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The 91��ɫ Cares United Way Campaign launched Monday with a rally in the Student Centre. As 91��ɫ President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri aptly remarked, “As a community here at 91��ɫ, we work together to make remarkable things happen”.

From left, Chris Penrose, Leoni Karunaratne of the United Way, and 91��ɫ CN Tower climbing students Dianne Fonseca, Peter Lam and Beshoy Ibrahim with Rhonda Lenton and Mamdouh Shoukri

The rally was also a celebration of the students who climbed the CN Tower in support of the United Way. “Our students have demonstrated tremendous spirit, social responsibility and tenacity as they participated in the CN Tower stair climb. This climb was a symbolic kick-off to our campaign,” said Shoukri. “They are now passing the torch to 91��ɫ’s faculty and staff.”

In last year’s campaign for the United Way, the participation rate increased from nine per cent to 11. “I’m very proud of the success of last year’s campaign,” said Shoukri. This year, the goal is to keep the momentum going by increasing donation participation by faculty and staff to 13 per cent. That would require 564 faculty and staff to contribute.

Rhonda Lenton gives Mamdouh Shoukri a 91��ɫ scarf during the launch of the 91��ɫ Cares United Way Campaign

“A lot of the good work being done by the United Way is happening right here in the neighborhood around 91��ɫ,” he said. “Supporting the United Way is part of our commitment to our communities.”

In recognizing the students who climbed the 1776 steps up the CN Tower, a scarf ceremony was performed on stage where each participant was wrapped in a 91��ɫ scarf.  The scarves were intended to be both practical, particularly at this time of year in Canada, and symbolic, serving as a reminder of the warmth that can result from the simple gesture of wrapping ourselves.  "The scarves also symbolize the sense of community we experience when we share something in common,” said United Way Leadership Co-chair Rhonda Lenton, vice-president academic & provost.

91��ɫ's cheerleaders and mascots celebrate the launch of the 91��ɫ Cares United Way Campaign

91��ɫ alumnus Chris Penrose, executive director of and winner of a 2012 Bruce Bryden Alumni Award as one to watch, also took to the podium. Success Beyond Limits is a youth-focused, community-based non-profit organization working in the Jane and Finch area that receives funding from the United Way. All of its teachers, staff and mentors are from the Jane and Finch community.

Chris Penrose addresses the crowd at the launch in the Student Centre

“There is a connection to 91��ɫ as a majority of our staff and teachers also graduated from 91��ɫ,” said Penrose. “Our summer program brings 150 high school aged students from Westview [Centennial Secondary School] to 91��ɫ. That includes senior students as mentors and Grade 9s getting their first high school credit before they start high school.” The program is hosted inside 91��ɫ’s Osgoode Hall Law School for six weeks every summer.

The impact of having that program run out of 91��ɫ has been powerful for the youth and has built memories inside the University, said Penrose. Success Beyond Limits was one of the first programs of its kind in the city to offer high school credits and employment.

See more photos of the event, see below:

Donate today to help the United Way. Watch for the United Way pledge form in your e-mail inbox.

For more information, contact yucares@yorku.ca.

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