CHANGE A LIFE
stories, news, and other happenings in our community
A new report released by Megaphone Magazine says the life expectancy of a homeless person is about half that of the average British Columbian as reported in The Vancouver Sun. The causes of death also vary widely: accidental deaths accounted for 47 per cent of homeless deaths in the province over eight years, compared with
United Way’s Public Policy Institute will take the stage in Seattle as part of the Imagine, Independent Sector National Conference, Nov.16-18. PPI faculty Mike Harcourt will present broad lessons learned from his experience in public office that relate to non-profit advocacy. He will also talk about why he felt it was important to help non-profits
Three hundred everyday heroes started the morning right attending Best Buy Canada’s Lower Mainland United Way kick off Tuesday, November 5. United Way 2014 Campaign Cabinet Chair and Best Buy Vice President of Administration & Corporate Human Resources, Grant McTaggart hosted the event at the organization’s Canadian Headquarters in Burnaby. Young Mom and United Way
Yuri Fulmer has practically done it all. No matter what his volunteer role—from United Way loaned representative to Board Chair—he has always exemplified the kind of dedicated generosity that makes him a philanthropic leader in the community. Last night at the 2014 United Way Pathfinders Dinner held at the Four Seasons Vancouver, Fulmer was recognized
For the second year in a row, a number of maritime employers and unions are banding together to raise money for United Way. Last year, Waterfront United raised $545,000 to help children, families and seniors in the Lower Mainland. From pancake breakfasts, to pizza lunches and human hamster races. more than 6,000 people are having
In order for any business to thrive, you need people who are willing to put their passion into action. At KPMG, this philosophy is integral to its core business. But it is also at the heart of its commitment to corporate social responsibility. Through its support of United Way, the people at KPMG aren’t just
3.8 million people in Canada cannot access the food they need. Close to 1 million people use food banks each month. October 17th is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The B.C. Poverty Reduction Coalition has launched an awareness and advocacy plan: Chew on This. According to the 2013 Hunger Count published by
Earlier this month, Labour leadership, Campaign Associates, CLC Labour Participation Department staff and community leaders came together at the Labour Campaign Breakfast to kick off the 2014 United Way campaign in unionized workplaces. Guests were inspired to raise support for United Way by Terri Van Steinburg, President of Kwantlen Faculty Association (FPSE Local 5). The
It’s easy to take for granted the ordinary things in our lives, but for many people in our community, an ordinary life is just not possible. With your generosity and United Way’s help, we have the power to change people’s lives. None of the work we do would be possible without our donors. In 2014/15,
Canada ranks fourth when it comes to the well-being of its older residents according to Global AgeWatch Index. The index ranks countries on scales that measure economic security, health and other factors. Norway and Sweden were at the top of the Global AgeWatch Index while Afghanistan ranked last of the 96 nations in the index
When there’s work to be done, you can count on Labour volunteers to roll up their sleeves and lend a hand…or 24. On September 19, a dozen volunteers, including members from United Way British Columbia’s Campaign Cabinet Labour Committee and the Labour Participation Department, as well as several Labour Campaign Associates, spent the day painting,
How do you inspire change? You lead by example. United Way Pacesetters set a standard for leadership and community support by making an early commitment to United Way. They are helping to create a world of endless possibilities for everyone. Over 80 organizations have committed to an early gift or an increase of 10 percent
Statistics Canada is projecting that British Columbia’s senior population will comprise between 24 per cent and 27 per cent of B.C.’s population in 2038. This is nearly five-per-cent higher than the Canadian average. According to the data released this week and published in The Vancouver Sun, the number of seniors living in B.C. is expected
What makes people happy? Being social. And giving. It’s a pretty simple formula as presented by author of the book Happy City and urban experimentalist Charles Montgomery at the RevUp event held yesterday. A room of over 250 enthusiastic volunteers comprised of United Way Board of Directors, Campaign Cabinet, Employee Campaign Chairs, and Campaign Associates
Incredible things happened this weekend – 12 teams of 15 people each pulled a 757-200 jet weighing 127,900 pounds 50 feet down the tarmac at the UPS Jet Pull for United Way with just a rope, elbow grease and teamwork. Kudos to UPS for organizing the event and to Teamsters Local 31 for providing on-site
From arugula to zucchini, the annual Vegetable Contest brought out an impressive variety of edibles. The contest, part of the Harvest Festival hosted by Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House last week, invited home gardeners from the Hastings-Sunrise community to show off their vegetables for a chance to win prizes. United Way British Columbia funds both the
It can be the smallest action, like voting, that can create change, something British Columbians will be doing in the upcoming municipal elections. Unions are an important force for democracy, not just in the workplace, but beyond. Unions advocate for better social, economic and environmental policies. International studies have shown that the countries in which
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) estimates at least $2.3 billion a year could be used more effectively for seniors’ care. In a Saskatoon Star Phoenix article, CMA President Louis Hugo Francescutti said that our system is “not oriented toward taking care of people who are living longer.” A survey released by the CMA said that
You get a call from the hospital: your father has suffered a stroke. Or your aunt has fallen and broken her hip. Or you can no longer care for your loved one due to the advancement of dementia. What next? As their son or daughter or caregiver, these kind of events often necessitate a change
Every neighbourhood in the Lower Mainland is unique, and each faces its own set of challenges. To address these challenges, solutions specific to each neighbourhood need to be developed. Enter United Way My Neighbourhood, My Future (MNMF), a bold new initiative that recognizes the power of a place in shaping the lives of its residents—particularly