United Way brings together social agencies, schools, organizations, and governments to make a meaningful difference in the community through local programs and services that empower people to improve their lives. By working together, we create lasting change and build a stronger, more vibrant community for everyone.
When you support United Way, you are an important part of a movement with others who share your social purpose and want the best for our community. Your contribution to United Way stays 100% local, providing life-changing support to individuals and families within the Edmonton region.
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United Way is a network of more than 75 local United Way offices. Since 1941, we’ve worked in the Alberta Capital Region for the betterment of all.
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Home / About Us / Reports and Publications / Annual Reports / 2021/22 Annual Report
Together, we are creating pathways out of poverty for vulnerable members of our community.
While 2021 was yet another year of continued challenges and changes and start and stops, thanks to the deep compassion, dedication, empathy, and strength of our supporters here in the Edmonton area, United Way of the Alberta Capital Region continued to aid our vulnerable neighbours and work toward building a stronger community for the future.
Despite the shadow of the pandemic, there are many good news stories to celebrate from 2021. Thanks to you, nearly a quarter of a million people in our area who were struggling found needed supports through a United Way initiative or funded program. During a difficult year of on-again-off-again in-classroom study, thousands of students and families in Edmonton’s city centre had access to academic, mental health, nutrition, and other supports through the All in for Youth initiative. In fact, thanks to the growing support of our community over the past year, All in for Youth has now expanded from five schools to eight, connecting local experts with hundreds more students.
Empower U, United Way’s financial literacy education program, was also able to expand by adding a new collaborative partner serving newcomers to Canada, many of whom are from racialized communities. Additionally, 2021 saw many local community agencies stretched beyond thin, but United Way was there to provide backbone support to partners, ensuring they could carry on doing what they do best: providing front-line supports such as food, shelter, mental health counselling, and so much more to our at-risk neighbours.
Last year, we saw our United Way community roll up their sleeves in new ways, which speaks to the willingness and the ingenuity that grew out of 2020. Regardless of the challenges and barriers to being able to convene physically, we witnessed creativity by our community to participate and contribute. Whether wearing a mask while assembling Kid Kits® at the InKind Exchange or Zooming in for a workplace campaign activity, we will look back on this time with pride at how our United Way champions persevered.
Without our advocates, donors, and volunteers, none of this work would have been possible. But there is so much more we can do to help our community recover. Together.
The pandemic disruption has provided an opportunity to lead and to find solutions. With your help, United Way can act on these and many other emerging needs in our community. We will work to address financial and food insecurity that threaten to push more people into poverty. We will be ready to help children succeed in school. We will be prepared to help people build employment skills and financial literacy. As global conflict brings more newcomers and refugees to our area, we will be there to help them find peace and safety in their new home. And we will uplift and strengthen the sector, supporting the frontline agencies so committed to serving those who need support.
And if there is any community who can lead the way, it’s the Capital Region. Thank you for helping make this community one that we are grateful and proud to be a part of.
Chair, 2021 Board of Directors
President and CEO
United Way works collaboratively across the social services sector, identifying pressing community needs, and implementing the most impactful solutions. Additionally, United Way provides critical backbone support to other local non-profits, enabling them to focus on delivering much needed front-line programs and services.
By joining the region’s response to poverty, caring members of our community have had a tremendous impact on the lives of local people. Our United Way looks at the big picture to deliver a coordinated network of services and programs addressing a range of needs for individuals and families who are struggling. By bringing together supporters, partners, and strategies, we are mobilizing collective action to create pathways out of poverty. This past year, over 100 programs, partnerships, and initiatives and more than 50 agencies were supported through United Way providing vital services in our community.
United Way funding is helping kids from the start, with caregiver education programs, early learning and development, support through the school years and all the way to high school completion to prepare them for a life beyond poverty.
United Way funded programs are empowering people to create new beginnings with supports such as basic needs, employment and financial literacy training to help them rise above a life of poverty.
United Way funded programs help people to get back on track by providing critical services such as mental health supports and referral services so they will not fall into a life of poverty.
This past year, United Way supporters continued to show us the true power of community, rallying together to help vulnerable neighbours through the ongoing pandemic. And we are so grateful you did. It is the collective spirit and compassion of our supporters that ensures our whole community can thrive. Thanks to you, United Way was able to work collaboratively with our outstanding agency partners to deliver resources to more than 244,000 people in need in our region last year! United Way is fortunate to have such an amazing group of individuals and companies who continuously step up with their time and generosity to make this vital work happen.
