News
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July 15, 2008
One City. One Heart. One Way.
Making a difference every single day
The 2007 United Way Campaign raised an historic $108.1 million for our community. Torontonians worked tirelessly, gave generously, and demonstrated their profound commitment to the notion that when we come together as one, everything is possible.
The priorities of neighbourhoods, newcomers and youth continue to guide our efforts. Learn more about United Way's investment in our community and read about our newest member agency, Access Alliance.
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June 13, 2008
United Way events raise awareness and funds for Toronto communities
Almost 1,300 runners scurried from the heart of the financial district to Bloor Street and back to take part in United Way’s most recent event—the 5km Scotiabank Rat Race for United Way held on June 12, 2008. Currently in its eighth year, the race and its rat-nosed participants raised more than $300,000 for Toronto’s communities.
On June 8, 2008, the United Way Blossom Ball celebrated Toronto’s Chinese community and its contributions to United Way. CTV anchor Pauline Chan hosted the gala event that dazzled more than 500 guests with world-class entertainment and fabulous silent auction items. More than $260,000 was raised. The Blossom Ball has raised more than $2.5 million since 1999. Both events raised donations for United Way Toronto’s Community Fund, which supports a network of more than 200 agencies that strengthen communities and improve lives across our city.
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June 3, 2008
Frances Lankin named 2008 "Woman of the Year"
Frances Lankin, United Way Toronto President and CEO, was named the 2008 “Woman of the Year” in Toronto by the Consumers’ Choice Awards on June 2, 2008. The Consumers’ Choice Awards recognize the top businesses and individuals, who have been voted by consumers as exemplifying excellence. The awards are based on an objective survey conducted by Léger Marketing, which asks the general public to identify individuals and companies that have distinguished themselves most in the last year. “This award underscores the impact United Way Toronto is having across our city,” says Frances Lankin. “We work very hard to make a difference in the community every day and to create opportunities for a better life for all. As a snapshot of public perception, the Consumers’ Choice Award is a good indication that people in Toronto understand and acknowledge the work of United Way in their community.”
The Consumers’ Choice Award is the fourth honour awarded to Frances in the past few months. On May, 26, 2008, Frances was presented with The Eve Award, which honours significant achievements by women in political life and efforts to promote women in politics in Canada. Lankin, a former Member of Provincial Parliament, joins previous award recipients that include MP Carolyn Bennett, former MP and federal cabinet minister Flora MacDonald and Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion.
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May, 2008
The Tomorrow Fund™ surpasses $50 million mark
United Way Toronto’s endowment, The Tomorrow FundTM, has grown to $51,404,552 thanks to the outstanding generosity and compassion of United Way donors. Over the last year, three families established new Family Funds, increasing the total number of funds to 54.
The Fund gives Torontonians a unique opportunity to make a direct impact on children’s lives and the future of our city by providing stable funding to early learning and parenting programs.
In 2007, the Fund provided $1.5 million to 17 early learning and parenting programs, serving 6,911 children and 9,097 parents/caregivers, many in priority, inner suburban neighbourhoods. This investment will lay the foundation of success for our young by helping to improve family nutrition, develop parents’ childcare skills and connect isolated families to critical support systems.
The Fund also allocated $687,897 to programs that help other vulnerable Torontonians that need our support: seniors, homeless people, children from low-income families and more.
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May 14, 2008
United Way Toronto launches interactive Google map of UWT Member Agencies
Trying to find a United Way member agency in a specific geographic location is now quite simple, thanks to the creation of a Google map. Each agency is now represented by a red marker on a map of Toronto. Users can move around the map using the standard Google Maps interface, such as zooming and panning. To find details on a particular agency, simply click on one of the markers and an info bubble opens with the agency name, address, phone number, and web address. You can also get directions to or from the agency to any other location with a few simple clicks.
The map has additional interactivity when viewed within the Google interface. The left hand column lists all of the member agencies in alphabetical order. By clicking on the agency name, an info bubble opens on the map at the agency's location.
Users logged in with a Google ID can further customize the functionality of the United Way Toronto Agency Map by adding it to their "My Maps" tab. This allows for layering of different maps, such as United Way Toronto's 13 Priority Neighbourhoods.
The mapping project was initated by Nicole P in United Way Toronto's Community Investment department, in an attempt to better represent the many agencies across Toronto that she works with daily, making it easier for others to find them. Nicole was awarded the M-B Family Spirit Award for Innovation & Creativity in May in recognition of her contribution.
- May 1, 2008
Volunteer Coodinator, Karl Nielsen, recognized the outstanding contributions of United Way Volunteer, Julie Sanderson.
Without Volunteers, there would be no way
United Way Toronto celebrated National Volunteer Week today by recognizing the efforts of its numerous office volunteers during a reception at the United Way office.
National Volunteer Week, April 27 to May 3, 2008, pays special tribute to Canadian volunteers who give of themselves to better their communities and the lives of others. It also raises awareness of the vital contribution volunteers make to our communities and our country.
- January 9, 2008
CEO Award of Excellence in Public Relations to be presented to United Way’s Frances Lankin
The Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS), a national association representing the public relations profession, announced Frances Lankin as the recipient of its 15th annual CEO Award of Excellence in Public Relations.
As an award recipient, Frances joins a very select group of CEOs from the corporate, non profit and health sectors. This elite group, who were honoured in previous years, includes: the late Richard Bradshaw, General Director and Conductor, Canadian Opera Company; Charles Baillie, Chair, TD Bank Financial Group; and Dominic D’Alessandro, President and CEO, Manulife Financial – whose generosity made this year’s UWGT million dollar leadership challenge possible.
