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.
Let’s work together to align your corporate social purpose and values with the community needs you care about. Partnering with United Way gives your employees immersive personal and professional development opportunities, team-building exercises, engagement activities, and positive recognition and celebration for the difference they are making in community.
Keep up with the latest news, stories, and events happening in the local community.
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.
Whether you are an individual looking for support or an organization looking to collaborate, please reach out to connect.
Search United Way Alberta Capital Region
Home / About Us / Reports and Publications / Annual Reports / 2023/24 Annual Report
2023/24 Annual Report
Last year, incredible change happened in our communities because we worked together.
More than 22,000 of you donated your time, skills, or money. Through hundreds of workplace campaigns and individual and corporate donations, over $28.8 million was raised.
Every generous gift adds up. Last year, more than 262,000 people were supported through a United Way initiative or funded program.
Together, we are strengthening mental well-being, eliminating barriers to educational success, and empowering financial security. When we lift up those who need support in these areas, our whole community will feel the ripple effects for generations to come.
All of this change doesn’t happen on its own. In this annual report, we’re excited to share with you some of the many incredible ways we’re together changing lives in the Alberta Capital Region.
A Message from the Chair of the Board and the President & CEO
We’re Strengthening Mental Well-Being
We’re Eliminating Barriers To Educational Success
We’re Empowering Financial Security
Our Fundraising Success
The Power of Changemakers
Looking to the Future
Catrin Owen and Rob Yager
What makes the Alberta Capital Region so special is that people want to look out for each other. They want to know that when we face the next challenge, our community is strong enough to get through it together.
Over the last year, we’ve seen that firsthand as we’ve debuted our new Community Impact Strategy.
After years of having a singular focus on creating pathways out of poverty, our United Way reflected on whether that phrase still describes the work our community needs our organization to do. Ultimately, we heard that it’s still important to address poverty in our community, but also so much more: building resilient, connected, and thriving communities so that no one is left behind.
Let’s back up.
Over the last few years, we have been actively and intentionally engaging with our community, from some of our strongest supporters to folks who didn’t know us that well. Our goal was to gain a better understanding of what our community needs most right now and how United Way and our work might be able to best fill that gap. We heard people are struggling and feeling disconnected. We also heard there are so many people excited about the potential our region has and want to help it be the best it can be.
Through these discussions, we crafted our new Community Impact Strategy, sharpening our focus on three areas people are struggling with the most right now: their mental well-being, barriers to educational success, and finding a path to financial security. Addressing these issues help us tackle the root causes of poverty, and our whole community will feel the ripple effects for generations to come.
Through these conversations, we also heard how vital it is for people to have meaningful experiences that create real impact. The need for connection goes both ways, and so many people in our region are looking for ways they can make a difference in our community.
In response, our United Way is refining how we engage with our supporters, so we can offer them the opportunity to connect with each other, learn more about the challenges the Edmonton region faces, and the many ways they can contribute to building sustainable solutions for the causes they care about.
As we look ahead, United Way is committed to building resilience within our community, preparing us to tackle any challenge that comes our way. By working together, we can make sure no one is left behind.
We are so grateful for your support of United Way over the last year. Whether you’ve shared your time, your stories, your money, or your insights, please know that every gift matters to us, and it matters to our community.
Thank you for joining us to change lives together.
Onwards,
President & CEO
United Way of the Alberta Capital Region
Board Chair
Strong mental health is a vital aspect of a person’s overall well-being. It influences how they cope, learn, work, and contribute to our community. United Way collaborates with partner agencies to make it easier for people to find the support they need.
Sarah* was expecting her sixth child when her five children were apprehended by Family and Children Services due to domestic violence concerns. She was referred to Aboriginal Counseling Services Association of Alberta’s Circle of Safety Family Violence Program.
When Sarah first attended this United Way-funded program, she presented as quiet and reserved.
Over the course of the 20-week program, staff observed her open up about her experiences, become more expressive, engage with the teachings, and utilize the skills being taught.
As Sarah learned about the impact of family violence on herself and her family, she began to set firm boundaries with her partner. They chose to live separately while they both sought counselling to work on their own challenges.
Stock Image
Through Circle of Safety, Sarah surrounded herself with a positive support system. She focused on healing herself and gaining confidence.
During her time in the program, Sarah’s children were placed back in her and her partner’s care. By the end of program, Sarah expressed the success the couple were having in couples’ counselling.
She became a role model for newcomers into the group, who valued her insight and her introspective nature. Sarah successfully graduated from the program in 2023 and continues to build her relationships with her partner and children.
*name has been changed for privacy.
Graduating high school sets a strong foundation for a successful and stable future. But too many families experience barriers that make it harder to stay in school. United Way and our partners break down these barriers from early years to high school, walking alongside people on their path to educational success.
