Tammy’s brother Michael lives with bipolar disorder and in the [...]]]> Tammy Lowe is a Campaign Manager at United Way York Region by day, but by night she’s also a loving sister who’s experienced firsthand what United Way funded agencies offer to those in need.

Tammy’s brother Michael lives with bipolar disorder and in the fall of 2010 he was extremely ill. This is when Tammy and her family attended the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) family education group.

“The family education group taught my family about supports that were available in the community and how to more effectively navigate the mental health system,” she says. “Our classes were especially informative.”

The best part of the group, according to Tammy, was having an opportunity to interact with other families who were experiencing similar challenges. “To realize that we were not alone in our feelings of distress and frustration was very comforting,” says Tammy.

Mental health is a difficult illness to battle, but as a result of this group at CMHA, Tammy says that she and her family were equipped with the information and tools they needed to help her brother.

This firsthand experience was truly life-changing for Tammy. She was able to see for herself the impact that United Way’s fundraising efforts have in the community.

“I never imagined that I would be part of the 1 in 3 individuals who are positively impacted by UWYR,” adds Tammy. “Thanks to the incredible support of the CMHA, we were able to get Michael support for a healthy recovery.”

One year later, Tammy’s brother is doing incredibly well. He has been asked to join a speaker’s bureau to help educate high school students about mental illness. Michael is paying it forward and one day hopes to be a peer support worker. Tammy and her family are grateful to CMHA and United Way for the compassionate work that they do to improve the quality of lives within our communities.”

At the height of her university career, while Leah [...]]]> Leah Roncesvalles grew up in a good home with a loving family where there was no history of mental illness. In her academic studies and her personal life, Leah was always a hard-working perfectionist who excelled.

At the height of her university career, while Leah was studying math and statistics at McMaster University, without warning, she suffered a severe manic episode that changed her life forever. “I had never experienced anything like it before and it affected everything: my grades, my relationships and my job,” says Leah. “I eventually fell into a depression.”

This was Leah’s first and only episode, but following it she was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, which she struggled to cope with and accept. “Thankfully, I was able to turn to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), a United Way funded agency, for support and counselling,” explains Leah. “Without the CMHA and the United Way I would not be where I am in my life right now.”

Despite the challenges Leah faced during her undergraduate career, she graduated in 2007 with an honours degree in Math and Statistics and a minor in Economics. She went on to work in the finance/insurance field for three years with many accomplishments before receiving her Bachelors of Education in June 2011.

When we talked to Leah late in 2011, she was beginning to supply teach at schools across York Region. In addition to teaching, Leah actively volunteers with the CMHA, primarily as a public speaker for their Speakers’ Bureau.

This volunteer experience has allowed Leah to become a speaker for the United Way as well where she has spoken at campaign kick-off events, high schools, a Seneca College Executives’ Meeting, a UW Cabinet Leaders’ meeting, and has participated in videos and brochures for our campaigns.

Leah encourages others to continue to donate to the United Way by providing them with a personal, meaningful story about how their donations help people just like her to get their lives back on track.

“I send the message that helping others by supporting United Way really makes a positive difference in their lives,” says Leah. “I view my recovery (and my experiences) as a gift to share. Also by speaking, it is a means for me to give back to the organization that made my life possible.”

As a teacher, Leah says she will encourage and help students, staff and parents to start United Way fundraisers in their schools and communities. “I hope that my leadership will encourage them to become leaders themselves and make positive change in their own communities.”

United Way York Region announces record $8.18 M for frontline services

Yesterday afternoon, over 400 donors and volunteers donned fascinators and high tops to enjoy tea and scones at United Way York Region’s High Tea Celebration. The event celebrates what is already being dubbed “the most dogged and determined community campaign in [...]]]> Markham, ON

United Way York Region announces record $8.18 M for frontline services

Yesterday afternoon, over 400 donors and volunteers donned fascinators and high tops to enjoy tea and scones at United Way York Region’s High Tea Celebration. The event celebrates what is already being dubbed “the most dogged and determined community campaign in the organization’s 35-year history” with $8.18 M raised, a 1% increase over last year’s achievement.

Bruce Macgregor, Chief Administrative Officer, The Regional Municipality of York, and volunteer Chair of the 2011 Campaign applauded the collective effort. “What an exciting and challenging fundraising year. Over 20,000 donors, 2,000 volunteers and 250 workplaces across York Region worked immensely hard, often doubling back to help us raise more – all to ensure United Way can continue to support the critical social service network of frontline programs. This is a stunning achievement in the face of one of our toughest campaigns in years, a testament to our Region’s generosity.”

United Way Chief Executive Officer, Daniele Zanotti, acknowledged the challenges of this campaign. “I have been through many a fundraising campaign, each with their ups and downs, scars and successes. But in all my years, I have never seen such commitment to care. Nothing deterred our volunteers and donors’ resolve – not the uncertainty of global markets, not the ever transitioning employment trends, not the increasing pressure families are facing. We have emerged stronger, more resolute and hungrier for 2012 and on.”

