Your Dollars Always Make a Difference

As I posted yesterday, I am going to be sharing some of our community resident's stories about how they have been affected by our local United Way. Tonight I would like to share Bryce's story and exhibit that when you give to United Way's Community Fund, you help give people in your community opportunities to learn and achieve new skills and goals.

Bryce was 10 years old when he first became a member of the Boys and Girls Club of Spryfield. As a new member he seemed to gravitate towards others who encouraged him to get into trouble; he would pick on other children and had many episodes of bad behavior and rowdiness.

However, when the club started their music program and purchased a set of drums, Bryce’s attitude changed. He had taken to them instantly and within days he was able to play beats that seemed too fast and complex for someone his age.

In a very short time Bryce had easily become the best drummer at the Boys and Girls Club of Spryfield and continues to practice everyday. He has also mastered the guitar and bass and exceeds his instructor skill-wise.

Apart from finding a focus in life, Bryce’s behavior has improved dramatically thanks to his new passion for music. He is no longer having episodes of outburst and his excess energy is being used for creativity rather than getting him into trouble.

Bryce’s story is a prime example of why 88% of parents say that their children are safe and stimulated when involved in after school programs like the ones offered at the club.

Every child has the ability to excel at something great, though some children need an extra push in the right direction from a caring leader. When you give to United Way’s Community Fund, you make opportunities like the music program at the Boys and Girls Club of Spryfield possible.

Please donate now!

Your Dollars Make The Difference

I would like to share with you several stories that our United Way has gathered, stories about how people's lives have been changed by donations from people just like you.

When you give to United Way you ensure that everyone can have a healthy life and participate in the community. Tonight I am featuring Ally and her story:

Ally was 11 years old when she first started at the East Preston Day Care and Community Centre. “You could see that Ally was more timid at the Centre than at home, but I thought by having her around other people, she would break her out of her shell,” says Alley’s mother, Miranda Lacey.

Her behaviour changed when the Healthy Living, Healthy Eating Youth Program started. The main focus of the program is to teach youth simple ways to prepare healthy snacks and to be an overall active member of a healthy community.

Many of the parents who have children in the program describe the centre as a place to go after school, where they know their kids are safe and aren’t worrying where they are or if their homework is getting done. “I know that the program gives Ally something constructive to do after school on those two days it’s offered, “ says Miranda. “The healthy cooking part of the program is important, but so is the social aspect considering everything that is happening in the community lately. The program gives the kids a forum to talk about what is going on.” And Ally has asked to prepare meals at home.

The instructors take the members of the program on outings to restaurants in the community to expand their knowledge and experience of healthy eating. The experiences associated with the program have helped Ally take on a leadership role. She now helps to get things organized around the Centre and helps form groups of youth for food preparation and cooking activities.

You can help fund a program like this so other kids can excel by donating to United Way’s Community Fund. Your donation supports possibility and potential for children, youth, seniors and neighbourhoods right here in our community.

Supporting Local Agencies

One of my goals for the 'Women United for Community' initiative is to provide awareness for the United Way of Halifax Region and the great work that is is doing on the greater Halifax community. I am trying to provide an update once a day to the followers of this blog, twitter and on Facebook; and today I am going to share some information on the 57 local agencies (charities) that our United Way supports.

Funded agencies are one way that United Way seeks to support our community. Our United Way has grown to be able to sustainably support 57 local agencies in the Halifax area, through your generous contributions. Local agencies with Canadian registered charitable numbers (issued by the CRA) apply to the United Way to seek funding for their program(s). The applications are then reviewed by funding panels, all composed of community volunteers. The applications are put through a rigorous review process to ensure that they match United Way's funding principles. The funding panels seek to ensure that the programs that are selected will receive sustainable funding from United Way, this can mean the program is funded for several years or simply just one year - whatever the option is that will have the greatest effect.

Currently our 57 agencies provide over 100 programs that help so many people in our community, from small children to addiction services to assisting seniors. For a full list of our funded agencies please visit our website, click on the 'Agency Results 2009', or contact me for more information.

Your contribution to the 'Women United for Community' fundraiser goes towards our 'Community Fund' which supports these 57 agencies - your contribution can affect an entire community!

Sing it Loud - Sing it Proud!

United Way of Halifax Region has a wonderful anthem statement to reflect the values in the community. As you may have noticed from the online donation website I have attached myself to the "I believe everyone deserves respect" line.

I am a firm believer that together we can build strong and vibrant communities, and in order to work together we need to respect each other. Every one of us comes from a different background, with varying experiences, differences in opinions, and a wide range of hopes and dreams. Through actively choosing to acknowledge each other, and actively respecting each other, we are able to listen and learn from each other. The new ideas and understanding that we can create through respect will grow our wonderful community of Halifax and make it a safer, stronger, and better place for all of us to live and play in. And of course, make the Halifax area a better place for our children and our children's children.

