For Immediate Release:

 Wednesday, August 20, 2008

 RE:  United Way announces 2008 Campaign Goal.

 The United Way of Sarnia-Lambton today announced its 2008 campaign goal of $1,875,000.

 “We know this will be a challenging goal to reach given the economic conditions facing many of our industrial campaign contributors, but we feel confident that this goal can be reached,” said 2008 Campaign Chair Marten VandenBroek.

 VandenBroek said the campaign is already off to a good start, even though the official campaign kick-off will take place on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 with the traditional Day of Caring.  “Thanks to many early events this year, plus early campaign contributions from industry and retirees, we are setting at approximately 18% of the goal already.  We hope that this early momentum will continue into the fall,” he said.

 The 2008 goal represents a 0.3% increase over last year’s record amount raised.  “The slight increase really represents the increased costs many of our funded agencies are facing for transportation and the additional demand for many of their services, especially those services that support the elderly in Lambton County”.

 VandenBroek said there are a variety of new initiatives this year including the Upper Great Lakes Freighter Draw, now taking place, and the Locally Lambton Dinner sponsored by Sun Life Financial and agents in Sarnia.  “Our strategy this year is simple,” VandenBroek said, “If everybody who supported our campaign last year does so again this year, and we get the expected successes from the Freighter Draw and the Locally Lambton Dinner, we should be able to reach the goal before Christmas. Of course, we will also be striving to attract new donors.”

 According to VandenBroek, tickets for the Upper Great Lakes draw have been selling well.  The grand prize is a return trip for two aboard the Saginaw, a lake freighter owned by Lower Lakes Towing, from Sarnia to Thunder Bay.  Second prize is a helicopter tour of the Sarnia area on the Enbridge Pipelines Helicopter, and third place is a night’s stay at the Benmiller Inn and Spa.  VandenBroek said all the prizes have been donated for the draw so essentially all of the $10 from each ticket sold will go towards the 2008 campaign. 

 The Locally Lambton Dinner will be a buffet of a wide variety of foods produced in Lambton County and prepared by Norm Piquette Catering.  “All the meat, dairy, eggs, fruit and vegetables served will have been donated to the event, and Norm Piquette has volunteered to prepare the dinner at no cost.  Tickets will be available soon, and will be $40 per person, or $75 per couple.  Munro Honey and Twin Pines Orchards have also agreed to participate and will provide locally produced mead and apple ciders for the event as well.

 “The goal of the dinner is not only to raise money for the United Way, but to also educate the people of Sarnia that the world’s best food really is raised and grown here in Lambton County.  Each of the producers will have displays promoting their products and are hoping that our vital agricultural sector will be supported by local residents throughout the year,” VandenBroek said.

 “We are very grateful that Sun Life Financial of Canada and all the local Agents have agreed to sign on as a major sponsor of the event. In addition to contributing funding for the dinner, they will also provide volunteer assistance during the event.  The dinner will take place at Hiawatha Horse Park and Entertainment Centre on Wednesday, November 5, 2008, at 6:30pm.

 The United Way funds 27 agencies which in turn provide over 50 much needed programs and services to the Sarnia-Lambton community.

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 For more information, please contact:  Marten VandenBroek at 337-3722, or Dave Brown at 337-0862 or 384-9270 (cell)