News
- May 1, 2008
Volunteer Coodinator, Karl Nielsen, recognized the outstanding contributions of United Way Volunteer, Julie Sanderson.
Without Volunteers, there would be no way
United Way Toronto celebrated National Volunteer Week today by recognizing the efforts of its numerous office volunteers during a reception at the United Way office.
National Volunteer Week, April 27 to May 3, 2008, pays special tribute to Canadian volunteers who give of themselves to better their communities and the lives of others. It also raises awareness of the vital contribution volunteers make to our communities and our country.
- January 9, 2008
CEO Award of Excellence in Public Relations to be presented to United Way’s Frances Lankin
The Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS), a national association representing the public relations profession, announced Frances Lankin as the recipient of its 15th annual CEO Award of Excellence in Public Relations.
As an award recipient, Frances joins a very select group of CEOs from the corporate, non profit and health sectors. This elite group, who were honoured in previous years, includes: the late Richard Bradshaw, General Director and Conductor, Canadian Opera Company; Charles Baillie, Chair, TD Bank Financial Group; and Dominic D’Alessandro, President and CEO, Manulife Financial – whose generosity made this year’s UWGT million dollar leadership challenge possible.
Frances was chosen to receive this honour based on her demonstrated excellence in communications. As our primary spokesperson, Frances is recognized as one of our city’s leading voices on social issues. Frances was also selected for her ability to exemplify our vision by her actions and behaviour, her work with the community and her outstanding ability to create and support the UWGT vision, internally and externally.
Frances will be recognized at the CPRS (Toronto) CEO Award of Excellence In Public Relations luncheon on Tuesday January 29 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
» Read the Media Advisory (pdf - 112 KB).
» Read the story on PR Daily (January 10, 2008).
- December 31, 2007
Frances Lankin receives Laurel of the Year in Toronto Star editorial
for "proving what otherS couldn't"The Toronto Star gave Frances Lankin their highest ranking in their year end editorial, Darts and Laurels. "For her efforts to focus attention on Toronto's specific problems and the need to find solutions, Lankin deserves the Laurel of the Year."
United Way of Greater Toronto's report, Losing Ground: The Persistent Growth of Family Poverty in Canada's Largest City reveals that one in four Toronto families are struggling in poverty, and that despite economic prosperity, high employment and strong job growth, Toronto’s family poverty rate at 28.8 per cent, compared with 19.5 per cent across Canada.
For more details, read the Toronto Star story.
- November 16, 2007
UWGT's Susan McIsaac named Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year
Every year the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) honours individuals and organizations that lead by example to improve the lives of others through their annual Philanthropy Awards. Yesterday afternoon at the National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon, the AFP presented the award for Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year to Susan McIsaac, VP of Resource Development at United Way of Greater Toronto.
AFP Toronto Chapter is a recognized leader in promoting philanthropy and providing education, training and best practices for those in the fundraising profession. They recently announced the 2007 award recipients in the categories of Outstanding Philanthropists, Outstanding Volunteer, Outstanding Corporation, Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation, Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, Outstanding Fundraising Professional and Small Organization for Excellence in Fundraising.
For more details, read the AFP news release.
- November 2, 2007
UNITED WAYS OF ONTARIO HONOURED WITH ONTARIO TRILLIUM FOUNDATION 25th ANNIVERSARY GREAT GRANTS AWARD
United Ways of Ontario (UWO) was honoured for the impact it has made in communities across the province at the Ontario Trillium Foundation's (OTF) 25th Anniversary Great Grants Awards. Early in its history, OTF recognized that the UWO and the Foundation were inextricably linked in every community. A strong United Way movement in the province greatly complemented OTF’s goals of building healthy and vibrant communities. In 1983, OTF made a substantial grant of $6,036,072 over five years to UWO, a network of all United Ways in the province, to help strengthen technological and administrative capacities. The grant also provided funding that created individual stabilization funds for each local United Way in the province.
The partnership between United Ways of Ontario and OTF has remained one of the most significant the Foundation has ever formed. UWO continues to be a vital force of strength and support to the voluntary sector all across the province.
- Read the media release
- Visit the Ontario Trillium Foundation's website
- October 18, 2007
United Way of Greater Toronto is one of the first 11 not-for-profit organizations to sign on to Imagine Canada’s new Ethical Fundraising Code
United Way of Greater Toronto’s Board of Trustees approved Imagine Canada’s new Ethical Fundraising Code, making United Way of Greater Toronto (UWGT) one of the first 11 not-for-profit organizations to sign on to the Code.
The objective of the Ethical Code is greater transparency: to provide donors and the public with criteria to evaluate a charity’s financials and fundraising practices. It will officially launch in January 2008.
UWGT is already well aligned with the new Code and has a long history of good governance and financial transparency – reporting all aspects of our results, assets/liabilities, trends and operational capabilities through our Annual Report to the Community. UWGT is currently refining some of our protocols and processes to ensure all areas of the new code are fully met.
Commitment to the Ethical Code is voluntary and intended to complement existing regulation of charities that is shared among federal, provincial and municipal levels of government.
To learn more about the Ethical Fundraising Code, visit imaginecanada.ca.
October 18, 20 & 21, 2007Thousands took part in the 30th Annual Enbridge CN Tower Climb for United Way
Close to 11,000 particpants climbed the 1,776 steps to the top of the CN Tower in support of the United Way. Thank you to all the climbers, volunteers and sponsors for making this year's event a huge success.
It is not too late to sponsor a climber—visit the sponsorship page.
See photos from the three day event or visit the event website.
- September 18, 2007
Breakthrough Thinking: A Forum on Working Smarter in Community Building
Frances Lankin & Xavier De Souza Briggs
Former Clinton advisor and MIT professor Xavier De Souza Briggs, spoke to a Toronto audience on September 18, 2007 about effective community building.
De Souza Briggs linked the importance of community development to addressing social needs in Toronto’s under-served priority neighbourhoods.
The purpose of community building according to De Souza Briggs is:
- to create local, political empowerment – enabling residents to change their neighbourhoods
- to improve social outcomes – making a difference in the lives of children, families, and all residents.
United Way has community development projects currently underway in nine of 13 priority neighbourhoods designated by United Way and the City of Toronto. By 2008, development projects will be expanded to all priority neighbourhoods.
The De Souza Briggs meeting was organized by United Way of Greater Toronto and the Toronto City Summit Alliance, and was generously sponsored by the T.R. Meighen Family Foundation.