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2- The Oakville Beaver, Friday September 14, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Heroes come from many backgrounds Continued from page 1 L 1/2 Price Introduces Our SAVE ON ALL FLOOR MODEL LIVING ROOM FURNITURE SALE ENDS SEPTEMBER 22 BUY ONE FLOOR MODEL LIVING ROOM PIECE AND GET THE MATCHING PIECE OR ACCESSORY AT 50% OFF* 8 DAYS ONLY! **SOFAS**CHAIRS**OCCASIONAL TABLES**PICTURES AND MANY MORE SELECTED ITEMS AT 50% OFF! *Buy any Living room piece at our Everyday Low Price (Sofa Coffee Table, Lamps, Pictures, etc.) and get the matching piece at 50% off the MSRP. Example: Buy a Sofa and get the matching Loveseat or Chair at half price. Promotion is for floor models only and does not include Bedroom or Dining Room Items. 175 DIEPPE ROAD (Beside Q.E.W.) St. Catharines, ON 1-800-680-5553 Mon.-Wed. 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thurs. & Fri. 9 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sat. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.furnituregallery.com 62633903 Take QEW to Niagara St. exit, follow South Service Road to Bunting Road, left under Skyway Bridge to Dieppe Road, turn left (North Service Road) SERVING THE NIAGARA REGION FOR 32 YEARS, JUST 45 MINUTES FROM OAKVILLE. QUALIFIED DESIGNERS TO ASSIST YOU IN ALL YOUR DECORATING NEEDS. Morrissette, of Pelmorex Media Inc., which operates The Weather Network, and Wendy McBride, who heads up the seniors day program S.E.N.A.C.A., to Gary Taylor, a S.E.N.A.C.A. participant, Cherilyn Wallace, a Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer, Stephen Sparling, outgoing president of the Oakville Chamber of Commerce and Lauren Gurland, the service prefect at Appleby College. Many of those participating, like Halton Regional Police Sgt. Peter Payne, co-ordinate the UWO fundraising campaigns at their workplace, or volunteer or use the services the UWO funds. Next to government, the UWO is the largest funder of health and social service agencies in Oakville. UWO board chair Gordon Ross said a new four-pronged focus has emerged at the UWO, which deals with action items more than a roundup of agencies funded. For instance, this year's campaign hopes to invest locally by strengthening families, supporting the independence and well being of seniors, supporting those in crisis and promoting self sufficiency. The UWO will fund agencies that deliver services to those ends, from the Oakville Literacy Council and the Women's Centre, to Distress Centre Oakville and St. John Ambulance. According to its new website at www.uwoakville.org, the UWO statistics state that more than 2,600 children live in poverty in Oakville; that 21 per cent of Oakville seniors live alone, that one in four women in Halton has experienced at least one violent incident at the hands of a boyfriend or husband, that at least 3,000 people in Oakville aged 3565 have low literacy, and more. According to Mayor Rob Burton who spoke to the audience, about 20 per cent of Oakville residents depend on services from agencies the UWO funds. "When we aim to assist those closest to us, we aim to make this a kinder, gentler place for all," said Willie Lambert, president of the Oakville and District Labour Council endorsing the UWO campaign. Lambert said generosity of spirit defines a hero and the measure of a community is how it treats its most vulnerable. Keynote speaker Juliana Sprott, vice-president of the Sprott Family Foundation, noted a study that found it wasn't sports or entertainment celebrities who are heroes to teens, but their parents and extended families. "I never thought that parents would be a teenager's first choice for a hero," said Sprott, noting that when she thought about it, her own parents are her heroes. The foundation has for eight years, through the Sprott Leadership Matching Challenge, raised more than $1.2 million for UWO by matching $1,000 donations up to a maximum of $150,000. Talking numbers, Ross said donors can be assured a lot of screening, thought and accountability goes into UWO grants to agencies. The UWO will only fund a certain percentage of an agency's annual budget, it scrutinizes whether the grant will assist people rather than, say, do office renovations, and ensures Oakville residents are those assisted. Though fundraising shortfalls extended last year's campaign into the new year, the annual campaign traditionally lasts until the end of the year. More than 2,000 people, representing nearly 100 Oakville businesses, will contribute their time and money to the UWO this year. Others can help in numerous ways by: running an employee workplace campaign, giving a corporate gift, supporting a leadership giving program, loaning the UWO an employee during the campaign or sponsoring a United Way event -- and begin by calling Dawn Essoe at 905-845-5571, ext. 235 or dawn@uwoakville.org. exotic · urban · classic · contemporary Need Help Choosing Tile? See our design team! Looking for something different? You'll find it here. We specialize in importing and supplying unique quality ceramics, porcelain, and natural stone with a variety of exclusive lines. 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