Did you know:
🦷 A child learns a lot by chewing on things!
🔍When a child explores, they’re saying they feel safe!
💕 When a parent talks to a child, the child not only learns language but strengthens attachment too!
All these facts and many more can be found in The Kid Kit®, a program of United Way. Distributed to agencies across the Edmonton Region, The Kid Kit includes developmentally appropriate toys, books, easy-to-read information. These guided activities encourage play, learning, and connection for kids 0-5 years old and their caregivers.
Whenever Pam Gudmundson, Program Director at Jasper Place Family Resource Centre, picks up another hundred Kid Kits at United Way, she says they are in very high demand. Parents who have used the Kits are quick to tell their friends about this impactful program. They come not only because it’s free of charge, Pam says, but because sometimes parents feel unsure and insecure when raising young children. The Kid Kit helps them better understand why their children do what they do and feel more empowered in their role as playmate, teacher, and caregiver.
Pam Gudmundson, Program Director at Jasper Place Family Resource Centre
“Children are built to learn. The Kid Kit empowers parents to be co-creators with our children and really inspire them to grow.”
Besides supporting families at home, The Kid Kit helps enhance many of the programs at Jasper Place Family Resource Centre. They are used in parenting sessions for teaching and to spark discussion. Staff use them in one-on-one meetings to help parents understand the different ways their children communicate and how caregivers can support their child’s growth and development milestones.
The benefits are clear. Not only do parents build better connections with their children, but children also feel more attached. Gudmundson says they see the benefit of The Kid Kits even in their Kindergarten program, where many children who are introduced to kits early are clearly set up for learning success.
“Kid Kits allow parents to see the value in their work.”
We want to continue to support more families to build better relationships. We’re looking for a new sponsor to support The Kid Kit funding, starting April 2025.
To build a resilient community, people must have access to a diverse range of employment and income opportunities that enable financial security. United Way and our partners support comprehensive programs and initiatives that provide financial education, resources, and opportunities for economic empowerment
It’s been over a decade since Tayo took part in Empower U. With this long view, she reflects on how this program has impacted where she is today.
As an accountant, she had never thought she would need Empower U, a financial empowerment program with United Way.
“I thought I knew everything I needed to know about finances!”
But then the former auditor and Nigerian-trained accountant separated from her husband, and she learned about the powerful tools Empower U provides to support participants’ financial future.
As part of the program’s partnership with ATB Financial, she was supported to open a bank account which would eventually help her get a mortgage.
She also decided to take advantage of the matching savings program which matched her savings 2:1 up to $1,500.
Further, the program supported her to reach out to the credit card company and renegotiate terms on a credit card debt. While the debt was “too small,” the credit card company did not reduce the interest charges, Tayo used her $1,500 in matching savings to clear her debt.
Former Empower U participant Tayo is the Executive Director of the Financial Empowerment Initiative.
It allowed her to start fresh as a single mom and begin the credit rebuilding process.
“Years later, I realized how that program had helped me. For a lot of immigrants like me, if they’ve lived in largely cash economies, the financial system here can really challenge their financial knowledge. It’s not always about money management, but they need support understanding the system of credit and contracts.”
In 2021, Tayo was a founding member of the Financial Empowerment Initiative. A volunteer-run tax clinic, it also offers financial literacy programs which she hopes will one day expand to offer the kinds of practical tools Empower U did for her.
“I want to help people save towards home ownership, and give people not just knowledge, but tools that can truly give them a leg up.”
Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, we raised over $28.8 million to ensure no one is left behind.
All of the change that we’ve shared so far in this annual report doesn’t happen on its own. It depends on people like you willing to pitch in, in whatever way they can. You are an important part of our movement of 22,000 changemakers who have stepped up over the last year to make a powerful impact.
Whether you’ve shared some of your money or the gift of your time and expertise, your support has made a big difference in our community through United Way.
Thank you!
The tremendous impact we have on people’s lives through United Way initiatives and programming is made possible through the generous financial support of local companies, government funding, grants, and individuals like you.
Our United Way's annual Red Tie Gala event celebrates and recognizes the hard work and community spirit of United Way supporters with Awards of Distinction.
Workplace Campaigns energize workplaces, strengthen teams, and create a sense of community. We’re so grateful to the hundreds of workplaces who bring employees together to create lasting change through United Way.
The 100K+ Club recognizes companies that raised over $100,000 in 2023/24 through their workplace giving campaigns demonstrating their commitment and passion to make sure no one in our community is left behind.
$2,000,000+
$900,000+
$800,000+
$600,000+
$500,000+
$400,000+
$300,000+
$200,000+
$100,000+
Sponsored 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.
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.
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.
Names in bold indicate organizations that reached this milestone in 2023/24.
