By Jack Brittle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Late last month, the United Way Golden Horseshoe (UWGH) released its inaugural Impact Report outlining the reach that the organization has had throughout its jurisdiction. It also includes statistics originally compiled by the United Way legacy organizations that merged to create UWGH earlier this year.
Kristen Jacob, vice president of marketing and communications for UWGH, said that the report is a way to showcase to donors and volunteers what their contributions create in the community.
“We see this impact report as being so much more than just our annual report,” Jacob said. “So really this whole piece is our way of showing the community exactly what their generosity made possible over this year.”
UWGH supported over 440,000 people in the Golden Horseshoe last year, including 251,253 in Halton and Hamilton. They supported 148 agencies and 235 programs, with $18,000,000 raised by the legacy United Way organizations.
“These stats and takeaways represent thousands of people who are finding food, getting stable housing, support for their mental health, and help for their children and youth,” Jacob said. “All of these are really important because behind every number is a person whose life is stronger because their community showed up for them.”
Jacob said the report also highlights specific individuals who have been helped by contributions to the UWGH. She shared the story of a young girl named Angelina, who was supported by a United Way-funded arts program.
“For years, Angelina was bullied and felt school was unbearable,” Jacob said. “She lost her confidence and didn’t feel like she belonged anywhere.
The arts program helped Angelina connect with like-minded teenagers and youth.
“She got to experience music, drama, and design, and found what she called her ‘safe space’ where she could be herself. She started to see her confidence grow again and began to make new friends.”
Jacob also shared Sarah’s story, a woman who fled her home country due to war and was helped by a United Way partner agency that supports newcomers to Canada.
“She came to this country as a single parent with her 6-year-old son,” Jacob said. “She spent the first 10 days in Canada sleeping at the airport because she didn’t really know where to go, what to do, and was uncertain about how to navigate things.”
Because of the organization, Sarah was able to secure housing and access food and transportation. She has now completed an engineering project management program while caring for her son.
However, despite the progress made, there is still a lot of work to be done. Jacob noted that the report also highlights ongoing challenges, including growing demand for services provided by UWGH-supported agencies.
“We’re seeing increasing demand for food programs, the affordable housing piece, and mental health services,” Jacob said.
The report states that 97% of funded programs reported increased or consistent demand, while 44% of programs maintained waitlists, representing nearly 17,000 people waiting for support.
“That’s just a reminder for us on why our role as United Way is so important,” Jacob said. “We’re not just simply funding programs. We’re helping strengthen that entire network of support. We often get seen in our community as being a fundraiser. And while we are raising funds for the community, our work is much broader now.”
“We’re bringing together, across the Golden Horseshoe, agencies, governments, businesses, volunteers, and different community leaders, and we’re investing in programs that are making a difference.”
Jacob encouraged families who are able to do so to give back to UWGH.
“Whether it’s giving your time through different volunteering programs, attending one of our events, or coming out and supporting fundraising efforts, all of those combined things have a huge impact in the end,” Jacob said.
“We would ask community members to consider, if able, to increase your donation to United Way this year,” Jacob continued.
To read the full Impact Report, click here.
