Toasting the turtle

Dean of Dentistry Tom Boran and the turtle trophy for the United Way's Dean's challenge.(Nick Pearce Photo)

The thrill of the win, bragging rights, and a 40-pound concrete turtle were the spoils of victory for Tom Boran, the winner of the first annual Dean's Challenge. The challenge was one of the final events that brought the 2008-09 United Way campaign to a successful close, with $189,000 in total being raised. This accounts for 95 per cent of this year's goal.

The Dean of Dentistry was presented his prestigious 'trophy' at an unofficial ceremony in his office on a snowy Thursday afternoon. His Faculty raised $15,790 in total towards Dalhousie's United Way campaign—more than any other.

Dr. Boran credited his staff and faculty for the success, praising them for their team approach. "I'm proud to be Dean of a Faculty that is so supportive of a good cause. We've always been very responsive to the United Way campaign, and we will continue to lend our support."

University Librarian Bill Maes came up with the Dean's Challenge as a fun way to increase participation and funds for the United Way campaign. But the contest was not all fun and games—there were some serious rules devised in order to ensure fairness. Keith Taylor of Mathematics and Statistics was called upon to devise an algorithm designed to "eliminate bias introduced by discrepancies in size, ensuring an equal playing field." The as-yet-unnamed turtle was chosen as the winning prize, and it will be passed along to future Dean's Challenge
winners.

United Way Campaign Co-Chairs Kim Thomson and Susan Mansour are delighted with the results of Dalhousie's campaign this year, which almost reached 100 per cent of its goal. Ms. Thomson is also the vice-president of a local charitable group, so she has the added perspective of volunteering with an organization that is on the receiving end of United Way funds. "In my volunteer work in the community, I see first-hand how much these organizations benefit from United Way funding, and it makes all the difference" she says.

"I am very pleased with this year's United Way campaign, and the good work that will be done in the community as a result of the funds raised," said co-chair Susan Mansour.

Geoffrey Milder of the United Way of Halifax said Dalhousie's contribution this year is remarkable, especially given the recent economic climate. "Our 2008 campaign theme was 'Everyone has something to contribute.' There were times when I wondered whether that theme was realistic," he said. "People at Dalhousie willingly came forward to help their community and that is nothing short of a beacon of hope during a bleak period in recent history."

He noted that through the success of Dalhousie's campaign, the university helped support 100 programs in 55 community-based agencies. "You have also helped shape the future of our community," he said.

At a volunteer luncheon on March 2, Mr. Milder thanked Dalhousie's steering committee, the area coordinators, canvassers, volunteers, everyone who supported Dal's United Way campaign this year, and Dr. Tom Traves for being a champion of this workplace campaign.

Your dollars at work Heather Greenwood, Dentistry's United Way faculty coordinator, Dentistry Dean Tom Boran and University Librarian Bill Maes, creator of the Dean's Challenge. (Nick Pearce Photo) What does the United Way do with the funds you give as part of the annual campaign? Here are just a few examples of your dollars at work in your community: If you contributed $80 per pay*, you can help change the lives of teens who have been the victims or perpetrators of violence through the Leave Out ViolencE program. L.O.V.E. reports that 79 per cent of their high school graduates are pursuing post secondary education. $40 per pay helps new Canadians integrate into our community through The Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association (MISA). $20 per pay makes it possible for Alice Housing to support women and their children leaving abusive homes. $10 per pay helps seniors stay in their homes through a volunteer visiting program provided by the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON). Even $2 per pay makes a difference—that money can help support a playgroup for children with developmental delays at the Progress Centre for Early Intervention. *Based on 12 pays per year.