UCT Gives Back…Again

After weeks of voting, with two schools running neck and neck to the end, we have two winners in our video contest, UCT Gives Back . . . Again. Eldon High School in Eldon, MO, is the winner of the $10,000 prize, and Saint Raphael Catholic Elementary School in Sudbury, ON, came in second place and wins the $5,000 prize. 

All 10 of our finalists have impressive programs and created great videos. We all enjoyed watching the videos, and we appreciate everything that the dedicated staff at each of these 10 schools do on a daily basis. 

You can watch both of the winning videos on our website. Both videos are very well done and give a sense of the good work being done in each school. We are looking forward to visiting both schools in the coming weeks to present them with their prizes. 

Our visit to Galax, VA, last year was an inspiration, and I’m sure the trips to visit the two winners this year will be the same. Feedback from Galax and from the two schools this year indicated that our contest had a positive impact on the local communities in a number of ways. Of course the prize provides benefits. The program at Galax had an annual budget of $300, so a $10,000 check was significant. Beyond that though the contest seemed to bring these communities together. People learned about the programs in their local schools, and they worked together to generate the votes necessary to win. 

As a teacher from Saint Raphael put it, “This contest quickly became something where ‘community and compassion united’ in a real, authentic way. I can’t say it enough, how proud I am of the city of Sudbury and the support we received in the past six weeks. Yes, I had my eyes set on first place, but in the end I have come to realize that it is not about the money, it is about the message. I can’t thank you and UCT enough for providing such a great place to bring awareness and get people talking about our programs and the people of Sudbury, young and old, who live with physical or mental disabilities.”

UCT has been supporting programs for the developmentally disabled for over 50 years. We have provided scholarships for special education teachers, supported Special Olympics with donations and with many volunteer hours provided by members all over North America, and we are a major sponsor of the American Special Hockey Association. This is our second year of this video contest, and it has proven to be a great way to highlight school programs throughout the U.S. and Canada.