Frances was chosen to receive this honour based on her demonstrated excellence in communications. As our primary spokesperson, Frances is recognized as one of our city’s leading voices on social issues. Frances was also selected for her ability to exemplify our vision by her actions and behaviour, her work with the community and her outstanding ability to create and support the UWGT vision, internally and externally.
Frances will be recognized at the CPRS (Toronto) CEO Award of Excellence In Public Relations luncheon on Tuesday January 29 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
» Read the Media Advisory (pdf - 112 KB).
» Read the story on PR Daily (January 10, 2008).
- December 31, 2007
Frances Lankin receives Laurel of the Year in Toronto Star editorial
for "proving what otherS couldn't"The Toronto Star gave Frances Lankin their highest ranking in their year end editorial, Darts and Laurels. "For her efforts to focus attention on Toronto's specific problems and the need to find solutions, Lankin deserves the Laurel of the Year."
United Way of Greater Toronto's report, Losing Ground: The Persistent Growth of Family Poverty in Canada's Largest City reveals that one in four Toronto families are struggling in poverty, and that despite economic prosperity, high employment and strong job growth, Toronto’s family poverty rate at 28.8 per cent, compared with 19.5 per cent across Canada.
For more details, read the Toronto Star story.
- November 16, 2007
UWGT's Susan McIsaac named Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year
Every year the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) honours individuals and organizations that lead by example to improve the lives of others through their annual Philanthropy Awards. Yesterday afternoon at the National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon, the AFP presented the award for Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year to Susan McIsaac, VP of Resource Development at United Way of Greater Toronto.
AFP Toronto Chapter is a recognized leader in promoting philanthropy and providing education, training and best practices for those in the fundraising profession. They recently announced the 2007 award recipients in the categories of Outstanding Philanthropists, Outstanding Volunteer, Outstanding Corporation, Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation, Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, Outstanding Fundraising Professional and Small Organization for Excellence in Fundraising.
For more details, read the AFP news release.
- November 2, 2007
UNITED WAYS OF ONTARIO HONOURED WITH ONTARIO TRILLIUM FOUNDATION 25th ANNIVERSARY GREAT GRANTS AWARD
United Ways of Ontario (UWO) was honoured for the impact it has made in communities across the province at the Ontario Trillium Foundation's (OTF) 25th Anniversary Great Grants Awards. Early in its history, OTF recognized that the UWO and the Foundation were inextricably linked in every community. A strong United Way movement in the province greatly complemented OTF’s goals of building healthy and vibrant communities. In 1983, OTF made a substantial grant of $6,036,072 over five years to UWO, a network of all United Ways in the province, to help strengthen technological and administrative capacities. The grant also provided funding that created individual stabilization funds for each local United Way in the province.
The partnership between United Ways of Ontario and OTF has remained one of the most significant the Foundation has ever formed. UWO continues to be a vital force of strength and support to the voluntary sector all across the province.
- Read the media release
- Visit the Ontario Trillium Foundation's website
- October 18, 2007
United Way of Greater Toronto is one of the first 11 not-for-profit organizations to sign on to Imagine Canada’s new Ethical Fundraising Code
United Way of Greater Toronto’s Board of Trustees approved Imagine Canada’s new Ethical Fundraising Code, making United Way of Greater Toronto (UWGT) one of the first 11 not-for-profit organizations to sign on to the Code.
The objective of the Ethical Code is greater transparency: to provide donors and the public with criteria to evaluate a charity’s financials and fundraising practices. It will officially launch in January 2008.
UWGT is already well aligned with the new Code and has a long history of good governance and financial transparency – reporting all aspects of our results, assets/liabilities, trends and operational capabilities through our Annual Report to the Community. UWGT is currently refining some of our protocols and processes to ensure all areas of the new code are fully met.
Commitment to the Ethical Code is voluntary and intended to complement existing regulation of charities that is shared among federal, provincial and municipal levels of government.
To learn more about the Ethical Fundraising Code, visit imaginecanada.ca.
October 18, 20 & 21, 2007Thousands took part in the 30th Annual Enbridge CN Tower Climb for United Way
Close to 11,000 particpants climbed the 1,776 steps to the top of the CN Tower in support of the United Way. Thank you to all the climbers, volunteers and sponsors for making this year's event a huge success.
It is not too late to sponsor a climber—visit the sponsorship page.
See photos from the three day event or visit the event website.
- September 18, 2007
Breakthrough Thinking: A Forum on Working Smarter in Community Building
Frances Lankin & Xavier De Souza Briggs
Former Clinton advisor and MIT professor Xavier De Souza Briggs, spoke to a Toronto audience on September 18, 2007 about effective community building.
De Souza Briggs linked the importance of community development to addressing social needs in Toronto’s under-served priority neighbourhoods.
The purpose of community building according to De Souza Briggs is:
- to create local, political empowerment – enabling residents to change their neighbourhoods
- to improve social outcomes – making a difference in the lives of children, families, and all residents.
United Way has community development projects currently underway in nine of 13 priority neighbourhoods designated by United Way and the City of Toronto. By 2008, development projects will be expanded to all priority neighbourhoods.
The De Souza Briggs meeting was organized by United Way of Greater Toronto and the Toronto City Summit Alliance, and was generously sponsored by the T.R. Meighen Family Foundation.