The United Way of Greater Victoria wants to paint the town red in February — and invites everyone to be part of the fun.
Every year, United Way campaigns raise money to fund community groups that offer programs and invest in services for children and youth, people facing poverty and strong communities.
The charity is perhaps best known for its annual fall workplace campaign that typically runs from September to December. This year, it has introduced its first Raise the Red campaign, an initiative to remind people that the fundraising and the need continue year-round.
“Raise the Red is about engaging new partners in our work and extending long-standing ones by offering new opportunities to strengthen our relationship,” said Patricia Jelinski, CEO. “It’s about presenting United Way in a fresh and vibrant way and opening doors to new people while highlighting our local message and our local businesses.”
There are 10 contests, dinners, events, activities, special deals, even a hockey game, for people to get involved with, courtesy of partnerships with participating local businesses, attractions and community builders.
They include:
• Spot the Raise the Red “love car” photo contest: Spot the car at popular tourist and retail locations around town, snap a picture and share it on Twitter or Instagram. Hints of locations online. It runs Jan. 28 to Feb. 15.
• Red Art Gallery: Artist Marion Evamy will sell 20 hand-painted, limited-edition prints more than 50 per cent of proceeds to United Way, with the launch and reception on Feb. 2.
• Victoria Royals hockey game: Discounted tickets for $12 as the Royals take on the Calgary Hitmen, Feb. 3.
• Chinese Gala Dinner: Celebrate Chinese Year of the Monkey with a nine-course meal hosted by Victoria Chinese Commerce Association, Feb. 10. Tickets $65.
• Operation Warm Up: Networking opportunities for young professionals at Steamship Grill, Feb. 17. Admission $20 at door.
• Seniors Tea Party: Special tea-tasting for seniors, Feb. 23.
• Engineering and Construction Challenge: Build a miniature playground out of Popsicle sticks. Winner announced Feb. 25.
• Scavenger Hunt at the Royal B.C. Museum: Find Raise the Red flags, uncode a secret message and take selfies to win, Feb. 26 to 29.
• Raise the Red Tea of Possibility: Created by Silk Road, the bright-red tea sells for $5 during the month of February.
• Grand Prize — three-night stay at Chateau Whistler.
For dates, times and locations of the various events, go to uwgv.ca.
In 2014, United Way of Greater Victoria helped more than 80,000 individuals, families, children and youth from Victoria to Sooke to Sidney and the Southern Gulf Islands. It is the largest non-government funder in the region and has invested more than $149 million in the community since 1937.
Plug a meter and help the homeless
Two former City of Victoria parking meters have been called back from retirement and given a new purpose helping local charities.
Instead of collecting money for downtown parking, the repurposed devices were given a makeover as kindness meters, to accept loose change to benefit community groups serving the homeless.
“They represent a different way for people to contribute,” said Teri Hustins, owner of Oscar and Libby’s gift store, co-chair of the Fort Street Business Association and the person who came up with the idea after seeing images of similar meters on Twitter. “Some people give regularly to panhandlers but others aren’t so comfortable. The meters give them another way to help those on the street.”
The eye-catching neon pink, lime green and aqua-coloured devices, located near the crosswalk on both sides of the 700-block of Fort Street (between Douglas and Blanshard streets), have been a hit with the public since they were installed last April. The two were among 1,900 meters retired in 2009 when the city replaced them with more secure payment stations.
Two weeks ago, the business group formally announced the first distribution of funds, with more than $4,000 to be shared by two social agencies: Pacifica Housing and the 9-10 Club.
Apart from contribution of loose change by the public, Vancouver City Savings Credit Union matched the first $500 of donations, with the Canadian Western Bank committing $500 as well. The City of Victoria provided the group with the old-school meters and had them installed in their new location.
“We are so thankful to all the people that have contributed to making the kindness meters a success,” said Dean Fortin, executive director of Pacifica Housing. “Helping people in our community overcome homelessness is a community effort, and the meters are a fun way for people to contribute something to their community.”
Proceeds from the meters will go toward Pacifica Housing’s Streets to Homes Program and the 9-10 Club to help people in Greater Victoria who are experiencing homelessness with hot meals and permanent housing.
“People do not know what it is like being homeless until they have been in our shoes,” said Travis Roberts, a client of Streets to Homes. “It’s very hard to live in this city because the cost of living is so high and wages are low. Every little bit helps.”
Pacifica Housing is a provider of affordable housing and support services in Greater Victoria, Duncan and Nanaimo. The 9-10 Club is a non-profit that serves meals to the poor and hungry from the basement of St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
For more information, go to pacificahousing.ca or standrewscathedral.com.
Teddy bear show raised $26,500 for children
Dressed up teddy bears raised $26,500 for the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island over the holidays.
Bear Wear, a display of teddy bears sponsored and dressed by local organizations, businesses and individuals, is an annual fundraiser for the foundation; the bears were on display at the Hotel Grand Pacific between November and the beginning of January.
The bears were free to view, but visitors were invited to vote for their favourite bear, with a suggested minimum $2 donation.
Based on public voting, the University of Victoria’s rock-climbing bear won the People’s Choice award. Hotel Grand Pacific’s spa bear was the runner-up.
At the end of the event, the foundation gave away the bears in a draw for people who had entered to win.
Bear Wear started in 2001 and has raised more than $400,000 in support of children with disabilities and health challenges.
Funds raised at the 2015 Bear Wear will go toward the foundation’s Jeneece Place, a home away from home for families who must travel to Victoria for their children’s medical care.
For more information, go to childrenshealthvi.org.
Have tea in classic Maclure mansion
An open house for a 1913 house designed by architect Samuel Maclure serves as the basis for a charity High Tea event to benefit a local food bank.
Island House Sellers Keller Williams Elite Realty recently listed the 650-square-metre heritage mansion. Part of the sales strategy was to have an open house to generate interest in the property.
But the team — made up of Phil Hahn, Zoi Hahn, Mike Hallmark, Dominique Bandet, Kris Emberley, Kieren Rasura, Anais O’Neill-Bidaud, Carly McGregor, Amy Wenger, Eric Stiles and Sasha Hahn — decided to add a component to help Victoria’s less fortunate.
The group is serving High Tea by donation, with proceeds benefiting the Mustard Seed food bank. Visitors will find formal servers and classical music as they sip tea in the vacant Oak Bay property.
High Tea is by donation ($10 suggested) or some non-perishable food. The event runs 1 to 4 p.m. at the house, 906 Pemberton Rd.
For more information, go to islandhousesellers.com.
Runners will travel the length of the Island
Wounded Warrior Run B.C. is kicking off its 2016 charity run at Saunders Subaru, one of the group’s founding sponsors, on Friday.
Starting Feb. 22, a team of four runners will run a relay that will take them the length of Vancouver Island to raise public awareness and funds for Wounded Warriors Canada.
The non-profit organization provides assistance to members of the Canadian Forces who have been wounded or injured in service. They help find therapeutic programs and solutions, as well as helping with mental health and the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder and operational stress injuries.
The 600-kilometre run, which begins in Port Hardy and ends in Victoria Feb. 28, will take the team seven days to complete.
Stops in communities and Canadian Legion branches along the way include Port McNeill, Woss, Sayward, Campbell River, Comox, Courtenay, Buckley Bay, Bowser, Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Lantzville, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Chemainus and Shawnigan Lake.
People can follow the runners via live tracking on the team’s web page, starting on Feb. 22.
Friday’s event is open to the public. It runs 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Saunders Subaru, 1784 Island Highway.
For more information, go to woundedwarriorrunbc.com.
