The community has done it once again!

Belleville, ON – United Way Hastings & Prince Edward announced $2,017,629 was raised in the 2021 fundraising campaign, surpassing the goal of $1,950,000.

The announcement was made this afternoon in a virtual presentation hosted by Kelly McKinney and Victor Cooper of EightyTwenty Studios and attended by 159 community members who logged on to share in the excitement.

“Our community has done it once again, not only was the goal of $1,950,000 reached,” reports Brandi Hodge, Executive Director, “it was well surpassed.  We are all so fortunate to call this  community home.”

The 2021 volunteer Campaign Chair, Inspector Sheri Meeks of Belleville Police Service expressed her thanks to the 2021 Campaign Cabinet members who share their time, knowledge and networks with United Way to help the organization  expand their reach in the community. “ It truly is a team effort,” says Meeks.  Meeks chaired both the 2020 and 2021 United Way campaigns cumulatively raising almost $4 million “every single dollar raised is counted in that total and almost 70% of it is raised through workplace giving.  Thank you to every person, corporation, foundation, and business that donated—our community is stronger because of you all.”

In celebration, United Way staff and volunteers were in every corner of Hastings & Prince Edward Counties handing out thousands of pieces of  chocolate – donated by Nestle – to say thank you to the whole region for their generous support. “it’s Valentine’s Day, United Way’s achievement celebration AND it’s the first day of the inaugural week of recognition for the Nonprofit sector in Ontario,” states Hodge, “it just felt like a great idea to be in the community spreading local love’.  Team members were in Belleville, Quinte West, Stirling, Madoc, Tweed, Bancroft, Picton and Deseronto.