The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.
The temperature was a frigid -40 C. The boy was found drunk, wearing a T-shirt and didn’t know where he lived. Without the outreach organization the Red Coats — and the financial support it gets from United Way — the boy could have died on Sudbury’s streets that night, Jeanne Warwick- Conroy said.
Thanks to a large donation from Vale and the United Steelworkers, and the money raised by Sudburians this year, the United Way is able to continue supporting the community. The annual Vale-United Steelworkers fundraiser more than doubled what it raised in 2010, to the tune of $734,710.
“It’s an amazing amount of money,” Warwick-Conroy, the chair of the 2011 United Way campaign, said Tuesday afternoon. “We are so delighted. They’ve worked so hard, they’re so generous, and they will be helping 54 agencies in the city of Sudbury to meet their goals.”
The United Steelworkers Local 6500 raised more than $360,000, which was matched dollar-for-dollar by Vale.
“It’s amazing to think that this year we raised over $730,000, which is about 40% of the contributions raised in (Greater Sudbury), from a company that employs 5% of the population,” said Jon Treen, the general manager of Vale’s Ontario operations, speaking inside Vale’s Copper Cliff Club.
Rick Bertrand, the president of USW Local 6500, praised not only Vale and USW, but all Sudburians, for their generosity.
“Not everybody’s fortunate enough to have the things that we have,” he said. “To dig a little deep and be able to donate a little bit of money, it’s a great feeling.
“It’s great because Sudbury is … far from being cheap. We raise a lot of money, not only the Steelworkers, but a lot of people in the community.”
Last week, United Way Sudbury announced $1.945 million was raised in the 14-week campaign, surpassing its $1.75-million goal by 11% and representing an 18% increase over the $1.665 million raised in 2010.
Warwick-Conroy couldn’t hold back her excitement over the donation.
“It’s an amazing jump in givings. The workers were so generous this year, it’s quite unbelievable. We’re absolutely over the top, very thrilled with their generous contribution,” she said.
“I’m so proud of all the workers. They really deserve a round of applause. It’s amazing what they have accomplished this year, and the company matched their givings. Vale has contributed once again to our fantastic community.”