2019/20 Annual Report

2019 was another exciting year of collaboration and community building at United Way. Businesses, governments, charities, and caring individuals worked in new and exciting ways to pool resources and rally together to address poverty as a community. This collaborative approach has led to some significant milestones being reached over the past year.

The Community Mental Health Action Plan, a collaboration working to improve the quality of and access to local mental health services, launched a new website which acts as a valuable hub of resources for service providers, organizations and individuals interested in learning about mental health.

Not to be outdone, 211 also launched a new website this year and is now accessible by text, phone and online. In addition, they launched a special student initiative that will help countless students in need. Alberta students can now text the word “student” to 211 or use the live chat feature on 211’s website anytime to be connected to programs and services on-campus and in their community.

Supporters also partnered with United Way in new ways this past year. Local community leaders including His Worship Mayor Iveson joined United Way’s efforts by sharing why poverty is unignorable to them. Their video messages were featured on an interactive video wall that travelled to various community hubs throughout our region, including such prime locations as the Royal Alberta Museum and Terwillegar Rec Centre.

We were also pleased to bring together six Edmonton-based post-secondary institutions to present Elevating Futures, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Canada that empowered post-secondary students and faculty to address local poverty with a commitment to expand understanding, explore solutions and experience what we can accomplish together.

Our community is helping change the face of local issues like mental health and removing barriers to critical services. Community leaders and local students are stepping up to make a difference. We are continually amazed by actions of caring people in our region and all that they are doing to create a place where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. United, we are changing local lives for the better.

It has been amazing to see the momentum build in our community to tackle the #UNIGNORABLE issue of local poverty. Over 18,000 donors, 1,000 volunteers and more than 400 companies came together to give back to their community during the 2019 campaign.

Over 500 people gathered at the Edmonton Convention Centre in September to help Kickoff our campaign where they learned about all of the amazing work happening through the Financial Pathways Collaborative. Attendees heard how this unique partnership of seven financial institutions works with United Way to provide financial empowerment, a match savings program and education to individuals in our community with limited resources.

Passionate volunteers fuelled their workplace campaigns with creativity and ingenuity, leading to some amazing results. We saw the creation of educational podcasts, social media challenges and an Amazing Race reenactment, just to name a few.

Organizations joined together to create unique partnerships including a community Skate for United Way event at Roger’s Place put on by the City and a #YEG Stair Climb Challenge put on by a new Downtown Collaborative of businesses.

Nineteen Sponsored Campaign Representatives from 14 companies and 46 Corporate Solutions Cabinet members supported efforts and were invaluable boots on the ground.

These efforts along with the efforts of donors and volunteers from across our region made it possible for over 257,000 local people to get support in a time of need last year. It’s simply amazing what we can accomplish when we join forces.

That’s what makes the Alberta Capital Region such a special place — we come together as a community in unique and powerful ways. When we work united, we strengthen our region and its future. It has been such a fulfilling experience being a part of this campaign and we are so proud of our community and everything it has done to help create pathways out of poverty for those in need.

George Letki Outstanding Volunteer
Michelle Devlin

Power of Many Award
Downtown Collaborative – #YEG Stair Climb Challenge

Leading the Way Award
Imperial & Unifor Local 21A

Small Business Award
Reliance Home Comfort

Big Idea Award
PwC

Everyday Hero Award
PCL Construction

GenNext Award
Enbridge

Welcome to United Way Award
The Colombian

Education & Engagement Award
North West Paving Ltd.

Labour Awards of Distinction
Health Sciences Association of Alberta

Funded Partner Campaign Award
Connect Society – Deafness Education Advocacy & Family Services

Outstanding Committee Member of the Year
Daina Semotiuk, Deloitte.