Please read below for the full, 10 line, United Way of Halifax Region anthem:

I believe in my community.  I believe that its success depends on the people who live in it.  That everyone has something to contribute.  That everyone deserves respect.  That everyone's potential can be realized.  That diversity is vital.  That every person has value.  That everyone needs help and everyone can offer help.  That a safe, supportive community is everyone's responsibility.  I believe in possibility.

YOUR Donation Stays in YOUR Community

United Way is a world wide organization, with a well known brand and well respected campaign. Although, what you may not know is that each United Way is autonomous and functions in the best way to affect positive change in its community.

United Way of Halifax Region works to affect change right here in our area primarily through our Community Fund. This year the goal for the Community Fund is $6.2 million - and all of that money will stay right here in our community (Halifax Regional Municipality). This money will go to provide sustainable funding to our 57 funded agencies and over 100 funded programs. Many of the agencies are ones that you will have heard of, but perhaps were not aware that United Way was associated with. For example - all of the Boys and Girls Clubs in HRM receive United Way funding; Spencer House on Morris Street (which many Dalhousie University students pass by every day) receives United Way funding; and the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) also receives United Way funding.

Our local United Way funds so many wonderful agencies and programs - and it is all because of your generous donations that we are able to support these groups which help everyone from babies to new citizens to seniors.

Please help support your community grow - please donate to United Way's Community Fund.

Campaign Accountability

As United Way launches its annual community campaign, the media is focused on spending in the charitable sector. These are important questions which should always be asked and addressed. However, the CBC us referring to less than 1% of the charities they have scanned. A sensational picture is emerging by not an accurate reflection of this very frugal and strained sector.

In our shop, administrative costs are 18% which does include fundraising expenses such as staff, rent, and promotional materials.

United Way of Halifax Region relied volunteers across the community to power its fundraising efforts. Our campaign leadership, including individuals approaching companies to host campaigns, the campaign organizers within workplaces, and the canvassers are all volunteers - approximately 5000 in HRM alone. The same approach is taken in every United Way community across Canada.

In addition, organizations loan us their talented staff during campaign season to augment our small staff team. Today, there are ten individuals actively working within our office while being paid be generous employers such as the federal, provincial and municipal governments as well as Scotiabank, Dalhousie, Saint Mary's University, Manulife Financial, and Capital Health.

Three teams of volunteers are also giving their time to review the 57 non-profit organizations that apply to this United Way for funding. These volunteers look at program outcomes, governance, and financial stewardship to ensure every donation is a wide investment. As a matter of practice, not one of these 57 community-based agencies have fundraising expenses that are close to what is being reported in the news today.

Finally, United Way does not hire any external fundraisers or companies for phone solicitation or any other purpose.

These are challenging times for us all. Successful fundraising that is responsible and accountable is worthy of your support.

Many Heads Are Better Than One

I want to start off by saying how humbled I am that so many people have been so supportive and encouraging for the' Women United for Community' initiative. People from so many areas of the Halifax Regional Municipality are becoming involved and showing their support.

To everyone who has either joined my Facebook group, read my blog, chatted to me at work, chatted to me at events, sent emails and messages, and of course contributed dollars to the campaign so far, please know that I am so appreciative and thankful for your commitments.

Today I wanted to share with everyone the great response that I have had to the announcement of the campaign and to my involvement. I have met and chatted with many people today about the initiative and without hesitation many of you have offered me wonderful ideas on how you could provide support, provide contacts to assist with the campaign, and have provided offers of partnership to garner more awareness and increase our portion of the campaign. And with all of these amazing suggestions I am now working through many different ideas and finding ways to make them happen - to grow our community and bring people together. As I play with these ideas tonight and over the next few days, I hope that if any one else has ideas for how to support the campaign that you will please let me know (call, email, text, Facebook message, post-it note - whatever works for you). I am amazed at your support and want to work with you and your ideas so that we can all be successful together.

UNITED WE CAN!

Welcome!

Welcome to my 'Women United for Community' blog!

As one of the leading women for United Way of Halifax Region's 'Women United for Community' initiative I wanted to allow friends, family, neighbors, and community members from near and far the opportunity to view the activity that my portion of the campaign will encompass. As fundraisers take place and as 

donations come in, I will do my best to make timely posts to keep everyone up to date.

In addition to myself and the other women involved in the campaign, I was honoured to have the lovely musician Jill Barber provide both the first contribution and inspiring quote to our campaign:

"It is a great honour to be the first to pledge in support of the United Way's newest initiative, Women United for Community. I have always believed that the strength of a community comes from within, and that women have long been the agents of change. Please join me in celebrating 85 years of united community partnership by empowering yourself as part of the solution and committing your support."

Please click HERE to donate now

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog, and please make sure to check back routinely for updates on the progress of the campaign.

Sincerely,

Courtney Larkin