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Much like everything else these days, the 2020 Fundraising Campaign for the United Way of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington is unlike any previous campaign.

To meet the new challenges created by COVID-19, this year’s campaign committee at Queen’s University is holding virtual meetings online to discuss and implement the best approaches.

Likewise, the campaign will also be conducted through alternative methods, primarily relying on online resources and support to get the message out and drive donations for those in need of help during these trying times.

With a much-reduced presence on campus, the 2020 campaign will rely on a team of ‘Department Champions’ across the university community to help promote the campaign’s initiatives and goals and share what it means to support the United Way.

“The committee and the Queen’s community is meeting the new challenges created by COVID-19 and with the help of Department Champions, we will be better prepared to move ahead together,” says James Ligthart, chair of the 2020 Queen’s United Way Fundraising Campaign Committee. “The United Way campaign is about more than donations – it is about lives impacted.”

While some champions are already in place, more are needed. Any faculty and/or staff member interested in make a difference in our community is welcome.

If you are interested in becoming a Department Champion in support of the United Way, please contact committee member Sarah Anderson. A training session will soon be made available.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic the United Way KFL&A has seen increased demand across the communities it serves, with many service providers facing new, greater challenges with people losing jobs and volunteers being unable to work in-person they have in the past.

In response, the United Way KFL&A invested $1.2 million in the community during the first three months of the pandemic, including more than $800,000 from the federally-funded Emergency Community Support Fund that was distributed to 42 community services and programs that support the vulnerable.

“United Way KFL&A is proud to facilitate this important investment into our local communities. Agencies in our community have risen to the challenge of adapting to COVID-19 in innovative, collaborative, and compassionate ways,” says Bhavana Varma, president and CEO of United Way KFL&A, in a release. “This fund will allow local organizations to continue their vital work and expand their programming where needed. United Way is grateful for this much-needed support through the federal government during this global crisis.”

Principal and Vice Chancellor Patrick Deane is also helping contribute as a member of the community campaign cabinet.

As the single largest workplace campaign between Toronto and Ottawa, the Queen’s community can make a significant difference and help meet and overcome many of these challenges.

Last year, the Queen’s community raised more than $370,000 for the United Way KFL&A. The launch date and fundraising goal for the 2020 campaign will be announced soon.

To help make a difference in our community, pledge your contribution for the 2020 Queen’s United Way Campaign today at .