Vital Support at a Crucial Time

United Way boosts funding to help its member agencies meet rising community need

TORONTO — After three years of holding the line, United Way Toronto announced today that it is increasing investment in its city-wide network of member agencies — a move the charity says will help agencies respond to growing pressure and rising demand in the community.

“This good news comes at a crucial time for Toronto,” said Susan McIsaac, United Way’s President and CEO. “Our city hasn’t yet bounced back from the recession that first hit in 2008. Our hope is the increased support we’re announcing today will help build greater resiliency — both today and into the future.”

McIsaac pointed to the generosity of Torontonians as a positive sign that things may be getting better, noting they raised $115-million last year to help build a healthier and more prosperous city. That support enabled a two percent increase in base funding for United Way’s member agencies beginning this year. United Way also announced it will maintain its support for other programs and initiatives, for a total investment of $76.7-million in Toronto.

“We are thrilled to learn of this increase to our annual core funding from United Way,” said Margaret Hancock, Executive Director of Family Service Toronto, one of dozens of agencies supported by United Way Toronto. “This additional support will give our community a renewed measure of stability in what remains an uncertain time.”

“Stable core funding is essential to agencies such as ours and without it, we simply could not operate,” she added. “We’ll put this funding to work right away, helping people when they need it most.”

United Way provides multi-year funding for both programming and operations to its member agencies. The funding is flexible and allows agencies to respond to emerging issues by expanding programs as demand grows, or take advantage of new opportunities to strengthen the communities they serve.

McIsaac noted that United Way’s funding will help its member agencies meet a variety of immediate needs — everything from job counselling to settlement services to supports for women and seniors. It will also support longer-term strategies aimed at improving under-served neighbourhoods, through projects like Community Hubs.

“We know a two percent increase in funding will enable very important work,” McIsaac said. “At a time like this, every dollar counts.”

About United Way Toronto:

Established in 1956, United Way Toronto is a charity dedicated to creating opportunities for a better life for everyone. Working in partnership with others, we mobilize people and resources to support a network of agencies that help people when they need it most. United Way also addresses the root causes of social problems, working to change community conditions for the better over the long term.

Media contact:

Michelle Yao
Desk: 416-777-1444 ext. 340
Email: myao@uwgt.org