2012 Report to the Community “There’s a certain bond that people establish when they focus their efforts on a common goal. Together, we focused on the goal of helping change lives – through education, income and wellness. We invested in people, helping lift our most vulnerable from poverty.” Dave Mowat • 2012 campaign chair Table of Contents 4 Message from the President & CEO and Chair of the Board 9 Focus Areas: Highlights of 2012–2013 22 A Community Engaged 24 Special Recognition 28 Days of Caring Participation 32 Awards of Distinction 34 Contributors 46 Leading the Way A MESSAGE FROM THE Community Awareness The need in our community is growing and United Ways worldwide have been broadly the cost of delivering services is substantial. Chair of the known for workplace fundraising efforts – In the province of Alberta, poverty costs Board and generating resources and allocating to social between $7.1 billion and $9.5 billion per year sector agencies. But over the past several – this is a monetary cost incurred by us all. In President & CEO years, we have seen a transition from this the Capital Region alone, there are 120,000 model of funder to collaborator – one that people living in poverty – and 37,000 of them What a difference we make when sees participation with partners across all are children. As one of the most prosperous we choose to make a contribution sectors. In the Alberta Capital Region, we regions in North America, it begs the to our community. We’re pleased to have our sights set on lifting people out of question, is it acceptable that anyone should share, through our 2012-13 Report poverty. By focusing on three distinct areas – be living in poverty? If we are to change to the Community, the exciting education, income and wellness – we believe this situation, we knew it would be essential work we have been conducting and we can make significant progress toward a to seek answers and gather information by the progress we have achieved. vision of a poverty-free community. A place initiating discussions with our community – It’s a difference that, together with where all children and youth achieve their full the residents of the Capital Region. our supporters, we are making in potential; where individuals and families have the Capital Region. This progress greater independence and financial stability; Listening to our Community is setting the stage for a very where everyone has a sense of well-being and Community members and organizations want positive future for our region. We safety and feels a meaningful connection to to be more engaged and find meaningful are proud and encouraged by their community. connections to causes, so, in 2012 -13, United the continued support from our Way took additional steps to ensure the 2012 volunteers, donors and all our As we aim to address the critical needs way forward would be one of consultation, stakeholders. Your understanding associated with poverty in our region, we collaboration and confidence. of our community needs and the continue navigating the demanding and importance of our work is inspiring challenging environment of an ever-changing The spring of 2012 was filled with and gratefully appreciated by the world. Along with these challenges, it has consultations with more than 50 agency thousands of people who receive become increasingly clear of the importance partners and information sharing sessions help in the Alberta Capital Region. for our community members to understand with provincial and municipal government Report to the Community • the cost of poverty – for our region, our representatives; helping to shape the next businesses and more importantly, the steps for United Way and social service individuals and families who live in it. partners in our community. 6 In the fall of 2012, we consulted community Supporting Municipal and Being part of one of the residents, donors and stakeholders. A Provincial Efforts most prosperous regions collection of community-wide and donor Our municipal and provincial governments are surveys of nearly 600 people helped capture also seeking long-term solutions to eliminating in North America, we perceptions of our United Way’s three focus poverty in our local community and our must ask ourselves, is it areas and on poverty in the region. And, province. As a community builder, United Way acceptable that anyone near the end of 2012, we sought the opinions has accepted the invitation from both levels to should be living in poverty? of United Way stakeholders by conducting participate in helping to effect change. interactive round table discussions. We Lynne Duncan • Anne Smith wanted to learn more from key supporters; On a provincial level, our United Way how they felt about our work, the challenges supported and provided input to the Alberta that exist and gather advice on how we can all Government’s Social Policy Framework, work together in new ways. introduced in February of 2013 by Premier Alison Redford. In our surveying of community members-at- large, we learned that 84% of respondents On the municipal level, we were invited to feel that our work related to program join and co-chair the Edmonton Poverty delivery, collaboration and strategy Elimination Steering Committee, with efforts development is important or very important moving forward in the coming months. United Way • in addressing poverty. We know, that to solve the issue of poverty, it The research helps guide our direction. Both takes every level of government – municipal, Alberta Capital Region community members and current United provincial and federal. And, we know it Way stakeholders provided very meaningful takes the community – the collaboration input, indicating that education, income and of supporters and sector professionals to community wellness were important to them. participate in discussions and decisions that As well, respondents feel that the work related will ultimately affect and benefit us all. to addressing and eliminating poverty is very important to them, and our community. Continued on Page 8 7 Community Support Experiencing Poverty Thank you Knowing that it takes an entire community to While it is difficult for people who are not Without the help of all our volunteers, we create change, it was very evident this past year, living in poverty to understand what it may could not have the impact we do on the as in years gone by, that we have the support of be like, our United Way has embarked on a challenging issues our community faces. Our our community. Once again, the people of our pilot project to help build understanding. sincerest thanks to our United Way Board community stepped up to offer their support. In the fall of 2012, a group of people from of Directors, we appreciate your significant More than 5,000 volunteers and 35,000 donors Edmonton’s business community got the contribution of time and expertise and the generously gave their time, talent and treasure chance to experience the inaugural session of tremendous support of our evolving work. to the 2012 United Way fundraising campaign. The Poverty Simulation. Sponsored by EPCOR With ATB Financial’s dedicated and enthusiastic Community Essentials Council, and the first of We hope you enjoy the highlights and President and CEO, Dave Mowat serving as our its kind in Edmonton, this tool helps people acknowledgements to our diverse cross- 2012 Campaign Chair, we were very pleased understand just how difficult and challenging section of supporters and stakeholders, to not only reach our goal, but to exceed it – it really is to live in poverty. appearing in the following pages. On behalf raising more than $23.1 million to be invested of the United Way Board, professional staff, back into the community. Better for our Business and our community, we want to thank you Based on the aging state of our information for your ongoing support. Together, we are Not only was our community engaged in management system, Rainbow, and the need changing lives. fundraising, but our United Way set record for increased power to handle our growing attendances at our events this past campaign data-base of donors, we conducted a review year with two being sold-out. or available programs. The new database, known as Andar, was chosen and the 2012 Going forward in 2013, we are pleased to implementation process is well underway with welcome our incoming Campaign Chair, a launch date set for June 2013. Lynne Duncan Anne Smith Gary Bosgoed, P. Eng., Senior Vice President, Chair, 2012 Board President & CEO Edmonton Operations , WorleyParsons The new system will help us improve of Directors Canada Services Ltd. Gary believes in data management and assist in providing the value of community and he is a long- better donor-direct service to our valued time United Way supporter and has been stakeholders in the future. Report to the Community • instrumental in the ongoing success of United Way’s Engineering Challenge and Engineering Day of Caring. We welcome Gary’s leadership 8 going into the 2013 campaign. FOCUS AREAS Highlights of 2012—2013 We live in one of the most prosperous communities in Canada; yet more than 120,000 people in the Alberta Capital Region live in poverty – 37,000 of them are children. United Way focuses on the areas that need change the most. Each and every contribution from our supporters becomes part of a major community building effort that delivers a wide range of community impact programs and initiatives, targeting some of the most difficult and complex issues. The next few pages highlight our work in 2012-2013 in three focus areas: Education, Income and Wellness. Through continuous research, we know these three strategies are the best opportunities to change lives and social conditions in our community.