On June 19, United Way British Columbia held its 88th Annual General Meeting. The afternoon was an opportunity to celebrate our history and share the vision articulated in our recently-adopted strategic plan.
In addition to highlighting our community impact from the past year, attendees welcomed new board members, thanked retiring members, and recognized longtime partners.
Unleashing local love, changing lives locally
President & CEO Michael McKnight explained how changes in the charitable landscape provide opportunities for United Way to innovate.
“We’re seeing shifts in demographics and generational expectations, in technology, and in the broader marketplace. This is propelling us to ask ourselves what value we will offer the communities we serve, in the years to come.”
President & CEO Michael McKnight speaks to influences driving a new way forward for United Way British Columbia.
Jeff Calbick, Vice President of Community Impact and Investment, explained United Way’s new mission: serving the needs of our local community and igniting the desire in everyone to improve this community we call home.
“In some ways our renewed purpose means getting back to our community roots,” says Jeff, adding, “we will continue to invest in work to support vulnerable people but we won’t stop there.”
“United Way will work to help people express local love so that they can more actively engage as volunteers, and have the tools and know-how to take action on issues that matter to them. We will help people become citizens again.”
Read more in our strategic plan executive summary, Unleashing Local Love and Changing Lives Locally.
Thanking donors for life-changing connections
The Annual General Meeting also marked the publication of our 2017/18 Annual Report, celebrating how the right connection changes everything, with stories like Kieneshia’s.
Thanks to the generosity of our community, Kieneshia is enrolled in a local United Way School’s Out Program. Taking part in team sports and games, and helping the younger kids, has allowed Kieneshia to create new social connections, improve her self-confidence and develop her leadership skills. Now she’s thriving, on the path to success.
“Before when I was left out, I felt sad. Now, I know I belong.”
The 2017/18 Annual Report also highlights innovative projects like United Way’s Avenues of Change initiative and United Way’s incredibly successful second annual Tampon Tuesday campaign, examples of how United Way aims to foster collaboration and mobilize community members to make a difference in concrete, highly impactful ways.
Read the 2017/18 Annual Report in full, here.
Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley: stronger together
The Annual General Meeting marked one year since the Boards of Directors of United Way Fraser Valley and United Way British Columbia voted to join, combining their respective strengths and local knowledge to better serve our regions. This year many caring and dedicated workplaces supported United Way campaigns directly in the Fraser Valley, enabling 75 programs and initiatives to provide life-saving connections to people throughout the Fraser Valley, from Abbotsford to Boston Bar.
As one stronger United Way across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, we expanded local investments and strengthened our capacity to respond to local needs.
Thanks a million!
Two awards were presented at the 2018 Annual General Meeting, including the Thanks a Million Award presented to MoveUP.
The Thanks a Million Award is bestowed by United Way Centraide Canada. It recognizes organizations that raise $1 million or more, a milestone MoveUp achieved in its province-wide fundraising for B.C. United Ways, in 2017.
Lori Mayhew accepted MoveUP’s Thanks a Million Award, national recognition for their remarkable contributions over $1million.
MoveUP is one of United Way British Columbia’s most active union partners at all levels, from their own perennially successful workplace campaign; to their involvement in campaigns across the province at ICBC, Fortis, BC Hydro, BCAA and Translink, just to name a few; to the leadership MoveUP has offered as part of our Board of Directors and Labour Cabinet.
Congratulations MoveUP!
Finally, Michael McKnight accepted the Partners in Humanity Citation from longtime partner the Canadian Red Cross. The award recognized United Way of Lower Mainland’s contributions to building safe communities across B.C., specifically through its support of the Red Cross’s Respect Education program to stop bullying in local high schools.
Guests heard a moving first-hand account from participant Victoria, a bullying survivor turned youth facilitator and educator, helping other vulnerable kids learn how to treat each other with respect and kindness.
Our greatest thanks to the Canadian Red Cross for this honour.
Welcome and thank you
We are thrilled to welcome the following individuals to the 2018/2018 United Way British Columbia Board of Directors: Janet Andrews, Secretary-Treasurer, New Westminster & District Labour Council; Frank Crema, Community Member; Jennifer Cudlipp, Vice President British Columbia, Life Labs; Walter Gerlach, Directing Business Representative Northwest District 250, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; Nicolas Jimenez, Interim President and CEO, ICBC; Lisa Kershaw, Partner and Director, Boyden Canada; Stephen Kukucha, Senior Council, Global Public Affairs & PacBridge Partners; Rob Malli, CFO & EVP Finance and Corporate Services, Translink; Barb Schimnowsky, Search Practice Lead, Watson Inc.; and Stephen Von Sychowski, President, Vancouver & District Labour Council.
They will join returning board members: Mark Blucher (Board Chair), President and CEO of Central 1; Jim Belsheim (Vice Chair), President, Neptune Bulk Terminals (Canada) Ltd.; Rudy Kerklaan (Secretary/Treasurer), Vice Chairman, Connor, Clark & Lunn Private Capital Ltd.; Helen Blackburn, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Coast Capital Savings; George Davison, President, Federation of Post-Secondary Educators (FPSE); Robin Dhir, President, Twin Brook Developments Ltd.; Heather Johnson, Community Leader (Fraser Valley); Jeannie Kilby, CUPE Local 402; Jerry Lampert, Community Leader; Anna Lilly, Senior Vice-President and Partner, Fleishman-Hillard Canada; Mauro Manzi, Senior Vice President, Pacific Region, TD Bank Group
Our greatest thanks to retiring board members: John DeLucchi, Managing Partner, BC Region, PwC; Gwenne Farrell, Vice President, MoveUP Together; Joey Hartman, President, Vancouver and District Labour Council; Steve Hunt, Director, District 3, United Steelworkers Union; Sue Paish, President and CEO, LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services; Sheryl Rivers, Sole Proprietor, Rivers Consulting Solutions; and Duncan Sinclair, Vice Chair, Deloitte Canada.
United Way British Columbia works with local agencies, governments and donors to build our vision of a healthy, caring, inclusive community. Learn more here.