St. Clair community taking part in United Way Giving Campaign

It's the season of giving, and St. Clair College is once again asking the College community to help make a difference by contributing to this year's United Way Giving Campaign.

The campaign launched Dec. 2, 2024, at the Student Life Centre, alongside leaders from United Way, staff, students, and faculty from St. Clair College.

This year's campaign will run for two weeks, wrapping up on Dec. 13, offering numerous ways to donate, including one-time donations, bi-weekly donations with an end-date, and an open-ended bi-weekly donation, which can be drawn directly from a paycheck.

One of the key reasons for supporting the campaign is the United Way's mission to end childhood poverty.

"Five years ago, our local United Way went all in on ending childhood poverty and supporting the most vulnerable in our community," said Leslie Frattaroli, the Vice-President of Development at United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent. Frattaroli points out childhood poverty rates are as high as one in three in some neighbourhoods like Downtown Windsor, West Windsor, and Leamington.

"But that doesn't have to continue - research tells us the clearest pathway out of poverty is through education," said Frattaroli. "By supporting our local youth to help them graduate high school on time and pursue post-secondary education in the trades, college or university, we hope to increase the likelihood those young people will earn well-paying jobs and end the generational poverty they likely experienced."

One of the programs, 'On Track to Success,' is focused on ensuring students who are experiencing poverty are graduating high school on time and pursing post-secondary education. On Track to Success wraps support like after school tutoring, career exploration, mentoring opportunities, and financial supports for basic needs like food and transportation around students and their families to help remove barriers and create more opportunity to reach their full potential.

'On Track On Campus' supports students during their transition from high school to post-secondary education, increasing the chance that students will stay enrolled and complete their education.

"Together, we can change the trajectory of a young person's life, with many of them choosing to continue their educational journey right here at St. Clair College. In fact, 59 On Track To Success graduates are current students right here at St. Clair College and we've had 24 students graduate from the College," said Frattaroli.

One of those students is Ashley Dunn, who is currently in her second year of the Business - Marketing program at St. Clair.

Dunn has been involved with United Way since Grade 9 and has received tutoring and mentorship through On Track, which she says helped her thrive academically.

"As someone who has successfully completed the On Track To Success program, they're still involved in my life, and I spend every day trying to make that up to them for everything that they did," said Dunn. "I've never been more grateful for anything that has ever been part of my life. I don't think I would be the person I am today or be where I'm at today without them."

"I'm truly just succeeding in life and thriving in life because of all the help and assistance that they provide," Dunn said. "I see a brighter future for myself."

St. Clair College President Michael Silvaggi said the launch of this year's Giving Campaign is a chance for the College community to make an indelible impact on the lives of others.

"Today, we introduce the opportunity to make yet one more contribution - individually and collectively - to our community, by supporting over 30 health, education and social service organizations in our community, under the umbrella of United Way Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent," said President Silvaggi. "Many - indeed, almost all - of those agencies concentrate on the well-being of children and families with a specific mandate, now, on fostering pathways to advanced education as a long-term means of eradicating poverty."

Given that philosophy, Silvaggi said St. Clair partners with a number of those United Way efforts in a very direct way, such as the 'Prosper Us,' 'On Track To Success' and 'Cradle to Career' campaigns.

"I thank you, in advance, for what I know will be your generous response to this appeal as we once more exhibit the community-minded spirit of St. Clair and Saints Nation," President Silvaggi said.