On December 13, Niagara College staff and faculty donned their toques and mittens in the courtyard at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake for the NC Holiday Celebration.
The event was an opportunity for colleagues to ring in the holiday season together, while celebrating the close of another year filled with college milestones and accomplishments. Guests mingled under the festive lights, enjoyed winter comfort foods courtesy of NCSAC, and warmed up by fire pits with hot chocolate and apple cider in hand.
As is tradition, the celebration also marked the conclusion of the College’s annual NC Cares United Way workplace campaign.
“Giving back is part of what makes Niagara College so special,” said NC President Sean Kennedy, who is serving as the Chair of United Way Niagara’s regional campaign this year. “NC supports many initiatives that help those in need throughout the year and we are proud to continue to contribute to the United Way through our annual workplace campaign.”
At the event, President Kennedy and members of the NC Cares committee announced that the College raised $60,000 this year, greatly surpassing its $50,000 goal. This is the third year in a row that the campaign has achieved a new fundraising record thanks to the generosity of the NC community. To date, Niagara College employees have raised over $900,000 for the United Way since 1991.
United Way Niagara representatives, including Kevin Jong, Director, Development & Communications, joined the celebration to accept the donation.
Kevin Jong from United Way Niagara and President Sean Kennedy
Jong thanked everyone who contributed to the 2022 campaign and shared the total dollars raised by NC employees through United Way’s gift matching programs: $10,020 in new donor giving and $13,661 in new leadership gifts of $1,200 or more, with increases of 10% or more from renewing leadership donors. These matching dollars boost the United Way’s regional campaign total.
“We are incredibly grateful for our continued partnership with Niagara College,” he said. “The funds raised through the NC Cares United Way campaign are vital to ensuring support is available to vulnerable members of our community when and where they need it. Thank you to each and every donor who gave so generously to this campaign, your support will make a significant difference right here in Niagara.”
Visit United Way Niagara’s website to learn more about how the organization supports local agencies that provide essential, and often life-changing, programs to individuals, children and families in need.
A heartfelt thanks
Funds from Niagara College’s 2022 NC Cares workplace campaign were raised through staff and faculty pledges and revenue from a variety of fundraisers hosted by the Teaching Greenhouse (poinsettia sales), Research & Innovation (Local & Lucky raffle), School of Culinary Arts (culinary pop-up and final exam dinner), NCSAC (‘Coffee for a Cause’), NC International (Chili Cook-off), Community Employment Services and Athletics & Student Engagement.
The campaign was supported by a dedicated committee, led by Co-chairs Michele O’Keefe (Director, Athletics & Student Engagement) and Shelley Panetta (Director, Marketing), and NC Employee Campaign Coordinator Jennifer Murphy (Executive Assistant, Office of the Vice President, Research & External Relations).
NC looks forward to continuing its support of United Way Niagara in 2023 with Becky Sciliberto, Compliance & Reporting Project Manager, Global Campus Operations, and Ali Weir, Co-op Career Consultant, Career Services, co-chairing the campaign.
Stay tuned for details on the NC Cares website.
Thanks to the giving hearts of our NC community, the 2022 NC Cares Workplace Campaign was a great success in support of the United Way. Thank you to the NC community and everyone who contributed. This would not have been possible without you. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/J0QBvWH36d
— Niagara College (@niagaracollege) December 14, 2022
