United Way launches $100-million fundraising campaign
United Way Toronto and York Region eye $100-million fundraising goal in major post-merger campaign

thestar.com
Sept. 1, 2015
By Diana Hall

The newly formed United Way Toronto and York Region hopes to raise $100 million by December for community organizations and social services across the region - the charity's largest local campaign goal.

Executives from United Way, with help from Mayor John Tory, announced the "historic" fundraising goal at the campaign launch Tuesday morning. It's the first region-wide campaign since United Way's separate Toronto and York Region chapters merged earlier this year.

"We are thrilled that we will be able to do more than we've ever done before for the work that we are so committed to,” said Susan McIsaac, president and CEO of United Way Toronto and York Region.

The 2015 goal reflects only the sum raised for local United Way programs and agencies, not donations funneled through to other charities.

Last year, funds raised by the pre-amalgamation organizations totalled more than $97 million, for United Way programs and local partner agencies such as Access Alliance and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

The goal reflects a vision to “focus on the lives we change directly,” McIsaac said.

Tory said he “would do anything for this organization, because I think it does so much good for so many others.” The mayor said he hopes people will reach into their pockets to give to the umbrella charity, one of the best ways to help the city and each other. “Whether they pull out a single loonie, it's going to make a difference,” he said.

The organization hopes to put more resources this year into tackling youth unemployment and youth success programs. That could include things such as mentorship workshops and expanded employment partnerships with colleges and businesses. A series of consultations showed that landing a first job out of school was a big concern for youth.

“We’ve worked in collaboration with CivicAction and Ten Thousand Coffees to create a platform for mentorship, and we’re looking at all kinds of very tangible things that youth can do to actually launch their own careers,” McIsaac said.

Access Alliance hopes to support more outreach workers for youth and newcomers, according to executive director Axelle Janczur.

Len Baker, the CNIB’s director and regional vice-president for Ontario-Nunavut, said additional funds would help it boost employment-focused, skills-training programs for the visually impaired.

United Way funding makes up about 20 per cent of the CNIB’s public support.

“Without the help of the United Way, we would be hard-pressed to be able to provide the level of support that those individuals need in order to be able to have successful careers,” Baker said.

McIsaac said United Way needs to boost its digital presence and will target more millennials on social media to meet the $100-million goal. That cash will help support a network of 220 partner agencies across the region.