Members of the steering committee wanted to take a moment and answer a few of your pressing questions about our campaigns, about why giving to the United Way is so important to us at Sinai Health, and of course, what is the deal with all those prizes?
Update November 16: We are now at 6% of our staff pledging to the United Way! Help us reach our goal and pledge today!
Update November 21: We are now at 8.5% of our staff pledging to the United Way! Donate today to help us reach our goal!
| Why is Sinai Health focusing energy on fundraising for the United Way when we also have a Foundation that is fundraising for the hospital? |
Supporting innovative projects by fundraising for the hospital is an important and ongoing project that allows us to offer the best patient care in our hospitals, and supports important research discoveries. We also know that many agencies that United Way funds are vital to our patients and their caregivers when they leave our hospitals. In fact, some of our social workers have referred our patients to services from more than 50% of United Way’s anchor agencies. By raising money for the United Way, we are helping our patients and caregivers when they leave our direct care by ensuring access and creating connections, effectively extending the care that we have provided when they go back into the community. Fundraising for United Way is not more important than supporting the work of our Foundation – we see them working hand-in-hand to help us provide the best care possible for our patients.
| I didn’t get a link in my email. How can I donate? |
Technology, am I right? We’re sorry you didn’t get a link to donate in your email – we didn’t mean to leave you behind. But it happens. So here’s what you can do. If you’d prefer to do a payroll deduction, please email Joanne Fine-Shwebel with your employee number, and she will send you your own link. You can also visit our tables in the lobby from 12-1 p.m. on Thursdays at Mount Sinai and Fridays at Bridgepoint, or ask one of our super awesome ambassadors for a paper pledge form
| How did we come up with a goal of 11% staff participation? |
Historically, Sinai Health System has reached approximately 2% of our staff pledging during our United Way campaigns. For our peers in health care in Toronto, the average level of giving is in the neighbourhood of 5-6%. Our goal for 2018 is to surpass and double this participation rate, making us a leader in health care giving.
| What’s the deal with the draws, and “pledge to win”? |
Every week, we’re doing a draw to share some incredible prizes. Rather than a raffle where you can buy individual tickets, we are asking our physicians, learners, scientists and staff to make a pledge –whether that is a one-time donation or a regular pay cheque deduction – in any amount, big or small. Once you’ve pledged, you are automatically entered into the draw, and all of the upcoming draws, even if you win. So the earlier you pledge, the more chances you have to win. And the more you give, the more support you are offering to the United Way and the incredible work they do.
Prizes include: Toronto Raptors tickets, Toronto Maple Leafs tickets, Medieval Times passes, an Apple Watch, gift cards, some sweet Sinai Health System swag and a whole lot more.
For those at Mount Sinai, we also have a special prize for those who currently pay for parking here: A preferred, reserved spot just for you.
| I want to participate in the United Way CN Tower Climb. How can I do that? |
For those brave souls looking to tackle all 1776 steps of the world’s largest freestanding tower, you are in luck! Sinai Health is participating in the United Way CN Tower climb. Check out free training sessions at Mount Sinai and at Bridgepoint, and go out there at get pledges for your climb. The tower climb takes place on Sunday, November 25. Email [email protected] for more info.
Training sessions at Mount Sinai will take place on November 14, 15, 19 and 22 from 5-6:00 p.m. at 60 Murray St. 3rd floor conference rooms L3- 1, 2, 3.
Training sessions at Bridgepoint will be held on Thursday, November 15, 4:10 – 4:55 p.m. in the 10th Floor Auditorium and Thursday, November 22, 4:10 – 4:55 p.m. in room: LL. 025B Employee Wellness Centre.
Want to prepare for the CN Tower climb, or not quite ready to take that on? We are also doing a special Mount Sinai Climb on November 21, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Meet at Hennick Wellness Gallery at 4:30 p.m to register and do some stretches before we hit the stairs. We’ll be climbing from the main floor to the 18th floor, about a 20 minute climb. We encourage all participants to pledge to the United Way in any amount that feels right to you, but the event is open to all. Email [email protected] for further questions or to pre-register.
UPDATE NOVEMBER 28: Congrats to all of our climbers! Teams from Sinai Health raised $3200 for the United Way, and our own Leanne Ginty came in 5th overall for women, with an astonishing time of 14:11.
| I would like to decorate a house made of cookies with a bunch of candy and icing. Any ideas how I might do that? |
As part of our final United Way Wrap-Up Party we are hosting a gingerbread house decorating contest! Just gather a team together of up to 8
people and create your own gingerbread house, or mansion, or tiny cookie replica of the Emergency Department. This is your chance to get creative! The house that receives the most votes will win delicious treats for their team. We are asking each team for a suggested $20 donation to cover cost of materials and a contribution to the United Way. Register at [email protected] , and then pick up your gingerbread house decorating kit on November 29 near the Second Cup for Mount Sinai, or the Communications Office at Bridgepoint.
| Did somebody say “bake sale”? |
Yum yum, its bake sale time! Bridgepoint is famous for their bake sales, and this year, the treats will be on offer on November 14 from 12-1 p.m. in the cafeteria. If you are interested in baking for the sale, email [email protected] by Tuesday, November 13. Please bring individually packaged baked goods with a label including ingredients to the communications office by 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 14.
UPDATE NOVEMBER 16: Thanks to everyone who came out to the bake sale! We sold out of goodies super fast, raised $500 and got a huge number of pledges.
| I pledged and I want my cool button. Where do I get it? |
Oh, you mean one of these?
Once you’ve donated, ask an ambassador (they are the ones wearing the very fetching Be the 11% t-shirts), or visit Volunteer Services at room 785 at Mount Sinai or the fifth floor at Bridgepoint. You can also come down to one of our tables on Thursdays at Mount Sinai in front of the Second Cup or on Fridays at Bridgepoint in the cafeteria and we’ll get you one of your own.
| How is the campaign doing so far? |
After our official launch last Monday, Sinai Health’s 2018 United Way campaign is in full force! In just one week, we’ve reached a whopping 4% of staff giving, with approximately 206 people raising over $36,000. Now we need you to get us the rest of the way to 11%!
Update November 21: We are now at 8.5% of our staff pledging to the United Way! Donate today to help us reach our goal!
| I want to look at a whole bunch of pictures. Where can I do that? |
Here you go!
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Climbers from across Sinai Health raised $3200, and Leanne Ginty came in fifth overall for women, with a time of 14:11 minutes to the top of CN Tower. Congrats to everyone!
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The LTRI Team post-CN Tower Climb
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Janet Sio wins a Cineplex gift card
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Joanne Vella wins the Sinai Swag Bag
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Thanks to this upstanding doctor for modelling the signed Maple Leafs Jersey that's up for grabs!
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Congrats to Bridget Lauricella who won the Medieval Times package!
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Alex Congrats to Alex Gharibo from Bridgepoint who won the Apple Watch!
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The Bridgepoint bake sale getting ready for the lunch time rush
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These unicorn cupcakes are *ALMOST* too cute to eat!
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Delish popcorn treats
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Our bake sale workers bravely keeping their hands off the treats
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Kate Wilkinson, our VP of Quality and Clinical Programs serves up some cupcakes
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Linda Lee won an iPad Pro! Thanks for pledging, Linda!
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Our United Way ambassadors are decked out with these great shirts!
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Pledging to win!
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Delanie Kalogiros takes a pair of Raptors tickets
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Steph Parrot snags a Sinai Health Swag bag
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Donate today to get one of these super cool buttons!
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The Bridepoint brigade ready to take your pledges
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Sinai Health team ready to climb CN Tower!