When our 3,300 United Way volunteers join together, incredible things happen! We want to recognize those who lent their time and talent in support of our movement over the last year.
This dedicated group of volunteers support United Way’s Community Building and Investment team and our investment work by reviewing funding applications and agency financials.
This dedicated group of volunteer reviewers helped our Community Building and Investment team evaluate more than 100 applications to distribute local Community Services Recovery Fund grants.
Alberta’s Heartland area is full of companies looking to do local good by partnering with United Way of the Alberta Capital Region. The Heartland Challenge brings these organizations together to work on initiatives that help our local community thrive.
The Engineering Challenge is a collaboration of companies in the engineering community who come together annually in partnership with United Way to challenge each other to strengthen the Alberta Capital Region through workplace campaigns and a community engineering project.
Brad Campbell | Corporate Solutions Cabinet and Engineering Challenge
For two decades, Brad Campbell has volunteered with United Way. At first, he led ISL Engineering’s workplace campaign. After he was invited to be part of the first Engineering Challenge Day of Caring Project in 2007, his involvement grew from there.
Today in his work on United Way’s he supports other corporate clients curious about giving back to the community through partnership.
“I love exploring what ways United Way can bring businesses value. From team building opportunities putting backpacks together for Tools for Schools, to providing heartfelt Impact Speakers for their professional development, we want our relationship to be a two-way street.”
Brad is also a strong advocate for improving mental well-being including in the workplace.
“A lot of people used to think there was a select demographic that experienced mental health issues. As a leader, I think talking about my own experience is key to allowing my colleagues to open up and seek out support.”
Volunteers from financial institutions are trained to become financial literacy educators and teach free Each One, Teach One workshops in partnership with local agencies, delivering accessible and empowering financial literacy information.
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.
Volunteers for Financial Reality Check played a key role in this student-focused budgeting simulation that demonstrated the importance of planning for future needs, how to prepare for financial challenges, and more.
The Financial Pathways Collaborative volunteers work as a committee to support the Each One, Teach One financial literacy program in our community.
Community volunteers support our InKind Exchange.
Ashley Tillenius | Each One, Teach One
In her role as an Operations Manager at TD Bank, Ashley Tillenius sees first-hand the impact low financial awareness can have on people’s lives. It is what propelled her in 2018 to join United Way’s Financial Pathways Collaborative, volunteering to teach financial literacy through their Each One, Teach One program. She noticed the 12-module curriculum was well suited for adults, but some description and examples weren’t suited to youth audiences.
“Youth don’t have a real-world experience of these things. When youth learn about finances, it’s knowledge they will use their whole lives.”
This spring, United Way staff connected Ashley and other Each One, Teach One volunteers with a Boys and Girls Club program held at an Edmonton high school. Through the experience, they saw the students’ enthusiasm and knowledge grow.
“They ask so many more questions,” Ashley says, reflecting on her experience. “Youth aren’t limited by the stigma adults feel about not knowing certain things.”
Ashley noted that numerous students opened bank accounts and got debit cards for the first time as parents realized their children could be trusted to make good financial decisions. She was surprised and pleased at how many kids took information back to their families who also gained knowledge from their lessons.
Impact speaker volunteers inform and inspire audiences through sharing their own compelling stories about the work of United Way and our partner agencies. By sharing their story to illustrate the needs of our community, impact speakers help people understand how their support makes a positive difference in the Alberta Capital Region.
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.
Our Board of Directors provide an invaluable contribution to United Way of the Alberta Capital Region’s work in our community. The volunteers who make up United Way’s Board of Directors come from business, labour, government, health and social service sectors, and the community at large.
United Way Cabinets are made up of dedicated volunteers sharing their time and talent toward the development and implementation of strategies to expand United Way’s reach, increase engagement, and support year-round campaigns.
Joanne Kozley | Tools for School
Joanne Kozley looks forward to August 1 every year when the Tools for School campaign kicks off at Dow Chemical ULC in support of United Way. Since taking on the lead campaign role in 2015, she’s helped Dow donate over 1,200 backpacks bursting with all the supplies kids need to start the year right.
“No matter what is happening at home, I simply believe that every kid deserves to start school with all the supplies they need to be successful. It makes me very happy to know that the backpacks we build makes it one less thing a child needs to worry about.”
Joanne has the process of gathering supplies and building the backpacks down to an art. After employees across Dow’s offices have brought in donated school supplies, Joanne organizes a ‘Day of Caring Backpack Build’ and sends out a company-wide invite to all staff who would like to come together to build the backpacks. Once they’re done packing up the collected supplies, they stack the bursting backpacks into United Way’s van for delivery to partner schools.
We all have the power to make a difference. When you support United Way, your action ripples out throughout the community, generating positive impact that changes people’s lives. Thank you for your continued support of our United Way movement. Let’s keep changing lives, together.