From individuals
From corporate gifts
Through grants
Presented by Canadian Western Bank, the Red Tie Gala was held virtually on March 10, 2022, as the COVID-19 pandemic continued. Hosted live in-studio by Jesse Lipscombe, the evening featured engaging performances by local entertainers and inspiring awards presentations done red carpet-style by the talented PlanIt Sound team.
The Award of Excellence is a recognition award presented to organizations in the Alberta Capital Region that raised more than $1,000,000 in 2021. The following organizations were recognized at the Red Tie Gala.
These awards are presented to organizations that generate outstanding results in their workplace and corporate campaigns.
Big Idea Award MacEwan University
Campaign Committee of the Year (under 100 employees) Delcon Development Group
Campaign Committee of the Year (100+ employees) Enbridge
Education & Engagement Award PCL Construction
Employee Campaign Chair of the Year (Private Sector) Ahmed Elmeligy, Imperial & Unifor Local 21A
Employee Campaign Chair of the Year (Public Sector) Marta Gomez, Prairies Economic Development Canada (Edmonton)
Everyday Hero Award City of Edmonton
Funded Partner Campaign The Family Centre
GenNEXT Award Wheaton Honda
George Letki Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Brad Campbell & Jon Holland
Labour Award of Distinction United Nurses of Alberta
Leading the Way Alberta Blue Cross
Outstanding Committee Member of the Year Darlene Bryant, University of Alberta
Small But Mighty Award MEGlobal Canada Inc.
Welcome to United Way Northwest Connect General Partnership
Partners play an integral role in the implementation of United Way’s work in the region.
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We appreciate the efforts of the companies who help make the Alberta Capital Region a better place to live and work.
The 100K+ Club recognizes companies that, through their workplace giving campaigns, raised over $100,000 in 2021, demonstrating their commitment and passion to make sure no one in our community is left behind.
$100,000+ Alberta Blue Cross ATB Financial BMO Financial Group Canadian Western Bank Capital Power Chandos Construction CIBC Dentons Canada LLP Dow Canada Pembina Pipeline Corporation RBC Royal Bank & RBC Foundation Scotiabank Worley
$200,000+ City of Edmonton Nutrien TD Bank Group Wheaton Group of Companies
$300,000+ Costco Wholesale
$400,000+ Imperial Oil & Unifor Local 21A Shell Scotford University of Alberta
$500,000+ Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign EPCOR
$800,000+ Provincial Employees’ United Way Campaign
$1,000,000+ Enbridge PCL Construction
Campaign Representatives are seconded to United Way to support more than 400 charitable giving campaigns across the region. During this 16-week term, Campaign Representatives brainstorm solutions, provide advice, facilitate services and resources, and deliver training to thousands of volunteers.
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission Alberta Blue Cross ATCO Electric Ltd Canada Revenue Agency Canada Summer Jobs Enbridge Government of Alberta Imperial & Unifor Local 21A KPMG PCL Construction Service Canada Worley
Since 1978, Labour and United Way of the Alberta Capital Region have worked together to make our community a healthy place to live, work, and raise a family. We are grateful for our Labour partners and their dedication to helping others.
Alberta Federation of Labour Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Canadian Union of Postal Workers 730 Members/Canada Post Corporation Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions Canadian Labour Congress Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 30 Canadian Union of Public Employees Regional Office Civic Service Union Local 52 Benevolent Society Edmonton & District Labour Council Health Sciences Association of Alberta International Union of Operating Engineers Local 955 Unifor Local 728A United Nurses of Alberta
The 50 Years United Club recognizes companies that have partnered with United Way for over 50 years. We are so grateful for our long-standing partners that continue to come together to make meaningful change in our community.
