Centraide campaign to raise $200,000

The annual Concordia Centraide campaign has started, and you should receive a payroll form in the mail this week.

Before you toss it, consider this: Every cent you donate goes to Centraide, and 88 cents of every dollar Centraide gets goes to a cultural or social agency in Montreal that helps the poor, immigrants, children, youth-at-risk, the elderly and women in need.

The Concordia community doesn’t give as much as most of its fellow universities. Only about 325 of our roughly 2,300 employees contribute. Organizers would like to improve the 14 per cent participation rate.

The volunteer Centraide committee has designated Nov. 8 and 9 Days of Caring, when there will be special fundraising events, including a bake sale. The campaign will wind up Nov. 17 with a concert by vocal jazz professor Jeri Brown.

Giving by payroll deduction is the most effective and painless way to go, and it makes you eligible to win prizes in a weekly raffle. Your odds are a lot better than with Loto-Québec!