It was an inspirational end to the 2018 local United Way “”Local Love” Campaign.
Belleville native and local businessman Phil Kerr received a standing ovation, after telling over 120 people at the annual United Way Achievement Breakfast Thursday, how he fought off despair after being struck with cancer at the age of 13 and being paralyzed from the waist down.
Through determination and a positive outlook, Kerr became a world champion adaptive wakeboarder and CrossFit athlete.
Phil Kerr speaks to over 120 people at the United Way’s Achievement Breakfast (Photo: Quinte News)
Meanwhile, the United Way raised almost 1.9 million dollars in 2018, up $200,000 from the year before.
Organizations donating $100,000 or more were Procter and Gamble, John M. and Bernice Parrott Foundation, 8 Wing Trenton, and the Maurice Rollins Leadership Challenge.
The Leadership Challenge in which Mr. Rollins matches new leadership level donations brought in 60 new individual donors in 2018.
Over the past decade Rollins has personally donated $600,000 to the United Way.
Maurice Rollins. (Photo: Quinte News)
Director of Donations for the United Way Melanie Cressman described how the donated dollars helped people live better lives throughout Hastings and Prince Edward Counties.
The United Way funded 37 agencies and organizations last year.
2018 was the 60th year of the United Way giving to local communities.
