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Annual Report 2011 - 2012 Message From The Chair 3 Helping Each Other…The Northern Way 4 From Poverty to Possibility 5 Healthy People, Strong Communities 6 All That Kids Can Be 7 Success By 6 8 Community Development 10 Organizational Enhancement 11 Community Impact: Year In Review 12 How We Pay For It All 14 Your Investment. Your Return 14 Management Summarization Of Financial Statements 15 United Way Of Northern British Columbia Financials 16 Our Community Partners 17 Service Providers 17 Donor-Specified Recipients 18 Supporters 19 Above And Beyond 21 Who We Are 24 Campaign Cabinets 24 Community Impact and Investment Committees 24 United Way of Northern British Columbia Board of Directors 25 Our Staff 25 2 unitedwaynbc.ca 2011 - 2012 Annual Report Message From The Chair Today marks a milestone on a transformational journey for the United Way of Northern BC. It’s a chance to look back at where we’ve come from, and forward to the opportunities yet to come. The journey began in 2004 with a decision. No longer were we satisfied with functioning as a “traditional” United Way. We didn’t want to measure success simply by the amount of money we raised and disbursed. We decided to redefine ourselves as an organization that has a meaningful, sustainable impact on the communities in which we operate, one that focuses on building the capacity of communities and individuals to help themselves. In doing so, we believe we are helping unlock the inherent value in people. As we review year three of the latest United Way of Northern BC three-year program strategy, I can say with satisfaction we are achieving our goals and moving in the right direction. Have a look at the Year in Review section of this report to see all the great achievements of the past year, and the plans for the future. With the foundations for success getting stronger with every year, we look forward to the coming years as we continue to implement strategies that will have real value and impact in the communities of Northern BC. As we look ahead to 2013 and beyond, here are some of the areas where we will be focusing our efforts. We do a lot of things differently in Northern BC. We are unique. We take pride in who we are, where we come from and what we do. We will continue to emphasize community development, working with key community partners and increasing financial support for required community investments. We will expand our network of Community Impact and Investment Committees (CIIC). These CIICs will help reinforce community-based strategies to address the needs of children and youth, seniors and those with physical and mental challenges, and individuals and families living in poverty. We will implement a customer-driven communication model to ensure the public, community leaders, donors and funders are informed of the work to be done. We will employ evidence-based strategies to focus on increasing the capacity of community health and social service organizations. And we will provide funding to help them develop and implement programs and services for individuals and families. It has been my pleasure to serve as the Chair of the Board of Directors of such a forward-thinking, impact-seeking organization. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the staff, our thousands of donors, and the hundreds of volunteers scattered across Northern BC who have helped us achieve our goals. We do a lot of things differently in Northern BC. We are unique. We take pride in who we are, where we come from and what we do. One of the most important things we do? We help each other. That’s the northern way. Rob Jarvis, Chair Board of Directors 2011 - 2012 Annual Report unitedwaynbc.ca 3 Helping Each Other … The Northern Way At the United Way of Northern BC our mission is to improve lives and build communities. Ultimately, we want to have a lasting, positive impact on the lives of people in Northern BC. The way we do this is to build pathways out of poverty, prepare children to succeed in life, and we engage and inspire people to care for one another. Everything we do contributes to the longer-term goal of building stronger communities: From Poverty to Possibility Action strategies: We help people who are • Crafting human care agendas. struggling financially get back on their feet. • Building coalitions to support those Our mission is to improve There are five agendas. lives and build communities strategic components Healthy People, by engaging individuals and to the work we do to • Supporting others in their pursuit of Strong Communities mobilizing collective action. achieve our goals. sustainable agendas. We help people who are struggling financially • Expanding and diversifying our get back on their feet. resource development agendas. All That Kids Can Be • Measuring, communicating with and learning from the impact of others. We help kids get the education