Alberta Health Services AltaSteel Ltd. Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc. Apex Utilities Inc. (AUI) ATCO Electric ATCO Pipelines & Liquids Global Business Unit Aviva Insurance Company of Canada BDO Bissell Centre BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. Building Products of Canada Corp. Canada Life Canadian Mental Health Association-Edmonton Region Canadian Pacific Railway Canadian Western Bank Celanese EVA Performance Polymers Partnership Chivers Carpenter Lawyers CIBC CNIB College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta Connect Society – Deafness Education Advocacy & Family Services Crosstown Motors (1982) Ltd. Crystal Glass Canada Ltd. Dawson Motors Ltd. Deloitte. Edmonton Chamber of Commerce Edmonton John Howard Society Edmonton Public Schools Edmonton Social Planning Council Emery Jamieson Enbridge EY Finning Canada Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd. General Motors of Canada Company IBM Canada Ltd. Imperial International Union of Operating Engineers Local 955
Intact Financial Corporation Investors Group Financial Services Inc. Jewish Family Services KPMG LLP Ledcor Group Lilydale Inc., A Sofina Foods Company Lloyd Sadd Insurance Ltd. MacEwan University Manulife Financial Melcor Developments Ltd. Metal Fabricators and Welding Ltd. Millar Western Forest Products Ltd. Nutrien O’Hanlon Paving Ltd. & The Fath Group Pattison Outdoor Advertising PCL Construction Pembina Pipeline Corporation Sherwood Park Provincial Employees’ United Way Campaign PwC RBC Royal Bank Scotiabank Sobeys West Spartan Controls Ltd. Spinal Cord Injury Association Alberta Staples Canada Sun Media – A Division of Postmedia Network Inc. TD Bank Group The Alberta Teachers’ Association The Family Centre Trans Mountain Pipeline TransAlta Universe Machine Corporation Victorian Order of Nurses Waterloo Mercury Sales (1981) Ltd. Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. Wheaton Group Xerox Canada Ltd. YMCA of Northern Alberta YWCA Edmonton
United Way volunteers are committed to creating positive change in the lives of our community’s most vulnerable people. In 2021, more than 1,600 volunteers lent their time and talent to making our community stronger and more resilient. Whether they are constructing community gardens, serving on committees, assembling backpacks of school supplies for kids, or collecting coats and winter gear for families who need it most – our volunteers’ empathy and shared belief that no one should be left behind is at the heart of United Way’s work.
I was raised by a single mother in the UK, and she never ever had effective financial literacy advice. Volunteering means a lot to me personally, just from my experience and the fact that I see the benefits in the community by people improving their financial literacy.
When I think about how many people invested in me, how many people were willing to mentor me, just give their time, their treasure, their talent, that is the biggest case for action for me to give back.
I volunteer because of the feeling of accomplishment that I get when I can help those agencies who have helped me immensely when I needed them.
Community volunteers support our Information Services and InKind Exchange.
Bill Paterson Robin Pawliuk Cameron Reid Maurice Richard
Empower U Volunteer Financial Coaches are professional financial planners and practitioners who provide one-on-one support to clients interested in setting and achieving their own financial goals.
Kent Coulter Andre Donado Brian Finley Kathleen Haase Maegen Kramer Ola Olowofela Jodie Stauffer Dustin Sundby Troy Tisserand Jason Watt
Community Stewardship Committee volunteers are community and social service sector experts who are responsible for identifying community needs and evaluating programs that receive United Way funding.
Krista Allan Andrew Astle Chris Astle Ashley Bolduc Heather Boonstra Shannon Butler Jessica Carlson Kathryn Charr Vicki Cooke Brian Dompe Brandee Fossen Jody Greidanus Duane Guthrie Margot Hagarty Lorraine Henderson Jon Holland Karyn Hurlbut Shauna Kozak Andrea Levey Jennifer Lucas Azi Maboudi Masoumeh Maboudi Mary-Ann McDonald Ashish Mehta Felicia Ochs Dean Ohnysty Laura Pawlechko Kairi Pawlick Sarah Read Lauren Reid Jennifer Ribeiro Stephanie Ricci Donna Smith Eric Storey Leou Tang Jenny Taylor Julianne Threlfall Harriet Tinka Kalie Van Ree Walter Walchuk Jackie Zimmer
The volunteers who make up United Way’s Board of Directors come from business, government, health and social service sectors and the community at large.
Angelina Bakshi Rob Bennett Robert de Guzman Glen Eastwood John Elford Bruce Fafard Todd Gilchrist Gord Johnston Catrin Owen Shannon Peacocke Chris Pullen Jamie Pytel Jocelyn Talvio
Cabinet is a roster of senior-level leaders from all sectors – business, government, post-secondary and labour – who dedicate themselves to leading and delivering a successful campaign.
