Archives for Marlo MacKay

Congratulations to Greg McNutt in Facilities Management for winning the fourth early bird prize of this year’s United Way campaign, dinner for two at the University Club, donated by the University Club.

Thanks to Greg for getting his United Way donation in early, and to the University Club for donating an awesome prize.

Stay tuned for more prizewinners, announced daily on work days (with permission from the winner) between now and Nov. 8. Full list of early bird prizes and draw dates are here: https://blogs.dal.ca/unitedway/2017/10/17/early-bird-prizes-for-this-years-united-way-campaign/

by Nicole Maunsell, Communications Manager, Faculty of Management

Every June, Dalhousie’s Faculty of Management holds a Day of Caring, where staff, faculty, students and alumni leave their desks and classrooms in the Rowe building and help out in the community. It started with the Management Career Services office in 2010, and every year since then it’s been a Faculty-wide event.

Marianne Hagen, the alumni and student engagement officer, works with the United Way to find organizations in the HRM area who can use the help of 20–40 enthusiastic volunteers for the day. Participants have painted rooms, sorted cutlery, cleaned pantries, shoveled dirt, installed flower beds and pulled weeds for organizations such as Adsum House, the YWCA, St. Paul’s Family Resource Centre, Spencer House Seniors Centre and Saint Stephen’s School.

For participants, it’s not just a chance to get out of their usual routine and meet people in the building that they don’t regularly get a chance to interact with; it also lets them learn more about the organizations in their community and the clients they serve.

“It’s really about nurturing a sense of community for the Faculty,” says Hagen, noting that collaboration is one of Management’s values under the new strategic plan. “We support our students year-round in raising money for the community with events such as Movember, Light the Night and 5 Days for the Homeless.” The Day of Caring gives everyone a chance to get involved and contribute.

Congratulations to Deborah Matthews in Dental Clinical Sciences in Faculty of Dentistry for winning the third early bird prize of this year’s United Way campaign, $1,000 tuition credit toward any of the College of Continuing Education programs, donated by the College of Continuing Education.

Thanks to Deborah for getting her United Way donation in early, and to the College of Continuing Education for donating an awesome prize.

Stay tuned for more prizewinners, announced daily on work days (with permission from the winner) between now and Nov. 8. Full list of early bird prizes and draw dates are here: https://blogs.dal.ca/unitedway/2017/10/17/early-bird-prizes-for-this-years-united-way-campaign/

Congratulations to Jeffrey Roy in the School of Public Administration in the Faculty of Management for winning the first early bird prize of this year’s United Way campaign, an iPad donated by ITS.

Thanks to Jeffrey for getting his United Way donation in early, and to ITS for donating an awesome prize.

Stay tuned for more prizewinners, announced daily on work days between now and Nov. 8. Full list of early bird prizes and draw dates are here: https://blogs.dal.ca/unitedway/2017/10/17/early-bird-prizes-for-this-years-united-way-campaign/

This year’s United Way campaign launches on October 23. If you’re quick enough with your donation (that is, donating by midnight on October 30) you are automatically entered in the draw to win one of these amazing early bird prizes. For the seven work days following, we will announce a new winner.

Here are this year’s prizes:

With thanks to ITS, Ancillary Services, College of Continuing Education, University Club, Dalplex, and Security for these amazing prize donations.

Marlo MacKay
Communications Coordinator, Dalhousie Libraries

How long have you been involved in Dalhousie’s United Way campaign and in what capacity?
I joined the campaign this year as the communications coordinator. I work with the steering committee and with the co-chairs Erin and Peter to develop the communications strategy and plan events for this year’s campaign.

Why is supporting the United Way important to you? 
The United Way helps people in our community. When you help people in your community, you make where you live a better place for everyone.

Why is it important for Dalhousie to support the United Way? 
Dalhousie is a large institution; we can reach a lot of people through this campaign. As a well-respected institution, we are leading by example by giving to the United Way.