Employee Campaign Chair of the Year, Private Sector
Andrew Skinner & Shivangi Nagarajan – Magna IV Engineering

Employee Campaign Chair of the Year, Public Sector
Jenny Albers – City of Edmonton

Campaign Committee of the Year
Alberta Blue Cross

211 Alberta

211 is a comprehensive referral service soon to be available to all Albertans. In 2019, 211 announced a province-wide expansion, providing this vital service in all communities across Alberta. A hub that connects all Albertans with essential services within their region 24/7, 211 response is available in 170 languages. Text services were introduced in the last year, allowing individuals to access 211 through live chats, text messaging and, in many locations, by telephone.

In preparation for this expansion, the 211 database grew to include 21 new communities, 62 new organizations and 235 new program listings. A total of more than 70,000 contacts by phone, text and online chat were received in 2019.

YEG Downtown Collaboration

The YEG Downtown Collaboration was established in 2019. Five partners came together to support the work of United Way through a mission of connecting downtown organizations to their neighbours in a caring and helpful way through education, engagement, and fundraising. Each year, this volunteer-led initiative will coordinate one major event that not only raises money for United Way but also increases the profile of the work being done in our community to create pathways out of poverty. In 2019, more than 100 people participated in the group’s inaugural event, the YEG Stair Climb, by climbing 22 flights of stairs and raising close to $2,000 in support of local programs and services through United Way. To learn more about this initiative and what’s being planned next, follow it on Twitter, @downtown_yeg, or Facebook, @yegdtc.

Elevating Futures

Six Edmonton-based post-secondary institutions and United Way of the Alberta Capital Region came together to form the one-of-a-kind initiative, Elevating Futures. This initiative included participation in a United Way Poverty Simulation. Students and faculty from across our region were able to expand their understanding of what children, families and individuals face when living in poverty by participating. This unique experience helped challenge perceptions, change perspectives and strengthen understanding and empathy. The simulation replicated a month in the life of a family living in poverty and challenged participants to provide basic needs to their family with a limited income.

Community Mental Health Action Plan

The Community Mental Health Action Plan is a partnership of more than 50 organizations working to maximize supports and services to all organizations addressing mental health and addiction in Edmonton and Alberta. This includes the implementation of the Mental Health Training Framework and the expansion of 211 across the province. In 2019, 282 medical students and security guards learned through the Community Mental Health Action Plan how adverse childhood experiences and trauma affect their work with vulnerable people.

I spent the morning facilitating an #EachOneTeachOne introduction to basic budgeting workshop for @myunitedway Such a pleasure being part of program that helps so many people.

— Could it be this year (@JonHollandYEG) February 19, 2020

Thank U to our @ABheartland Partners @myunitedway #HeartlandChallenge @Dow_Canada @ShellScotford @NWRGreatSite @Sherritt_Intl @NutrienLTD MEGlobal. @CityFortSask @StrathcoCounty TransAlta. Pembina @SpartanControls You R the ♥️ in Heartland lifting people out of poverty pic.twitter.com/oZCQr26jGa

— Gale Katchur (@GaleKatchur) February 6, 2020

https://twitter.com/miss_jazzyb/status/1225285954119716864?s=20&t=KC0oT4DxBK3PUA1eLwpbUw

On a cold day like today, I am thankful for the meaningful work I am able to do, the roof over my head, and the supports I have around me. Consider donating to @myunitedway to uplift the lives of Edmontonians. #UNIGNORABLE pic.twitter.com/1qidtXVgfd

— Jason Syvixay (@DowntownJason) January 15, 2020

When you live in poverty, every morning is day one. Poverty is truly #unignorable so thank you to @myunitedway for their incredible work in #YEG. https://t.co/6GM9zaI6hc

— Councillor Aaron Paquette (@AaronWardDene) September 19, 2019

JMMF staff are at the @myunitedway for #makeitourbusiness train the trainer training– and Perri couldn't be happier with the turnout! New trainees to help workplaces understand their role in support those affected by #domesticviolence. pic.twitter.com/O91WOKyGxj

— Jessica Martel Memorial Fdn- Jessie's House (@JMMFoundation) October 28, 2019