Corporate Solutions Cabinet Brad Campbell Michelle Devlin Michelle Furlong Cal Jungwirth Colin Lechelt Gregory Wengreniuk Joel White
GenNEXT Cabinet Tokunbo Adegbuyi Jordan Barrett Alexander Bedard Lauren Eckstein Goldy Gill Megan Jivraj Radhika Kalra Andrew Mason Rebecca Price Noreen Remtulla David Sorenson Caitlyn Tieland
Leadership Gifts Cabinet Ray Guidinger Robert Kisteleki Peter Sinclair Ruben Thunder
Major Gifts Cabinet Matt Evans Lynda Taylor
Small Business Cabinet Scott Claypool Chris Eveleigh Tony Prsa Eric Reid Tyler Tollefson
Women United Cabinet Serena Banman Evangeline Berube Danisha Bhaloo-Shivji Regina Davis Michelle Furlong Heather MacCallum Gail Matheson Ankita Menon Corinna Mulyk
Workplace Campaigns Cabinet Vladimir Ahmad Scott Arndt Cheryl Baraniecki Ryan Barkway MJ James Ray Kennedy Mario Kulas Anastasia Lim Shawn McLeod Robin Murray Catrin Owen Pauline Smale Shawn Thompson Donavon Young
Through the Mentoring for Success program, Sponsored Campaign Representatives connect with United Way’s most influential Cabinet and Leadership volunteers who provide mentorship through professional and personal development.
Scott Arndt Glen Eastwood Chris Eveleigh Raymond Guidinger Cal Jungwirth Colin Lechelt Linda Maul Corinna Mulyk Barbara Penney
Legacy Giving Volunteers connect with individuals who have an interest in supporting United Way with a legacy gift – either through estate planning or starting an endowment for gifts that will be left in perpetuity to better our community.
Lynne Duncan Fay Orr
Engineering Challenge Committee Geoff Ballard Camille Chalifoux Adam Firth Kevin Smith Brent Stang Heather Toepfer Jasmine Tohme Gregory Wengreniuk
GenNext Committee Tokunbo Adegbuyi Jordan Barrett Lauren Eckstein Goldy Gill Megan Jivraj Radhika Kalra Andrew Mason Rebecca Price Noreen Remtulla Caitlyn Tieland
Financial Pathways Collaborative – Each One Teach One Volunteers Asad Bajwa Gladys Balcarce Melissa Balcarce Hala Basal Bernadette Bendfeld Kelli Bird Lee Bly Lena Bou Fakhreddin Tamara Boyes Charity Dawson Aaron Drever Joshua Duarte Dirk Durand Aimee Dyjur Cynthia Fung Linda Guenther Chad Gunraj Tamsyn Hartlen Diane Hawrelak Gregory Hofmann Jonathan Holland Sonja Howell Logan Hutchinson Atiya Jahan Lacey Jansen Craig Jensen Crystal Johnson Kyle Kisio Carrick Lai Colin Lechelt Gabriel Lee Lynette Lohouse Scott Lundell Adam Lv Masoumeh Maboudi Sarah Macysmic Christopher Mcintosh Jinan Melhem Christine Miller Nahla Najmeddine Kirk Nielsen Barbara Norum Folake Okusanya Alexandria Onyedika Kevin Perry Kumar Prashant Anisha Rashid Chris Rattray Sarah Read Jennifer Ribeiro Samantha Ruryk Gabi Russ Saurav Saigal Adam Schinkinger Monica Singh Austin Staub Ahmad Sunmonu Ashely Tillenius Heather Unger Katie Walker Khulkar Yusupova
Heartland Challenge Committee Trevor Brault Brendan Kaup Mario Kulas Alana Seymour Blaine Shaw Leah Shaw Tina Thomas Nicole Vivian
YEG Downtown Collaboration Committee Ashley Bolduc Radhika Kalra Jacque Lovely Caroline Lynch Alicia McKeever Jimmy Morrison Miranda Pullen Terri Stiksma Shane Tulik
Financial Pathways Collaborative Committee Gladys Balcarce Tamara Boyes Aaron Drever Logan Hutchinson Scott Lundell Alexandria Onyedika Chris Rattray Kathleen Walker
Since its expansion to serve Albertans across the province in June 2020, 211 Alberta has continued to be a vital and valuable means of navigating available – sometimes life-saving – supports.
From affordable housing supports to emergency food hampers, from domestic violence aid to homecare for isolated seniors, 211 users can reach out via phone, text, and chat 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Drawing on a huge database of resources as well as the expertise of their partners Canadian Mental Health Association, Distress Centre Calgary, and Alberta Health Services, 211 Community Resource Specialists connect Albertans with 35,000 community services and supports at no cost to the user.
