Participants enjoy Access Alliance’s 'Newcomers Cooking Together' program held at United Way agency Warden Woods Community Centre.
Making a difference every single day
The 2007 United Way Campaign raised an historic $108.1 million for our community. Once again, as they have for more than 50 years, Torontonians looked into their hearts, reached into their pockets and rallied to the cause. They worked tirelessly, gave generously, and demonstrated their profound commitment to the notion that when we come together as one, everything is possible.
Speaking at United Way’s Annual General Meeting, Frances Lankin expressed her gratitude to the entire community. “As a result of the extraordinary generosity of Torontonians,” she said, “the United Way Community Fund will invest an unprecedented $74.8 million in the community, a significant increase over last year.” She described the Community Fund as United Way’s most important tool to strengthen the lives of individuals, families and communities; make a difference every single day in the lives of people living in our city; and support important initiatives and strategies that address the underlying causes of social problems.
The priorities of neighbourhoods, newcomers and youth continue to guide United Way’s efforts in the areas of fund distribution, research and public policy, advocacy and the marshalling of stakeholders, partners and resources.
Neighbourhoods, newcomers and youth benefit from record funding
In 2008, United Way will continue to focus on the 13 inner suburban Toronto neighbourhoods identified as high priority by the Strong Neighbourhoods Task Force. Moreover, due to the overwhelming success of the 2007 Campaign, 76 per cent of incremental new money will be directed to agencies serving high-need inner suburban neighbourhoods. To help these agencies deal with the challenges of increasing poverty, growing numbers of newcomers and marginalized, at-risk youth, and inadequate social services, funding will be targeted to supporting agency infrastructure and youth and newcomer services. These include youth programs designed for 13-24 year olds and settlement and integration programs to help newcomers engage in their communities.
Funding will also be allocated for a variety of additional services, among them early childhood programs, support services for seniors, programs for homeless and under-housed individuals, employment supports and training/re-training programs.
A new member agency that helps newcomers across the city
As one of the defining features of Canadian society, diversity is an essential part of our cultural capital and our nation is far richer for it. However, we face a complex range of challenges as newcomers move into neighbourhoods that simply don’t have the resources required to help them settle, learn how to access the services that are available to them and to their children, find employment opportunities, and engage in the life of the community. Without these resources, without a helping hand, newcomers can neither participate fully in the mainstream of Canadian life nor realize their dreams of a better life and a better future for their children.
It is especially fitting that Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services became a new United Way member agency in 2007. Access Alliance’s mandate is to support newcomers and refugees to Toronto. The agency provides services in over 70 languages at over 20 locations across the city, most of them in the inner suburbs. While the agency provides primary health care services, it also focuses on the social determinants of health including poverty, housing, employment, education and social support networks.
In 2008 United Way will support the agency’s core infrastructure and programs by allocating $150,000 to fund salaries and program costs for two Peer Outreach workers who will provide services to high-need newcomers and refugee women, a Youth Outreach worker who will link with high-need newcomers and refugee youth living in the Teesdale and Crescent Town neighbourhoods, and a Volunteer Coordinator who will recruit, orient and train more than 50 volunteers. Coming from the diverse communities that Access Alliance serves, these volunteers will help the organization deliver services more efficiently and effectively.
Where do the funds go?
A total of $108.1 million was raised during the 2007 fall campaign. Here’s how the funds will be allocated in 2008:
- $74.8 million invested across the Toronto community through increased support to United Way’s network of 200 health and social service agencies, including core funding, programs and targeted initiatives.
- $7.7 million allocated, as directed by donors, to other United Ways, including Ajax-Pickering-Uxbridge, Oakville, Peel and York Region.
- $14 million distributed to charities other than United Way as directed by donors.
- $11.6 million spent in fundraising, operating and administration costs, pledge losses and allocations and needs assessment costs.
Supporting a network of critical services and programs
In addition to delivering core funding support to member agencies, United Way will continue to provide time-limited, special grant funding to a variety of targeted initiatives, among them: Action for Neighbourhood Change, Community Hubs, Success by 6®, Youth Initiatives, Focus on Youth and the Toronto Enterprise Fund. One-time grants will also be allocated to special programs. By supporting a network of critical services and programs across the city, United Way provides vital services to hundreds of thousands of people. Making a difference every single day.
One City. One Heart. One Way. was the Cover Story in our quarterly newsletter, Community Matters: Summer 2008
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