“We feel it’s very achievable and we feel very confident in our ability to raise that,” United Way Hastings & Prince Edward’s Executive Director Brandi Hodge says.
The campaign was launched Thursday morning with a goal of $1,950,000. That’s a slight bump from the $1,882,708 that was raised during last year’s campaign. “Every year we have funding requests that we can’t meet,” Hodge explains, which is why they always aim high with their campaigns.
She adds that the team is proud of what was done last year since their 2018 goal of $2 million was considered a “stretch goal.” Hodge says they hope to continue that momentum this year.
“That event raised almost double of what we thought it would,” she says of the inaugural Cars for Community event, which will return this year. Hodge says she’s also excited about “Women United” which she explains is a program that identifies issues in the community that women and girls face and how they want to create a positive change.
United Way Hastings & Prince Edwards helps fund 35 agencies, including Bancroft Community Transit, Community Development Council of Quinte, North Hastings Children’s Services and North Hastings Community Cupboard.