iKettle King: Local man tops in national campaign
When Chris Kasparian first discovered he was one of the top fundraisers in The Salvation Army’s iKettle campaign, he assumed those were regional results, possibly provincial.
Turns out that was the national list.
With more than $3,000 in donations, he came in seventh overall and claimed the distinction of being the highest-ranking individual — all the top finishers are teams.
“It’s a fantastic feeling. It’s hard to explain that feeling,” the Orangeville man said. “To simplify it, it’s the gift of giving and it always feels good.”
The iKettle campaign is an online fundraising initiative that allows people to make credit card or PayPal contributions to The Salvation Army, which uses the funds to assist people in need by providing food, clothing and other basic necessities.
While the campaign is national, all donations are directed to the area where the person lives.
“We’re very thankful to Chris that he’s put this much effort in,” Graham Moore, public relations and development secretary for The Salvation Army in Canada, said. “Clearly, he’s gone all out and he’s been very successful.”
When Kasparian first began the 2010 campaign, he set a goal of raising $1,500.
“He more than doubled it, which is just absolutely remarkable,” Moore added. “Last year, he raised $1,000, so he’s raised three times as much as last year.”
Kasparian first came across the iKettle campaign three years ago and fell in love with the format. He’s certainly supportive of the cause as well.
“It’s all online, it’s virtual. It’s easy. Anybody can do it,” he said. “People are just so busy, especially around Christmas time. For them to be able to go online and make a quick donation … it’s just a fantastic format.”
Of the man’s roughly 50 contributors, about 40 hail from the Greater Toronto Area Mustang Club, of which he is a member.
“I don’t know them all personally. I only know three or four of them personally,” Kasparian explained, noting the club is mostly an online forum, with a few get-togethers planned throughout the year.
All of the donors were entered into a draw for prizes, including a new pocket bike from fellow club member Joe D’Sousa of D’Sousa Performance in Milton.
Kasparian believes offering those prizes helped his total contributions to grow. As did the news he had cracked the top 10.
“Halfway through December, with less than 10 days to go before Christmas, I was thinking ‘Gee, I don’t know.’ Then some members of my Mustang club just started making some really generous donations and it seemed to inspire others,” he said. “Once the ball started rolling, it kept going pretty good.”
Printed with permission from orangeville.com. Photo: Richard Vivian
