Sept. 19, 2026 — United Way Golden Horseshoe
United Way Golden Horseshoe has officially launched its first fundraising campaign as one organization, setting an ambitious goal of $18 million to strengthen the network of local programs and services people rely on across Brant, Haldimand-Norfolk, Halton, Hamilton, and Niagara.
The historic campaign goal was announced today at the annual UPS Plane Pull for United Way at Hamilton International Airport, where thousands of community members came together to kick off the 2026-2027 campaign.
More than 90 teams took to the tarmac, putting their strength and teamwork to the test by pulling a 200,000-pound aircraft 50 feet. Together, participants raised more than $275,000 on the event day, giving the campaign a strong start and demonstrating what is possible when people pull together for their communities.
For United Way Golden Horseshoe President and CEO Brad Park, the $18 million goal reflects both the opportunity of coming together as a larger regional organization and the reality of growing need in communities.
“This is an exciting moment for United Way Golden Horseshoe, but it’s also an important one,” said Park. “For the first time, we are setting one campaign goal for communities across the Golden Horseshoe. We know $18 million is ambitious, but the need around us is growing, and our ambition has to grow with it. Reaching this goal means strengthening the local programs people depend on and helping ensure they are there when someone reaches out for support.”
Growing need calls for greater action
Last year, United Way-supported programs helped more than 440,000 people across the Golden Horseshoe. United Way Golden Horseshoe currently supports 235 programs responding to some of the most pressing challenges affecting individuals and families, including food insecurity, housing and homelessness, mental health and well-being, financial stability, children and youth, and community connection.
Across the region, local agencies are seeing increasing demand as families contend with the rising cost of living, housing pressures and continued economic uncertainty. In many cases, the organizations people turn to for help are also facing increased pressure on their own resources.
This year’s campaign is focused on ensuring that those local supports remain strong.
What’s raised locally stays local. Donations made in communities across Brant, Haldimand-Norfolk, Halton, Hamilton, and Niagara are invested back into programs and services serving those communities, while being strengthened by the reach and resources of a larger regional United Way.
Local impact. Lasting change.
The 2026-27 campaign theme, Local Impact. Lasting Change, reflects a simple idea. When people invest in the communities where they live and work, that support can make a difference today while helping build stronger communities for the future.
For United Way Golden Horseshoe Campaign Chair, Marc Hamel, that begins with people choosing to show up for one another.
“I’ve always believed that communities are built by people who care enough to show up,” said Hamel. “That’s why I became involved with United Way and why I’m so proud to help lead this campaign. None of us knows when life might change and we, a family member, a friend or a colleague may need somewhere to turn. The programs we support today could be the programs someone we love relies on tomorrow.”
Hamel said reaching the $18 million goal will require people from across the Golden Horseshoe to see themselves as part of the effort.
“You don’t have to solve every challenge facing our communities. None of us can. But all of us can do something,” Hamel added. “Whether you make a donation, volunteer, rally your workplace or simply encourage someone else to get involved, it matters. When enough people take those actions together, we can accomplish remarkable things.”
Pulling together to start the campaign
The Annual UPS Plane Pull provided a fitting backdrop for the campaign launch, bringing together workplaces, businesses, volunteers, families and community supporters for a day built around teamwork.
With more than 90 teams participating and thousands attending, the event day raised more than $275,000 toward the 2026-2027 campaign. Fundraising for the event will remain open at uwgh.ca for the next week, and United Way is confident they will reach $400,000 from this event for community programs.
“Today was about much more than pulling a plane,” said Park. “It was a visible reminder of what happens when people work toward something together. We have an ambitious goal ahead of us, and we’re going to need that same energy, generosity, and determination throughout this campaign.”
United Way Golden Horseshoe is calling on residents, workplaces, businesses, and community leaders across the region to help create Local Impact. Lasting Change. By donating, volunteering and championing the campaign in their communities.
