United Way fires up jets to reach campaign goal

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Winnipeg Free Press, Saturday September 20, 2008
Reproduced with permission.
Photo: Wayne Glowacki/Winnipeg Free Press

'Ambitious' $17.8-M target is charity's largest ever

Hundreds of Winnipeggers came out Friday to pull a jet and to pull for the United Way of Winnipeg, as it aims to fly to its highest monetary campaign goal ever.

This year's campaign chairman, Bob Silver, the co-owner of the Winnipeg Free Press and president of Western Glove, energized a crowd of more than 1,300 at Red River College's Stevenson Aviation Training Centre when he and his board unveiled a goal of more than $17.8 million.

"We've set another ambitious goal this year, but I have no doubt we can do it," Silver said.

"With the support of the province, every single dollar goes to the agencies who really need it. United Way is about bringing this community together to make sure nobody falls through the holes and the gaps in our community."

This year's campaign is already 36 per cent of the way to its goal, thanks to various workplaces that have already started their campaigns.

Last year's campaign target was $16.5 million, but reached $17 million by its conclusion. The provincial government pays an annual grant to cover the administration costs of the organization and ensure all money raised goes to local groups.

"Whether you give a dollar or a million dollars you are helping shape a future for Winnipeg," Silver said.

Premier Gary Doer said he discovered first-hand years ago how United Way helps the community when he volunteered for the Boys and Girls Club.

"It was the United Way which came in to bring recreation to the inner city," Doer said.

"I'd rather have a kid steal second base than steal a car anytime."

It was the fifth annual Plane Pull for the United Way, and teams of corporations and other groups came together in bands of 20 to pull a Boeing 727 -- if they were in the competitive pull. Those in it just for fun pulled an airport runway snowplow. Corporate teams included Manitoba Hydro, Scotiabank, Canada Post, Canadian Wheat Board, Boeing, and MTS Allstream.

Jim Rondeau, minister of science, technology, energy and mines, was a member of an NDP caucus team pulling the snowplow. He joked that as mines minister, his "team will rock."

"We will have lots of energy. And we'll be using science and technology."

Rondeau was wrong. His team finished last, in 21st place.

The victor in pulling the plane was a team from NAV Canada, narrowly edging out a Free Press team.

In total, 21 teams competed in that competition.

Silver said he and everybody involved with the United Way wants to see this year's target met or surpassed, but there is another number that they'd like to see as well, someday.

"When we put up a number that says zero, that's when we succeed," adding that would be when issues like poverty are solved in Winnipeg.