What are you most looking forward to during this year’s campaign? 
I really hope we reach our fundraising goal of $160,000, or exceed it.

What’s the one thing you wished everyone knew about the United Way?
I would like people to have a better understanding of what the United Way does for the community. They do so many things that it’s not as simple as saying, “they support children” or “they provide housing.” They do all of that, and so much more.

Nancy Zhang
Accounting Clerk, Financial Services, Accounts Payable

How long have you been involved in Dalhousie’s United Way campaign and in what capacity?
It’s my first time.

Why is supporting the United Way important to you?
I have worked for a charity for at least 10 years and I am still volunteering to do some work for other charities.  I hope I can help others who need help.

Why is it important for Dalhousie to support the United Way?
Not sure. I also need to know.

What are you most looking forward to during this year’s campaign?
Knowing more people and letting them help others in need.

What’s the one thing you wished everyone knew about the United Way?
Not sure. I also need to know.

by Christina MacNeil,
Member of the #DalUnited Way Steering Committee
Director of Finance, Dean’s Office, Faculty of Medicine

On Thursday, October 20, I participated in the Living on the Edge program with the United Way.

Christina MacNeil

Upon entering the Maritime Hall in the Halifax Forum, we were instructed to select a name badge from the array of badges turned faced-down, ensuring a completely random assigning of identities. We were told that this was not a game but a simulation in which we were asked to “lean into the role.” The simulation is structured such that 15 minutes represents one week; of that weekends are three of those minutes. Families were given envelopes that contained a few bus passes, some cash, a SIN card and a list of specific tasks: pay utilities bill, buy groceries and other essential needs, go to work or school, and find daycare. Real-life challenges.

My new self could not be more diverse from me: male (I’m female), 25 years old (let’s just say I’m closer to retirement age than age of majority), two children (I don’t have any), living in a shelter (I live in a two-storey, three-bedroom house), probationary minimum wage job (I have a permanent, well-paying job with benefits).

It took no more than 3 minutes into the simulation before the stress levels rose.

Hannah, my nineteen-year-old girlfriend and I were to find secure housing within two weeks; it took four weeks. I received a warning card for poor nutrition when I didn’t buy food for two weeks. And luckily my boss didn’t fire me when I was late for work by two days because the line-up at the Quick Pay Office was too long. Hannah couldn’t attend school because she had no daycare for her infant child. And there were many other stressors before the month was over.

Christina with the badge revealing the identity of the role she played for the United Way’s Living on the Edge exercise.

This is what Living on the Edge looks like. In Halifax. In Truro. In Saint John. Food insecurity, lack of affordable housing, and increasing health issues—all relating to poverty. United Way is working to change 50,000 lives in 5 years. Your donation through the Dalhousie United Way campaign will help the organization reach that goal. Together we can do this!

Jessica Corrigan
Financial Analyst, Financial Services

How long have you been involved in Dalhousie’s United Way campaign and in what capacity?
This will be my second campaign as the Finance Chair, and I assist the United Way with our online donations. I also help determine the winners of the annual Workplace Challenge.

Why is supporting the United Way important to you?  
Eighty-three per cent of the donations that the United Way of Halifax receives are invested in back into the community where I live. I feel a lot of pride when I support the United Way as a member of both the Dalhousie and the greater HRM community.

Why is it important for Dalhousie to support the United Way? 
The Dalhousie community is generous and our donations go a long way. Last year we raised over $157,000!

What are you most looking forward to during this year’s campaign?
This year we are focusing more on reaching out through social media and I am excited at the opportunity to be able to create more awareness about the campaign.

What’s the one thing you wished everyone knew about the United Way?
The Housing First initiative here in Halifax is a pretty amazing program. It provides housing to Halifax’s homeless, without the requirement that they first become “housing ready.” This program is a huge step forward as United Way works towards ending homelessness here in Halifax.