NDWCC Donation Exceeds $130,000

(Left-Right) Chief Petty 0fficer 1st Class Sue Frisby, Base Chief Petty Officer, Captain(N) Kevin Whiteside, CFB Esquimalt Base Commander, Matt Carlson, NDWCC Team Leader, Mark Crocker, United Way of Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Barbara Toller, HealthPartners, and Ivan Freire, Senior Donor Relations Officer, stand with a cheque representing the $137,165.53 raised during the 2024 National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign, on Feb. 18. Photo: Master Sailor Bryan Underwood, MARPAC Imaging Services.

Archana Cini 
Lookout Newspaper 

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The Defence Team of Canadian Forces Base (CFB)Esquimalt presented a cheque for  $137,165.53 to members of the United Way of B.C. and HealthPartners last Tuesday to conclude the 2024 National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign.

A heartwarming occasion of community spirit, the cheque presentation demonstrated the Base’s continued dedication to prioritising community wellbeing.

Captain(N) Kevin Whiteside, CFB Esquimalt Base Commander, conveyed immense pride in how “It’s our absolute honour to help in any way we can and keep this charitable contribution local. Raised by the 6,500 people who work, live, learn, and play on the Base, these funds will stay here and serve our community for years to come.”

The Base’s donation will help fund a wide range of charitable efforts across southern Vancouver Island, including initiatives ranging from mental health and addiction support to food and education plans. One of the integral leading forces behind the fundraising campaign, Matthew Carlson, CFB Esquimalt NDWCC Team Leader, shared, “To not only work on this campaign, but to get people so fired up about the community was such a privilege.” This was met by a chorus of cheers, as the Base far exceeded its original fundraising target.

This charitable contribution is additionally a clear reflection of the Base’s long-standing dedication to the community, which follows CFB Esquimalt winning the national NDWCC’s ‘Most Enthusiastic Base’ award. When prompted about the impact the funds will carry, Mark Crocker, Director of Fundraising and Partnerships for the United Way of B.C. said that they “will help us continue to power our 87-year-old legacy of supporting local needs, and make a genuine, lasting difference well into the future.”