there and the potential we can realize together as a community,” said Jamie McCracken, chair of United Way’s 2009 Community Campaign. “My time as chair is one I will not soon forget. It was an honour to lead and work with so many dedicated volunteers and staff, and it reaffirmed for me how fortunate we all are to live in an exceptionally caring community.”
Newly elected board members were also welcomed at the meeting. They include:
- Rick Gibbons, Publisher and CEO of Ottawa Sun since 2004, assumes the position of chair of United Way’s board of directors. His journalism career has spanned 30 years and included time in Europe, several years in Toronto and five years as a political journalist on Parliament Hill for Broadcast News, the radio arm of Canadian Press. Gibbons has served in a variety of capacities since joining United Way’s board in 2004, including roles on campaign cabinet, the New Canadians and Immigrants impact council, and the corporate services committee. His voluntary career includes many years as an advanced-level certified coach, manager and board member in minor hockey. He is currently a member of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors.
- Jamie McCracken has been with the Ottawa Catholic School Board for 20 years. He is set to retire this year as Director of Education and Secretary-Treasurer, a position he has held since 2003. McCracken is an active member in the Ottawa community and education sector through organizations such as the Shepherds of Good Hope, the Catholic Education Foundation of Ottawa and the Nectar Foundation. He is chair of Success By 6 Ottawa and chaired United Way’s 2009 community campaign.
- Dave Seibel is retired as Chairman and CEO of Accenture Canada. He has served on the board of Ubiquity Software, the advisory board for BMB Fuels and is also a partner in Calabogie Motorsports Park. He is actively involved in his son’s school, Ashbury College, where he sits on the Ashbury Foundation board, board of governors, and the human resources and advancement committees. He served on the United Way board in the capacity of chair of the resource development committee, co-chaired the major gifts committee and is now an elected board member.
- Tuan Nguyen immigrated to Canada from Saigon, Vietnam, grew up in Montreal and has called Ottawa home since 1994. As a partner at Healthgenie.ca and Ottawakiosk.com (part of Canadiankiosk.ca), Nguyen is responsible for strategic and business development at the national level. He founded the Commerce and Administration Student Charity Organization (CASCO), a student-run organization that unites students, businesses and the community to support local charities. With chapters at McGill and the University of Ottawa, CASCO has raised more than $750,000 for local charitable causes such as the CHEO Foundation, The Ottawa Citizen's Raise-A-Reader and the Max Keeping Bowl-a-thon. He has been named one of Ottawa’s Top Forty Under 40 by Ottawa Business Journal, received United Way’s Community Builder and Philanthropy Under 40 awards, the Dean's Philos Award from the Telfer School of Management, and has been inducted into CHEO Foundation’s Order of Good Bear. Nguyen sits on several boards including the Ottawa Telus Community Board.
- Rosemarie Leclair is President and Chief Executive Officer of Hydro Ottawa Group of Companies. A seasoned public policy and strategic management professional, Leclair spent more than 15 years as a senior manager with the City of Ottawa, including Deputy City Manager of Public Works and Services. She has also served as a special advisor to the Province of Ontario. Throughout her career, she has been involved in the community. She chaired the business division of United Way’s community campaign and co-chairs Hire Immigrants Ottawa’s Employers Council of Champions. She is a member of the President’s Circle at the University of Ottawa and a board member of the Canadian Electricity Association and the Regroupement des gens d’affaires de la Capitale Nationale. Leclair was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network in 2007.
- Patricia Baxter, a member of the Shegundiah First Nation, has specialized in human resource and community development, facilitation and training with aboriginal peoples across Canada. Efforts include working on aboriginal women's issues in the areas of economic, business and human resource development and managing the first national economic development institute for aboriginal women. She is the past co-president of the Canadian Women’s Foundation and chair of the Women’s Economic Development Consortium. She has worked on national facilitation events such as the Prime Minister’s Roundtable and facilitated the National Aboriginal Women’s Summit in 2007. For seven years, Baxter chaired the joint management committee of the aboriginal healing and wellness strategy in Ontario.
- William Baker was appointed Deputy Minister of Public Safety Canada on October 13, 2009. As Deputy Minister, Baker is responsible for coordinating and supporting the efforts of federal organizations ensuring national security and the safety of Canadians. His public service career has included work with the Government of Saskatchewan, the Canada Firearms Centre as Commissioner and the Canada Revenue Canada as Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer. Baker was awarded the 2008 Alumni Award for Distinctive Contribution to the Public Sector by Carleton University’s School of Public Policy and Administration and was national chair of the 2009 Government of Canada Charitable Workplace Campaign.
Farewells were said to outgoing board members: Janet Yale of Telus, who chaired the governance and nominating committees; Catherine Lane, chair of the Community Services Cabinet; Chantal Bernier, Assistant Privacy Commissioner, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada; Michel Bilodeau, President and CEO of CHEO; Mark Sutcliffe of The Ottawa Citizen, CFRA and CPAC; Mary Ann Turnbull, Director of the Turnbull School; Debbie Weinstein of LaBarge Weinstein law firm; and Meena Roberts, a management consultant specializing in strategic planning and policy analysis for government clients. Dennis Jackson of Scotiabank has completed his term as chair of the board of directors, but will remain on the board as past chair. Special presentations were made to the outgoing chairs of the 2009 fundraising campaigns — William Baker, national chair of the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) and Deputy Minister of Public Safety Canada, and Jamie McCracken, chair of the United Way Community Campaign and Director of Education and Secretary Treasurer at the Ottawa Catholic School Board.
The 2009 campaign raised almost $1.5 million more than the previous year’s $31.09 million. On Wednesday, June 2, United Way will announce how resources are being invested back into our community. The announcement is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. at the United Way offices, 363 Coventry Road.
For more information on United Way Ottawa, please contact:
Kate Headley, United Way Ottawa
Phone: 613-683-3823 or Cell: 613-294-8128
E-mail: kheadley@unitedwayottawa.ca
Website: www.unitedwayottawa.ca