CHANGE A LIFE
stories, news, and other happenings in our community
This week, we bid farewell and thank our energetic and passionate group of 31 Campaign Associates. Every year, local companies, organizations and unions generously sponsor or loan individuals to help United Way raise millions of dollars to help those most in need. Campaign Associates are essential to the on-going success of our organization. They help
Today is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women in Canada. Established in 1991 by Parliament, this day marks the anniversary of the 14 young women murdered at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal. They died for no other reason other than because they were women. The names of these women are: Geneviève
For 38 years, United Way and Labour have worked together to improve lives and build strong, active, inclusive, and healthy communities. Behind the achievements of this partnership are people who dedicate their lives and careers to advocating for social change. Three outstanding community and labour champions were recognized at the 24th Annual Labour Appreciation Night
When we work together, amazing things are possible. Working together makes strong communities. Today at the 2017 Community Partner Awards Lunch, United Way British Columbia celebrated another year of amazing things, recognizing its important, impactful and inspiring community partnerships in the cities and neighbourhoods we are honoured to call home. Keynote speaker Alia Sunderji, SFU
If all the children in B.C. who live in poverty were gathered together, they would form B.C.’s fifth-largest city with a population of 153,300. That city would be disproportionately populated with First Nations kids, visible minorities, recent immigrants and children of single parents, according to a newly released BC Child Poverty Report Card by the
Congratulations to Joe and Rosalie Segal and family! The prominent philanthropists have been recognized with the Association of Fundraising Professionals Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes an individuals’ extraordinary contribution and dedication to the fundraising profession. They were also lauded with The Giving Heart award in the category of Outstanding Philanthropist to an Organization Raising over
We’re so excited, and we just can’t hide it! On November 28 we are celebrating Giving (Props) Tuesday. That’s right – this year, we’re putting a new spin on Giving Tuesday. We’re using the day to just to say thanks and share kudos – to give “props”, if you will. It’s Giving (Props) Tuesday! It’s a
Traditionally, a business’s success has been defined by money: how much it’s making; how much it’s investing; how much is being used to expand operations and roles. But as we move into an age focused less on the bottom line, and more on social responsibility and sustainability, our definition of success is shifting. Increasingly, we
Residents of East Vancouver’s Strathcona neighbourhood face many challenges, including poverty, access to affordable housing and high childhood vulnerability rates. Linda Day, Executive Director of the Aboriginal Mothers Centre Society (AMCS) sees in particular how these issues affect Aboriginal mothers and their children living in the area. “There are many challenges facing Aboriginal women
It’s a fact: across Canada, individuals over the age of 85 now outnumber those under 15. And we’re living longer: there are now more than 8,000 centenarians in Canada. For British Columbians of all ages, these statistics serve as an important reminder that the overall wellness of our seniors must remain a top priority, especially
98% of seniors living in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley say their quality of life is “good” or “very good” – if they attend community-based programs. Seniors participating in these activities show a higher level of satisfaction with their quality of life and social interactions than those who do not, a new poll by
Sheila Ross, a long-time community supporter has been recognized with the 2017 Joseph and Rosalie Segal United Way Community Vision Award. She received the tribute Tuesday night surrounded by family and friends at United Way British Columbia’s annual recognition event for major gift donors, the Pathfinders Dinner. The Community Vision Award recognizes individuals or families
Gloria loves helping her neighbours in Burnaby – so much so, that in 2010, she was the recipient of the City of Burnaby’s ‘Citizen of the Year’ award. While she has spent a lifetime giving back to her community, she now finds herself on the receiving end. “I do have mobility problems now,” says
Seven unions and 11 maritime organizations from the regions’ working waterfront have united together to raise funds for United Way. Over the past four years, Waterfront United has raised $2.28 million to provide a safe harbour to children, families and seniors in need across the Lower Mainland. Walter Gerlach, IAMAW – Northwest District 250, Bob
Social inclusion — sometimes referred to as a sense of belonging — is the act of making all groups of people within a society feel valued and important. United Way British Columbia and four other United Ways – Calgary, Guelph, Hamilton and Ottawa – have partnered with Mitacs, a national not-for-profit research and training organization,
Earlier this week, the second annual Family Feud pitted KPMG against Odlum Brown to raise funds for United Way. Four teams from each organization competed for the title of reigning champion. Audience members participated by answering skill-testing questions. This year, Odlum Brown won, taking the winner title away from KPMG. Debra Doucette Hewson, President and
Lucca is one of 170,000 children in the Lower Mainland between the ages of 6-12. Just like his mom, Miriam, a single mother, Lucca loves soccer. The 9-year-old is also passionate about poetry. Thanks to a unique United Way School’s Out program in Burnaby, he gets to participate in both. “Soccer’s my favourite, but I
A ball of energy with nowhere to go—that’s how 25-year-old Verdann describes her younger self. Throughout her childhood, her unstable home life sent her bouncing from household to household, and city to city. By the time she was 17, Verdann had been couch surfing and sleeping on the street for years. “I was in a
Each year, a key group of supporters take on the challenge to “jump start” our annual campaign by becoming a United Way Pacesetter. Last year, the generosity of this incredible group of organizations resulted in almost $2.6 million raised for United Way. Their support, just like yours, means hundreds of thousands of our community’s kids,
Every year across Metro Vancouver, residents throw out more than 100,000 tonnes of food. To put that in perspective, each day residents across our communities send more than 15,000 heads of lettuce, 40,000 tomatoes, 80,000 potatoes, 32,000 loaves of bread, and 70,000 cups of milk to the landfill. Sustainability advocate and SFU lecturer Alia Sunderji