By Adam Donnelly

United Way kicks off 2016 fundraising campaign in Kamloops

Sep 27, 2016 | 11:54 AM

KAMLOOPS — The United Way touches thousands of lives. From children’s programs, helping the homeless, to assisting seniors, the money raised each year by the United Way says within the community. Last year, the United Way Thompson Nicola Cariboo raised over $2 million in the first year of their current three year campaign. This morning, the second year of that campaign kicked off, with the 55th Annual Kickoff Breakfast.

With the sun just peeking over the horizon, hundreds of people crowded into the Coast Conference Centre, for the United Way 2016 Campaign Kickoff Breakfast.

“It’s our 55th year, and we had 55 tables full of folks, rarin’ and ready to go, for our campaign and our community,” observed Danalee Baker, Executive Director of the Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way.

It might have taken some people a little while to wake up, but once people took that first sip of coffee, and got some breakfast in them, they took a moment to recognize the important work the United Way does in the community

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“The United Way raises funds, and then distributes those funds to their various partner organizations,” explained 2016 Campaign Cabinet Chair, Joshua Knaak. “Funded partners is actually what they call them, [and they] actually deliver the services in the communities.”

Along with recognizing the work that went into the 2015 Campaign, which raised over 2 million dollars, the United Way  acknowledged two new partnerships – one with TRU, and the other with the RIH foundation – which will give allow the United Way to spread their influence across a wider section in the region.

“A relationship, and new partnership with TRU, for a Knowledge Mobilization shared position, and the other one is a joint campaign with the RIH Foundation, at the hospital, called ‘Royally United,” Baker told CFJC Today. “We can leverage each others resources, and contacts and our reach, as well.”

The theme of this years campaign in “Game Changers,” with the game as poverty, addiction, or other challenges the United Way tries to take on.

“It’s recognizing that each one of us is part of a team, and each one of us has a part to play to change the course of the game,” Knack said.

When you’re squaring off against opponents like poverty and addiction, it’s nice to know you’ve got someone on your side.