Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Ian Elliot
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The Kingston Whig-Standard
Local Developer Kim Donovan will be the point man for this year's United Way campaign.
Donovan, who owns Kincore Holding Limited, has been named the campaign chairman for the United Way's 2005 fundraising drive after previously serving as vice-chairman.
He takes over the chairmanship of an organization that has enjoyed a streak of fundraising drives in which it consistently exceeded the lofty goals it set each year.
Last year, under the leadership of chairwoman Gillian Sadinsky, the organization added four new agencies and smashed its previous fundraising efforts with a $2.33-million campaign. Donovan hopes to keep the records coming. "We're on a real roll here, but we will not rest on our laurels", he said.
"The United Way is still the most efficient way to give money in terms of the percentage of money that gets to the agencies who need it and taking on this role is a real joy and an honour for me".
In keeping with tradition, this year's fundraising goal will be announced at the annual kickoff breakfast. Donovan said that goal is till being developed and will be based on what has been raised in the past and what the organization can expect to raise this year.
He says he's grateful for the enthusiastic support of labour organizations and workplace campaigns that prove to reliable donors year after year. He hopes for another year of strong support and is already touring workplaces, meeting the donors and volunteers who make the campaign tick.
"I'm enjoying the opportunity of meeting new people, touring the agencies that benefit from the United Way and witnessing the whole process", Donovan said.
"Im looking forward to harnessing the community spirit and goodwill that supports, and has supported, our United Way campaigns."
The United Way gets about 70 percent of its money from workplace campaigns. About 17 percent comes from corporate donations, four per cent from special community events and 10 per cent from individuals.
Donovan is no stranger to charitable donations, although he's often giving, not soliciting. He has served as a supporter of the Kingston Symphony, a director on the board of Hospice Kingston, co-chair of the Kingston Economic Development Corporation's prosperity partnership and a member of KEDCO's economic round table.
He has also served as director of the downtown business association, campaign chair for the restoration of Market Square and chairman of the city's first Doors Open event.
Donovan was born in St. Thomas and came to the Kingston area in the late 1980's to build a subdivision on Wolfe Island for the Matthews Group, once a major London-based land development and construction company.
The Wolfe Island project didn't materialize but Donovan decided to stay in the city and set up his own company, Kincore Holdings, with the intent of redeveloping the north block business district, a roughly four-block area south of the HIP building.
Contamination and consultant studies ordered by the city have delayed development on the north block, but Kincore has turned its attention to other projects, including the revitalization of the British Whig building on Ontario Street.
Though the bulk of his efforts are concentrated in Kingston, Donovan has a second company Pickering, Picore Holdings, which owns a quantity of office space near Highway 401.
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Donovan to Lead United Way Fundraising Drive in '05 |
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