ONE-OF-A-KIND FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN EDMONTON

Empower U will help build confident futures for women and their families

EDMONTON, AB. - Thursday, February 12, 2012 marked a day of promise as an innovative and locally
designed initiative - the first of its kind in Canada – was launched right here in our city at EPCOR Tower.

EMPOWER U – Building Confident Futures, was officially kicked off this morning to a crowd of more than
60 people that included program facilitators, sponsors and participants. This unique financial literacy
program combined with a matched savings component will help to positively impact the lives of close to
1,000 women (200 women each year) over the next five years. While financial literacy programs are not
new, Empower U is innovative by bringing together many partners and corporate sponsors, making it a truly
original concept.

Thanks to corporate sponsorship from EPCOR and ATB Financial, Empower U also includes a matched
savings program with a 1:2 ratio, which means every dollar saved by group participants generates two
dollars in matched contributions. Savings may be used only for designated asset purchases related to
improving the quality of life and/or contributing to their self-sufficiency.

“This is a program to be a part of because it offers hope, plain and simple,” says ATB President and CEO
Dave Mowat. “The number that struck me is that almost 65 per cent of low-wage workers in Edmonton are
women. Think about that. And think about the dreams of wanting something better for themselves and their
families that are behind those stats. We want to help with those dreams.”

Program participants are women of diverse backgrounds, many of them who may be vulnerable to financial
inequities. Research has shown that women are at high-risk of experiencing poverty and in fact, 64.6% of
low-wage workers in Edmonton are women. Through the program, participants will have the opportunity to
learn Financial Literacy which includes the ability to make informed judgments and effective decisions about
the wise use and management of money. But the instruction goes beyond budgeting and talks about each
person’s relationship with money.

Mark Wiltzen, Senior Vice-President and CFO, EPCOR, stresses the importance of offering this valuable
program to women in our community. “These women are someone’s mothers, cousins, sisters, nieces,
aunts, grandmothers and friends. It makes sense to focus on this important demographic and give them the
necessary skills and tools to become more financially literate, a necessary element of a successful, stable
household for them and their families.”

To learn more about the program, or to enroll, please contact:

Heather Morrison      or      Joanne Currie
City of Edmonton               United Way of the Alberta Capital Region
780.944.5457                     780.443.8326

About EMPOWER U program partners: All program partners are members of the Alberta Asset Building
Collaborative and include; Candora Society, CEASE, DECSA, Housing Support Services HUB, Elizabeth
Fry Society, Institute for Advancement of Aboriginal Women, WINGS of Providence, Alberta Human
Services, City of Edmonton Community Services, 4 Pillars Consulting, The Family Wealth Academy, United
Way of the Alberta Capital Region.

COATS FOR KIDS & FAMILIES TO EXTEND 2011 COAT DRIVE

6,000 Additional Winter Coats Needed

EDMONTON, AB –United Way and Page the Cleaner have extended the Coats for Kids & Families Campaign until January 31, 2012.  This year’s campaign goal of 15,000 has fallen short by nearly 6,000 coats and organizers are appealing to the generosity of residents to help meet the need.

“We want to collect enough to ensure anyone who needs a coat can receive one,” said Hannes Rodolph, Corporate Manager, Page The Cleaner.  “We know that this milder weather has slowed donations but hope we can count on the ongoing generosity of this community to have a good look through their closets and donate new or gently worn coats to help us with the shortfall.”

The program is coordinated and promoted through United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, with key partner, Page The Cleaner, providing all the locations for collecting coats, as well as conducting the valuable cleaning services.  

Donating your gently used coat costs you absolutely nothing while adding a little room to your closet and warmth to your heart.   

For a complete list of drop off locations, community members can visit www.myunitedway.ca

Media Contact: Nancy Critchley, United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, 780-990-1000 or ncritchley@myunitedway.ca

A WARMER SEASON IS AHEAD FOR PEOPLE IN NEED

Coats for Kids & Families celebrates 20 years in the Alberta Capital Region

EDMONTON, AB – Tuesday, October 25th, United Way and Page The Cleaner kicked off the annual Coats for Kids & Families campaign – it’s 20th year of creating warmer seasons for many in the Alberta Capital Region.

The program is coordinated and promoted through United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, with partner Page The Cleaner providing all the locations for collecting coats, as well as conducting the valuable cleaning services.

“It’s incredible to think that, over the 20-year duration of the program, Page The Cleaner has cleaned over 210,000 coats for people who otherwise may not have had anything appropriate to wear for the cold season,” said Jim Maurais, Corporate Sales Manager, Page The Cleaner. “Knowing how many people were helped right across our community – children, youth and parents – gives supporters of the program a reason to pause and be very thankful and proud of the help we were able to provide together.”

All coats collected through the program are cleaned, sent to United Way’s In-Kind Exchange for sorting by numerous volunteers and then distributed throughout the community by United Way and partner organizations.  

