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telegraphjournal.com - United Way's success is good news for deaf residents of Greater Saint John | SANDRA DAVIS - Breaking News, New Brunswick, Canada
If not for the United Way of Greater Saint John, a group that provides literacy, support and counselling for families and members of the deaf and hard of hearing community would have to shut its doors.
So it comes as good news to Lynn LeBlanc that the United Way has reached its goal, raising $1.225 million to support its 24 community agencies. That means Saint John Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services will get the $34,000 it applied for to fund its programs.
"We have no core funding and without the United Way, all of the programs we deliver that are not employment-related would cease to exist," said LeBlanc, the group's executive director.
This is the third year in a row that the United Way has met its goal and campaign chairman Ron Marcolin says it's a good feeling to have succeeded.
"We are looking to exceed (the goal) but to what extent we're not quite sure because we still have three weeks left in the campaign," Marcolin said on Wednesday.
About one-third of the agencies the United Way supports would be in dire financial straits without the funding, he said.
"We are absolutely thrilled that Greater Saint Johners have come through yet again. It's amazing how generous Saint Johners are."
Saint John Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services has been in existence since 1978, delivering mentorship programs for deaf children to help them find a sense of identity, along with programs designed for hearing parents of children born unable to hear, sign-language literacy programs, and family support and counselling programs.
Less than one per cent of the population of Greater Saint John is deaf, LeBlanc said, while 10 per cent of the population is considered hard of hearing.
"Ninety per cent of deaf children are born to hearing parents so the parents are at a loss as to how to educate them," LeBlanc said.
"If it wasn't for United Way, all of the social programs would not exist. We would be delivering government programs and that's it."
The organization does do a lot of employment and interpreting services contract work with government but with no core funding, "it's extremely difficult," LeBlanc said.
"Because we're a community group, we have no provincial or national affiliate to draw funding support from. We function totally on our own.
"We beat the bushes hard."
This year, two United Way workplace campaigns - based on highest percentage increase in dollars/participation - will win the Moosehead box for a Sea Dogs game, fully equipped for 16 people to enjoy, courtesy of Andrew Oland, president of Moosehead Breweries Ltd. and this year's honorary campaign chairman. The campaign's final total will be announced at the Community Achievement and Awards Celebration on March 30 at the Market Square atrium.
If not for the United Way of Greater Saint John, a group that provides literacy, support and counselling for families and members of the deaf and hard of hearing community would have to shut its doors.
So it comes as good news to Lynn LeBlanc that the United Way has reached its goal, raising $1.225 million to support its 24 community agencies. That means Saint John Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services will get the $34,000 it applied for to fund its programs.
"We have no core funding and without the United Way, all of the programs we deliver that are not employment-related would cease to exist," said LeBlanc, the group's executive director.
This is the third year in a row that the United Way has met its goal and campaign chairman Ron Marcolin says it's a good feeling to have succeeded.
"We are looking to exceed (the goal) but to what extent we're not quite sure because we still have three weeks left in the campaign," Marcolin said on Wednesday.
About one-third of the agencies the United Way supports would be in dire financial straits without the funding, he said.
"We are absolutely thrilled that Greater Saint Johners have come through yet again. It's amazing how generous Saint Johners are."
Saint John Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services has been in existence since 1978, delivering mentorship programs for deaf children to help them find a sense of identity, along with programs designed for hearing parents of children born unable to hear, sign-language literacy programs, and family support and counselling programs.
Less than one per cent of the population of Greater Saint John is deaf, LeBlanc said, while 10 per cent of the population is considered hard of hearing.
"Ninety per cent of deaf children are born to hearing parents so the parents are at a loss as to how to educate them," LeBlanc said.
"If it wasn't for United Way, all of the social programs would not exist. We would be delivering government programs and that's it."
The organization does do a lot of employment and interpreting services contract work with government but with no core funding, "it's extremely difficult," LeBlanc said.
"Because we're a community group, we have no provincial or national affiliate to draw funding support from. We function totally on our own.
"We beat the bushes hard."
This year, two United Way workplace campaigns - based on highest percentage increase in dollars/participation - will win the Moosehead box for a Sea Dogs game, fully equipped for 16 people to enjoy, courtesy of Andrew Oland, president of Moosehead Breweries Ltd. and this year's honorary campaign chairman. The campaign's final total will be announced at the Community Achievement and Awards Celebration on March 30 at the Market Square atrium.