From Pie Your Professor to chili cookoffs, St. Clair College faculty, staff and students showed up in a big way for United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent during the 2025-26 school year.
Members of United Way attended St. Clair College recently to receive a cheque for more than $7,300, with all funds raised at unique events held during 'United Way Week' at the College in February 2026.
"It means a lot to our organization to have a partnership with St. Clair College. We've had a partnership over the years – however, I think our partnership has strengthened more recently," said Leslie Frattaroli, Vice President, Development at United Way Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent. "Not only because of the support that you provide dollar wise and the generosity of donations, but also just the engagement that we have with your students, your faculty, your staff, and your union. All that makes a big difference."
People from across the College hosted events to raise funds during the United Way Week annual campaign, celebrated from Feb. 9 to 13, 2026.
"By holding these events, they're fun, interactive ways for the students to learn what it means to fundraise for an organization that puts it back into the community where it's needed most," Frattaroli said. "It raises awareness of the work that you do and what it means to support a community organization."
"We've seen a lot of increased engagement the last few years with a lot of participants in the campaign. And I think that's because of the creative effort and support that's come from the committee that's put on the campaign as well," Frattaroli added.
"St. Clair College is proud to partner with such an important institution to this community," said Joe D'Angela, Sr. Director of Campus Partnerships, Advancement Office and the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts. "Community engagement is very much embedded into the curriculum at St. Clair College, but students aren't taking part in these events for grades. They're doing it because it's fun to give back – and because they truly care."
Many of the events were organized by student government and faculty and support staff unions at St. Clair College.
"We are always looking for ways to drive engagement and support for our community, and the United Way is one of those groups we look forward to assisting in any way we can," said Prof. Ken Acton, who is also the vice president of OPSEU Local 138. "To see our faculty, staff and students engaging together for a cause bigger than us makes all the difference. We are so honoured to be part pf the effort to help uplift our most vulnerable neighbours and friends."
Dr. Andrea Pepper, who organized a series of events during the week-long event at St. Clair's Chatham Campus, was even named a United Way Champion for her efforts during the campaign.
"A big thanks to the students who came out, supported the event, and purchased pies," said Dr. Andrea Pepper, a Nursing professor at the College. "Their generosity and enthusiasm helped raise much-needed funds for the United Way, and it was so fun to see everyone come together for such a great cause."
"She's actually taken on additional work on top of everything else that she's dealing with, including her full-time job," said Frattaroli. "You also have students who have their full-time studies, but yet they still step out and take on something else, because they want to really be a part of the community and help the community."
Frattaroli says one of the United Way's key goals is to eliminate childhood poverty in the region, and funds raised during campaigns like this go a long way to helping make that goal a reality, through programs like 'On Track to Success.'
"We're working strategically in those identified neighbourhoods to help eliminate childhood poverty. And we know based on research and data, education is the number one pathway to get out of poverty," she said. "Our program is cradle to career, where we provide support from a very young age, all through grade school, high school, into post-secondary and skilled trades education."
"Our hope is that we can help people seek employment and have a prosperous life due to that employment," Frattaroli said. "And you can't get that without a strong education behind you."
