National Defence first to a million for charity

Published: November 14, 2008 5:34 a.m.

Last modified: November 13, 2008 11:36 p.m.

Be the first to comment

Print article

Text size

They’ve all been working towards the same goal, but the Department of National Defence did it first.

The department officially closed its Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign yesterday with a presentation of a cheque for $1.431 million and change to United Way/Centraide Ottawa.

As the first GCWCC team to reach $1 million, the staff at DND always “does a tremendous job,” said United Way campaign chairman Sal Iacono.

The campaign involved not only payroll deduction, but over 800 volunteers soliciting workmates and organizing fundraisers such as book sales, said Colonel Jocelyn Cousineau, the National Defence WCC leader.

“We live in this community too, and we’re healthy and have regular employment.

“This is a way to give back to everyone who’s not as fortunate as we are.”

This year, there were 1,800 workplace campaigns and about 110 government campaigns, said Iacono.

Although corporations make donations, most of the money comes from people in the workplace. People use the United Way campaign as a team-building tool, he added.

“It’s a way of having fun and to do something together that helps build the community.”
With three weeks remaining in the campaign, the drive is “coming along quite nicely,” Iacono said.

To date, the campaign has raised $21.452 million, or 69.2 per cent of the record $31 million goal. The campaign runs through December 2.