In addition, by gleaning insights from 211 data, United Way continues to help identify gaps in the system and emerging or unmet needs that may require additional resources. This is key to informing United Way’s mobilization of collective action – partner agencies, government, and donors – to ensure no one in our community is left behind.
On International Women’s Day, March 8, 2022, we launched Women United — a movement of female leaders who are actively making change in the community, tackling the unique barriers women face when living in poverty.
If you’re living in poverty – or vulnerable in other ways – access to menstrual products can be challenging. United Way started Period Promise to improve menstrual equity and eradicate period poverty in our community.
In 2021, we redesigned Make Your Mark to better support student leaders as they learn about poverty, the role of non-profits, and their own agency as leaders to make change in the community.
Expansion Because of United Way supporters, we were able to expand All in for Youth services for students, meaning we now provide wraparound supports at eight Edmonton-area schools.
We continued to work with schools and agency partners across the region to improve access to computers. These Chromebooks not only support online learning, but help families stay connected, access social supports, and more.
Our GenNEXT cabinet launched Peace Out Poverty, a new podcast shining a light on the issues people are facing in the Edmonton region, and how you can help your neighbours in need.
The Heartland Challenge volunteers renovated Boys and Girls Club Fort Saskatchewan’s clubhouse computer lab, creating 10 new workstations to promote creativity and innovation.
In celebration of their 15th year, Engineering Challenge volunteers renovated created a new community garden space at e4c Alberta and refreshed the backyard at Operation Friendship Society’s Pioneer Place.
Goodwill Industries of Alberta activated a volunteer hub to create care packages for vulnerable people through United Way of the Alberta Capital Region.
United Way’s Downtown Collaboration spread art, kindness, and community on sidewalks across the greater Edmonton region.
Local people are coming together to help create a community where everyone can thrive. Sign up for our newsletter to get a monthly dose of local good straight to your inbox.
Achieving Truth and Reconciliation can seem like a massive task. With 94 calls to action mostly directed at governments, it’s easy to think that individuals can’t make a difference. But we can when we listen, connect, learn, and raise awareness.
Period poverty occurs when someone lacks the menstrual products they need and is an issue that flies under the radar largely because there’s still a stigma around talking about menstruation. It’s a more common issue in our community than you probably think.
Poverty is a complex problem, even for adults to understand. So, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to trying to explain it to children. Here are six books to help navigate these tricky chats with young kids, ages four to eight, and to nurture empathy and compassion for vulnerable people in our community.
Mental health has been an ongoing concern, even before the pandemic caused social isolation and increased stress at home and work. Burnout can easily happen when we feel overwhelmed by increased stress and a lack of support systems. Here are some tips that can help.
Discover the inspiring words, videos, and posts of community members united to do local good.
I feel so honoured every time I get to go and speak about @sacetalks and the work they do and the incredible support they provided me. I honestly do not believe I would still be here without them.Thank you to @myunitedway for giving me this opportunity for the last 4 years 💜 — Kristin Raworth (@KristinRaworth) October 21, 2021
I feel so honoured every time I get to go and speak about @sacetalks and the work they do and the incredible support they provided me. I honestly do not believe I would still be here without them.Thank you to @myunitedway for giving me this opportunity for the last 4 years 💜
— Kristin Raworth (@KristinRaworth) October 21, 2021
Great work by @dow_official who sent volunteers to pack hygiene kits for @myunitedway on #givingtuesday ! https://t.co/VMddZV6Qkj — givingtuesdayca (@GivingTuesdayCa) December 12, 2021
Great work by @dow_official who sent volunteers to pack hygiene kits for @myunitedway on #givingtuesday ! https://t.co/VMddZV6Qkj
— givingtuesdayca (@GivingTuesdayCa) December 12, 2021
When a family comes to register their child(ren) for school they leave us with two backpacks for each child. One is from us and one is from @myunitedway Tools For Schools. We want the child to feel confident walking in to their classroom for the first time. pic.twitter.com/UJJfHSWuAB — OneWorldOneCentre_ECSD (@OneWorld_ECSD) December 7, 2021
When a family comes to register their child(ren) for school they leave us with two backpacks for each child. One is from us and one is from @myunitedway Tools For Schools. We want the child to feel confident walking in to their classroom for the first time. pic.twitter.com/UJJfHSWuAB
— OneWorldOneCentre_ECSD (@OneWorld_ECSD) December 7, 2021
https://twitter.com/GregWengreniuk/status/1471543310229458951?s=20&t=aGuUa_YcEghleOlPGBdoOQ
