Annual NDWCC for United Way East Ontario goal set at $70,000

By Patricia Leboeuf | October 10, 2019 | Local
Five people wearing chef hats stand in front of table with several trays
Garrison Petawawa’s 2019 National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign kicked off on Oct. 2 with a pancake breakfast, the proceeds of which are going to United Way East Ontario. Serving up the breakfast are, from left, Garrison Petawawa Commander Colonel Louis Lapointe, United Way East Ontario Regional Director Jade Nauman, Garrison Petawawa Chief Warrant Officer CWO Tom Verner, Chairman of the United Way Advisory Council Doug Tennant and Master Warrant Officer Patrick Murphy. (Photo by Patricia Leboeuf, Petawawa Post)

Garrison Petawawa kicked off its 2019 National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign (NDWCC) with a pancake breakfast, with proceeds going towards United Way East Ontario.

“The Government of Canada has chosen United Way as its prime partner for its charitable campaign,” said Garrison Petawawa Commander Colonel (Col) Louis Lapointe.

“We are very proud of the partnership we have with them because they touch many, many lives,” he added. “They are far-reaching and they are an awesome organization to be partnered with for charity.”

The kick-off breakfast is a long-standing tradition drawing hundreds of diners, and this year was no exception. Normandy Court was filled to the brim on Oct. 2.

“I am very happy to see so many people, considering how many people we have on exercise in the field this week,” said Col Lapointe.

United Way East Ontario regional Director Jade Nauman was thrilled to see various command teams trade in their berets for chef hats, and serve up a meal.

“It is an honour to partner up with Garrison Petawawa,” said Nauman. “They are one of our biggest supporters. And of course, we can’t do the work that we do, supporting some of the most vulnerable people across Renfrew County and East Ontario as well, without their generous support, their volunteerism and dedication to the work that we do.”

The breakfast is just the first of many events that will be held in the upcoming months. Though the United Way itself has not set a financial goal for this year’s campaign, the Garrison hopes to raise $70,000.

“I’m pretty confident we will be able to achieve that,” said Col Lapointe. “It’s all thanks to the great work of the teams that are out there on the ground, who are making the events, organizing activities and also canvassing our people.”

There are 11 local organizations funded through the United Way. Military members and their families use many of them, notably the Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre (PMFRC) and the Robbie Dean Family Counselling Centre.

By purchasing a pancake meal or donating to the United Way East Ontario in one of the other upcoming activities, they are helping their community.

“United Way is very dedicated to the work that we do on the ground to support the military families that are in our communities,” said Nauman.