United Way Golden Horseshoe celebrates fundraising $12M at gala

The United Way Golden Horseshoe hosted a night of waves and generosity Wednesday as a celebration of last year’s campaign raising $12 million for people in need.

Held at the Burlington Convention Centre, the organization held a Waves of Impact-themed celebration to recognize the efforts of donors, volunteers and community partners across Hamilton and Halton.

Around 600 people were on hand to enjoy the festivities, and to enjoy the fundraising success of the past year, and to look forward.

CHCH News’ own Rick Zamperin was the Master of Ceremonies for the event and helped everyone on hand to celebrate the accomplishment.

United Way says the funding raised will directly support critical programs and services for people and families across Hamilton and Halton.

“It’s always incredible to see communities come together in support — this year in particular there were a lot of challenges,” said the interim president and CEO of United Way Golden Horseshoe Brad Park. “There’s an affordability crisis, people are struggling to stretch their dollars as far as they can go, but the fact that so many people in the community came together to make this result possible is just amazing.”

READ MORE: Area United Way units combine to become United Way Golden Horseshoe

“Because of that collective effort, the $12 million raised last year in Halton and Hamilton will go directly into local programs that help people access food, housing, mental health supports, and other essentials,” said Park in a statement.

During the event, the charity recognized the outstanding contributions from people and organizations whose generosity continue to promote meaningful change.

“It has been an incredible privilege to be part of this year’s campaign,” said Carrie Fletcher, the campaign cabinet chair in a statement. “What stands out most is the generosity of this community.”

“People who continue to step up, give back, and support one another. Thank you to everyone who played a role in making this campaign a success and helping create lasting impact for people across Halton and Hamilton,” said Fletcher.

The annual plane pull at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport and the Sleepless in Our Community Initiatives are just two examples of how the United Way raises funds and awareness in the community.

WATCH MORE: One sleepless night can change countless lives