and • Reflecting the diversity of the opportunities they communities we serve. deserve. Organizational Enhancement Our values: We help not-for-profit organizations develop • Promote people’s ability to care for one another. capacity to serve their • Support for volunteer services. communities effectively. • Ensure community capacity that leads to the enhancement, development and delivery of Community community health and social service programs. Development • Invest funds, from our various resource development strategies, to address identified needs and We help communities issues. develop strategies to address the needs they • Evaluate community needs and determine effective strategies and services to address them. identify. • Provide learning opportunities that enhance and support the development of community health and social service organizations. Our vision • Conduct fund development activities and use the funds to address emerging and underlying is to achieve issues in communities. community impact by advancing the common good. 4 unitedwaynbc.ca 2011 - 2012 Annual Report From Poverty to Possibility Nine years ago, Anna was in dire straits. Recently relocated to Quesnel, the single mother of four was having a hard time making ends meet. “Even clothing my children was very, very difficult,” she says. “A friend told me, ‘Hey, you should go down to the free store.’ Since then, I’ve continued to come and get clothes for my family and toys for my kids as well as a lot of friendly support.” The Free Store – managed by the Kewetin’ohk (North Cariboo) Métis Association – is a United Way supported initiative that helps low-income families with some of the basic necessities of life, such as clothing, school supplies and children’s toys. “It’s a real asset to the Quesnel community because a lot of people don’t have the means or the resources to sometimes even put clothes on their children’s backs. People are really grateful,” says Connie, an association staff member. “Without the United Way, the picture would not look too bright. It would be really hard to maintain the program.” - Connie, Quesnel By working with communities to identify needs, the United Way helps people who may be struggling financially do the things necessary to get back on their feet and support themselves. Some of the other programs and services supported by the United Way of Northern BC to help those in need include: • Active Support Against Poverty • Kewetin’ohk Métis Association Traditional Cooking Program • Terrace Food For Thought Program • Fort St. John Family Literacy Programs - Connie, Quesnel 2011 - 2012 Annual Report unitedwaynbc.ca 5 Healthy People, Strong Communities “We had a situation not long ago where a senior had to give up her driver’s license,” says Debra-Ann of the Vanderhoof Seniors Connected program. “She did it of her own volition, she just wasn’t comfortable anymore with the state of her health. But she felt confident and content in her decision knowing she could utilize our transportation program.” In addition to offering transportation assistance to seniors who may need it, the Seniors Connected program connects volunteers to seniors to provide quality human contact and keep them connected to the community. The Vanderhoof Seniors Connected Program is just one example of the many ways United Way helps keep people healthy and involved in their communities throughout Northern BC. “Having United Way involved has helped in ways words can’t even describe for the improvements it has brought to the quality of life for the seniors that are using the program, and the volunteers who are in the program, and for the community as a whole,” says Debra-Ann. - Debra-Ann, Vanderhoof Some of the other programs and services supported by the United Way of Northern BC to help communities stay strong and their citizens engaged include: • Peer Mentoring and Info Lines • Rehabilitation Support Services • 24-Hour Crisis and Info Line • Youth Support Line • Family Violence Prevention Program • Social Cognitive Rehab Group Program • Hepatitis C / HIV Services and Peer Support • Circle of Truth Program • Giving Hope Skills • Seniors Life Skills Program • Seniors Safety Community Coordinator • Settlement Workshops • Housing Support Programs • Making Connections - Debra-Ann, Vanderhoof 6 unitedwaynbc.ca 2011 - 2012 Annual Report All That Kids Can Be Sumreen and her family didn’t know anyone when they arrived in Dawson Creek from India in 2009. Coming from a different culture, it was a tough adjustment. That’s where the South Peace Community Resources Society made a big difference in the lives of Sumreen and her daughter. “I’m really from a different part of the world,” says Sumreen. “And now I come here, I meet people, I know people. That’s really good for me. Otherwise, sitting at home doing nothing, it gets you frustrated, you get sick of life.

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