While there was some concern during the campaign, there were nothing but smiles Thursday as United Way Hastings and Prince Edward announced a record-breaking total raised.
During the final reveal luncheon at Sans Souci in Belleville, United Way Executive Director Brandi Hodge and 2024 Campaign Chair Taylor Russett announced that $2 250 619 was raised, the highest total in the organization’s history.
Dubbed IMAGINE, the 2024 campaign faced some hurdles.
Hodge says as of mid-January, United Way HPE was facing a significant shortfall but a final push brought out more generosity from the community.
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“We did have a donor who wishes to remain anonymous take us over the finish line, literally on the final day of the campaign which was very exciting. And when we pair that contribution with all of the other contributions that came in over the course of the campaign it took us to the $2.25 million goal which is beyond exciting.”
Russett says they needed to get creative to meet the goal, including introducing the Final Countdown in mid-January.
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“We relied on our campaign cabinet and really brought in our networks and tried to accelerate the donations at the end of the campaign. And thankfully it worked. So, we’re very thankful for the staff at United Way, all of our our campaign cabinet and the amount of volunteer hours that get put into this campaign every year.”
Hodge says it’s not lost on them that as disposable income decreases due to rising costs, people have less to give, and in turn the need for the United Way increases.
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“Organizations and programs and services across the area are certainly experiencing an increase in demand for help and we need that charitable and donor dollar in order to be able to support that. So it was a tough campaign year for sure but we did it, we’re thrilled. And we’re really proud of this community for taking us over that finish line.”
Last year the campaign funded more than 40 local agencies and 50-plus programs across Hastings and Prince Edward Counties.
Hodge says the announcement revealing which organizations will benefit from the 2024 campaign will come soon.
2024 United Way HPE Campaign Chair Taylor Russett (l), United Way Chair Brandi Hodge (r) at the final campaign reveal at Sans Souci in Belleville, Feb 20, 2025. (Photo: Alana Cameron/Quinte News)
Russett, the youngest Volunteer Campaign Chair in the organization’s history, says he was honoured to follow in the footsteps of many well-known community members.
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“Being the chair of United Way’s campaign cabinet is big shoes to fill. The 2.25 million dollars is going to affect so much change in our community. I’m just honoured to be asked to be the chair this past year and see the change in the coming years in our funded organizations.”
About 100 community leaders, volunteers and donors attended Thursday’s reveal.