“We are so happy to be celebrating a significant milestone for this highly-supported program in the community,” said Lynne Duncan, Chair of the Board of Directors for United Way of the Alberta Capital Region.  “It’s these types of partnerships and programs that continue to define what our community is about – working together to make a meaningful difference for those in need.”

This year’s Coats for Kids and Families campaign runs from October 25 to December 7, 2011.  For a complete list of drop off locations, community members can visit www.myunitedway.ca

Media Contact: Christa Broadfoot, United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, 780-990-1000 or cbroadfoot@myunitedway.ca   

UNITED WAY BRINGS A NEW BEAT TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Annual Campaign Kick Off sets fundraising goal for 2011 and launches a new era for United Way in the Alberta Capital Region

EDMONTON, AB – Thursday, September 15th marked a day of change for community support in the Alberta Capital Region, as United Way held its annual fundraising campaign kick off.

Along with announcing a fundraising goal of $21.5 million to help with the continuation of numerous critical programs in the social services sector, United Way ushered in a new brand with an upbeat rap and R&B song, tailored specifically at our collective efforts in community building and United Way’s new brand tagline “Change starts here.”

“This year is the 70th anniversary of United Way in the Alberta Capital Region,” said Mike Percy, 2011 Campaign Chair, who shared his personal story as a young person who needed support. “What better way to usher in a new era than with a high- impact, more modern look and tone for what we can accomplish together? Change really does start here, with each and every one of us being a part of making the greatest impact possible on the social issues that matter most in our community.”

The annual fundraising campaign includes participation by over 400 organizations in the public and private sectors, as well as by generous individuals throughout the community. The campaign runs through the fall season, with the final results announced at a celebration Red Tie Gala in February.

Residents who aren’t part of workplace campaigns, but who wish to show their support in addressing the social issues in our community, can make their donations online at myunitedway.ca or by calling the local United Way office at 780-990-1000.

The Change Starts Here song and video were developed through PLANit Sound, a local company that brings together musicians and filmmakers to develop highly-creative multimedia solutions for companies and organizations. Apart from enjoying the video premiere of Change Starts Here, attendees got a surprise live performance of the song by the artists in the production.

The full video can be viewed by visiting myunitedway.ca

The Change starts here tagline and new United Way brand are part of a national, collective effort by United Ways across Canada to generate awareness and support to create opportunities for a better life for everyone in our communities.

About United Way

United Way brings together organizations, businesses, governments and community members who care about the issues we face in the Alberta Capital Region. As a leader in community building, we promote a vision where everyone lives with financial stability and independence, where all neighbourhoods are safe and residents have a sense of well-being, and where all children are getting the right start in life and have the support they need to get them through the middle years and their high schoolgraduation. Together,we represent one of the most critical and extensive collaborative approaches for change. Change starts here.

Mark Chamberlain Presents his Vision on Poverty Reduction

Edmonton, Alberta – June 14, 2011. Mark Chamberlain, former chair of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, http://www.hamiltonpoverty.ca/ spoke to more than 400 Edmonton business leaders and community and social services sector members at the Shaw Conference Centre today. Mark discussed how Hamilton tackled this issue and how we can all work together in Edmonton to reduce poverty in our community. Mark’s presentation was followed with roundtable discussions by attendees and then a general question and answer period. Mark is President and CEO of Trivaris. http://www.trivaris.com His work related to reducing poverty is widely known and respected across the country.

Mark stressed active participation by the entire community. “The primary focus of the solution actually lies in the core of the stakeholder group. It does not fall to any one group – it is not the responsibility of the government nor is it the responsibility of the business or social services sector. Instead we all have a role, again – it’s about collaboration. Everyone taking their share of the role.” He further emphasized the need for sustainability, “We need to invest in tomorrow and invest in resiliency. Invest in eliminating poverty, invest in sustainability of our communities. Invest, just as we do for our businesses.”

Ron Gilbertson, president and CEO of Edmonton Economic Development Corporation talked about their role in the sponsorship of the Mark Chamberlain event, "We firmly believe that Edmonton has the ability to be in the top five mid-sized cities in the world. And in this modern world, that includes a strong social system. As a city we are starting to put emphasis on quality of life and that quality of life has to extend to everyone, not just people who are fortunate in life but all people."

United Way, Edmonton Economic Development Corporation and the Shaw Conference Centre partnered to present this special one time event.

ABOUT UNITED WAY OF THE ALBERTA CAPITAL REGION

United Way brings together organizations, businesses, governments and community members who care about the issues we face in the Alberta Capital Region. As a leader in community building, we share the vision of what it takes to be the change we all want to see in our community. It’s a vision where everyone lives with financial stability and independence, where all neighbourhoods are safe and residents have a sense of well-being, and where all children are getting the right start in life and have the support they need to get them through the middle years and their high school graduation. Together, we represent one of the most critical and extensive collaborative approaches for change. Change Starts Here.

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