Personal Stories
Western United Way Campaign 2023
Western University and United Way Elgin Middlesex, together let's build our community and make lasting change in people's lives. United.
Personal Stories
Have you been touched by a United Way agency and want to share your story?Do you volunteer your time for the United Way campaign, or throughout the year with a United Way agency? Are you coordinating campus fundraising events for the United Way?
If so, we'd like to hear from you. Please contact one of our Campaign Co-Chairs, Carol Jones at cejones@uwo.ca or Colin Couchman at ccouchman@uwo.ca.
United Way work ‘will forever change’ sponsored employee
Do more, give more, give back. That has become a personal mantra for Jodi Mabee, Western’s sponsored employee to support the annual United Way Elgin Middlesex fundraising campaign.
READ MORESponsored employee to show us the ‘Way’
“It was the best thing I’ve ever done.”
That was just one piece of advice Kathryn McAuley received from others as she weighed the possibility of taking on the role of Western’s Sponsored Employee for the 2019 United Way Elgin Middlesex campaign.
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Poverty’s toll ‘unignorable’: United Way rep
Jasmine Ball
2018 Sponsored Employee
Jasmine Ball is an administrative co-ordinator in the office of the Associate Vice-President (Student Experience). She is a sponsored employee to the United Way Elgin Middlesex, and she shares this personal story of why she is involved … and how you can help.
One sentiment I’ve heard a lot recently, is that everyone knows about United Way, but not everyone sees its impact. Our community has the third highest rate of child poverty in all of Canada; that’s one in five children living below the poverty line. If this comes as a surprise to you, you’re in good company. It’s a surprise for many. The truth is, poverty is something many children learn to conceal.
READ MOREStaffer eyes challenges in United Way role
Sabrina Tingle,
Sponsored Employee - 2017
Sabrina Tingle had hesitations about her new job, worried about the size of the challenges she would face. But today, she sees her latest role as a journey of growth.
“It was a big eye-opener, meeting someone for the first time, to understand and not judge what they’ve been through,” said Western’s Sponsored Employee for the 2017 United Way of London & Middlesex campaign. “From everyone I’ve had the opportunity to talk to so far, I have heard part of their story that pulled at my heart strings. But what gives me goosebumps, and brings tears to my eyes is the emotion attached from a positive perspective.”
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Grace Kelly finds home in United Way role
Grace Kelly,
Sponsored Employee - 2016
She has planted gardens, painted lines in parking lots and swept out horse barns – all in the name of helping United Way of London & Middlesex.
“It’s been the best experience of my life,” said Kelly, at the midway point of her four-month secondment as a sponsored employee. “You begin to hear the stories and it is just so emotional. Even talking about it now I get emotional.”
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Personal story puts familiar face on United Way campaign
Deanna Bushelle,
Sponsored Employee - 2015
The role asks for four months, countless campaign tasks, long hours and a fervent dedication to fundraising. But for Deanna Bushelle, the biggest contribution is her story.
“Not many people want to say they grew up in poverty and had to use all these (United Way-funded) services. In my childhood years, my mom was a single mom, working to support me and my siblings."
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Sponsored employee joins Western's United Way effort
Dayna Munro,
Sponsored Employee - 2014
Dayna Munro said the campus community has the ability to make a immediate impact on the lives of London’s most vulnerable.
There was one little girl not smiling, showing no life in her sad eyes. As a supply teacher, Dayna Munro’s instinct kicked in. “I asked if she was okay and she told me she was okay – just hungry,” said Munro, Western’s 2014 United Way sponsored employee.
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United Way offers student a lifeline
Valerie Christie,
Western Nursing Student
With the help of Youth Opportunities Unlimited, a United Way-funded agency, Western student Valerie Christie is no longer homeless and working toward a nursing career.
It’s safe to say the helping hand of a United Way of London & Middlesex-funded agency made a huge difference in the life of Western Nursing student Valerie Christie.
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