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Fall in Toronto. The weather goes from hot and sunny to cold and rainy seemingly overnight, the kids are back to school and at most companies, FundSERV included, the United Way workplace giving campaign is in full swing.

Although FundSERV employees can donate to the United Way year-round through payroll deductions, September and October this year saw a wide variety of events that gave all 75 employees an opportunity to have some fun and contribute to the campaign.

"We held one event for the United Way at our summer employee party and picked up the tempo in September. Everything culminated in a week-long series of events in October," says Judy Webb, director of human resources. "This is only our second year for a workplace campaign and we wanted to be as original as we could in coming up with fundraising events."

Webb spearheaded the 12-member team of volunteers that met a half-dozen times to come up with the ideas needed to reach this year's target of $13,500. Along with the usual 50/50 draws, the team devised a United Way "passport" that cost $15 and allowed employees to participate in daily events such as a euchre tournament, raffles, pizza lunches and a scavenger hunt. Fifty-one of the passports were sold.

Proceeds from catalogue sales from companies like Tupperware, Regal, PartyLite and Discovery Toys during this time also went towards the company's fundraising efforts.

To top it all off, the committee approached Krispy Kreme Donuts to help in FundSERV's fundraising activities. The popular chain allows non-profit groups to purchase its donuts at a substantial discount and resell them at retail with the difference going to the non-profit or charity.

With an order of 150 dozen boxes of donuts in hand, the FundSERV team set up shop in the concourse of 130 King Street West at 7:30 a.m. one morning in October. An hour later the team, somewhat taken aback, was completely sold out.

"We didn't even get to the 9 o'clock crowd," says Webb with a laugh. "I suppose we should have ordered more boxes."

Regardless, when the final tally was counted, it was sweet success for the committee, the United Way and all the participating FundSERV employees. The $13,500 goal was readily beaten. Almost $18,000 has been raised so far.

"I'm very proud of the committee's efforts and the way FundSERV staff came together in support of the United Way," says Alan Hutton, FundSERV president & CEO. "With more than 200 community and social service agencies supported by the United Way, our people are deservedly proud of their efforts to make Toronto a better place for all its citizens."

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