Current Events
United Way sets $8M goal for 2010
Speaks to urgency of service demand and the region’s current supply
Monday, August 23, 2010: United Way of York Region (UWYR) has set the bar for another aggressive fundraising drive announcing an $8M goal for 2010. The amount represents a 4.3% increase over last year’s record achievement of $7.66 million.
“For a region to be great, it must be great for all – and that requires a strong infrastructure of social supports for the over 1 million residents who now call York Region home,” said Bruce Macgregor, Chief Administrative Officer of The Regional Municipality of York and volunteer Chair of the 2010 United Way Campaign. “Our volunteer Cabinet of community and business leaders knows that as our population grows, the demand for United Way funded programs grows. Our 2010 goal helps us keep pace with this growing need for services.”
Charles Beer, Principal, Counsel Public Affairs Inc. and Chair of UWYR’s Board agrees that an ever increasing number of the region’s residents are accessing United Way funded agencies. “United Way is the backbone of the region’s social services infrastructure, the link that provided a hand up to over 290,000 people last year. A huge thank you to our Campaign Cabinet for seeing the ever increasing demand for services and responding with an $8M goal challenge.”
“In 2009, our 39 member agencies experienced a 40% increase in people knocking on their door, asking for help,” said Daniele Zanotti, CEO, UWYR. “This goal is about the urgency of demand and our current supply. This is about ensuring a depressed mom in Georgina will find counselling close to home, a teenager in King City will get help for substance abuse in his or her neighbourhood, or a grandmother in Vaughan will access in-house supports to stay safely at home – all thanks to United Way funded programs.”
The 2010 Campaign was launched at the Toromont CAT Dragon Boat Festival in support of United Way of York Region on August 21st at Seneca College King Campus. A total of 35 teams gathered to compete and raised a total of $160,000.
Glenn Keenan, Vice President, Power Systems, Toromont CAT is proud of his company’s long-standing partnership with UWYR. “This was our third year as title sponsors of the signature Dragon Boat event. This important event and others such as our workplace campaign and our volunteer participation in Day of Caring allow Toromont CAT to give back where our employees live and work. Without a doubt, the most effective way to achieve this is by supporting United Way.”
84 cents of every dollar raised by United Way of York Region supports 100 programs delivered by 39 member agencies in the Region focusing on five priority areas:
- Supporting those who have mental health challenges;
- Providing services for newcomers and immigrants;
- Preventing domestic violence and abuse;
- Addressing issues of affordable housing and homelessness; and
- Promoting literacy.
For more information contact:
Nicole Cleve, Marketing Coordinator
United Way of York Region
905-474-9974 ext 250
ncleve@uwyr.on.ca