Incoming 2012 Campaign Chair, Barbara Bellissimo, Senior Vice President and Chief Agent, State Farm Canada, also addressed the crowd: “Thanks to our corporate leaders who lead by example – the example of giving back.  Thanks to the employee chairs, canvassers and staff who go above and beyond their jobs in their workplaces to plan events, fundraise, ask people for their forms – over and over again. To all of our donors, I want to say thank you. I also extend a special thank you to Bruce Macgregor our 2011 Campaign Chair. We are so grateful for his guidance these past two years. And as we continue into 2012, I hope to follow Bruce’s example of compassion and competitiveness to raise more for our neighbours, family and co-workers in need.”

United Way York Region presented a total of 31 Spirit Awards for outstanding campaign accomplishments. To access a list of all the winners, click here.

Thanks to our 2011 Campaign Achievement Celebration Sponsors:

Title Sponsor: IBM Canada Ltd.

Gold Sponsors: Acklands-Grainger Inc., AECOM, Allstate Insurance Company of Canada, Amex Bank of Canada, State Farm® Insurance

Media Sponsor: York Region Media Group

United Way York Region serves nine municipalities: Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Whitchurch-Stouffville. In addition to its traditional role of supporting agencies to meet urgent needs, United Way is working to tackle the root causes of social issues. To help strengthen York Region’s quality of life, United Way is uniting people and resources on three priorities: helping kids be all they can be; moving people from poverty to possibility; and building strong healthy neighbourhoods.

For more information contact:
Adriana Suppa
Senior Manager, Communications
United Way York Region
asuppa@uwyr.on.ca
Tel. 905-474-9974 ext. 358

This is by no means [...]]]> The curtain is poised to fall on UWYR’s 2011 Fundraising Campaign and the trying economic times we live in have shown their gnarly nature. Based on our past year’s achievement the indications were optimistic for this year’s targets but the challenges have been great.

This is by no means a reason to give up though – the fundraising “bull-pen” at the UWYR’s Markham office is the hub of frenzied action and energy.  Staff and volunteers come together with close-out strategies, working to acquire the patronage of every last donor of the region. I know because I experienced this energy first-hand as a volunteer.

An artful drawing of a giant chocolate-chip cookie on the ‘motivation’ board illustrates the money required to meet our goal for the year and as “new” money is found or acquired, one gets to sink their teeth (or dentures…) into the sinful pleasure. Energy levels are surprisingly high and motivation is higher for in the bull-pen everyone is on the same team. Be it $100 or $1000 the jubilation is the same; then it’s a pat on the back and back to the drawing board.

Just thinking out loud, what if we the residents of York Region each donated $5 this week?  It could mean a couple of coffee’s to some, a lighter lunch to others, so on and so forth; we are surely familiar with the drill, the television has played this song over and over this holiday season. When you think about it, can by far be one of the most sensible investments we could kick-off with this year. Just imagine the possibility of dividends in needful services with which we may be able to help.

What do you say fellow residents of our great region, are you ready to jump on this wagon and lend a helping hand? Can you be that helping hand partner to that huge hand that is our safety-net? I hope so because I cannot face the thought of not making it to the finish line of the grueling marathon this team has run.

Help make positive change happen. Click here and donate now.

By Amita P., a dedicated United Way York Region volunteer.

In this role, Lisa says she has learned a lot about the scope and [...]]]> Lisa Alladina is the Manager of the Commercial Relations and Contracts Team at Johnson & Johnson Medical Companies. Recently, Lisa became Chair of Johnson & Johnson’s internal employee campaign in support of United Way.

In this role, Lisa says she has learned a lot about the scope and depth of United Way York Region and the positive impact it has on our communities. “Being the chair is a privilege, as I have met so many individuals that care about making a difference,” she says of her new role. “Being exposed to other organizations within York Region has been a great way to network and share ideas on achieving positive results for all of our campaigns. All of these individuals reinforce the notion that the social issues that our communities face are not exclusive and together we can drive for change.”

Johnson & Johnson globally selects one key charity to focus its efforts on and the United Way is that charity. The reasons are numerous, according to Lisa, but she says that some of the main reasons are that UWYR incurs a low administrative cost, which means that most of the dollars raised go to the targeted programs.

There’s also a rigorous community review of the programs that UWYR supports and Lisa says that Johnson & Johnson is confident that “United Way ensures accountability of its member agencies to deliver the support and services required for our communities.”

Participating in the United Way Campaign and donating is a personal decision for Lisa. Knowing that everyone has their own priorities about how to allocate resources, Lisa says she chooses to participate with United Way because she sees the breadth of programs the UWYR supports and truly believes they positively impact people.

“These are everyday people like me, and we all are thrown curves in life,” she adds. “I am comforted to know that when I have a challenge, or someone close to me has a challenge, there is somewhere to go, to support getting back on track. Investing in our communities makes us all stronger.”