Janet (not her real name) has suffered tragedies in her life and now lives in a home for special care even though she is only in her fifties. Life can be extremely difficult for some individuals and in Janet's case her situation drove her into deep depression and caused various other medical problems. Caledon Meals on Wheels, one of United Way of Peel Region's 55 funded agencies, assists Janet.

Janet loves to venture out with her Meals on Wheels volunteer visitor for a stop at Tim Hortons for coffee and donuts. Afterward, she accompanies her volunteer on meal deliveries. Janet enjoys meeting with the other volunteer drivers and feeling that she is really one of the regular volunteers. Assisting with the meal deliveries instills self-esteem and allows Janet to feel she is contributing and giving back to the community. She recently attended a Congregate Dining group social lunch where she enjoyed good food, companionship and even danced along with the musical entertainment. Those few hours created a bright spot in Janet's life for several days. Donations to United Way of Peel Region support the program that made that day possible for her.

"We feel extremely fortunate at Caledon Meals on Wheels to have the support of a strong, committed United Way in the Region of Peel," said Executive Directory Carol Kidd. "At Caledon Meals on Wheels, we feel the services we provide nourish the body and the soul and truly do "feed the community spirit".

If you want to wipe winter weather out of your mind, think warm thoughts about United Way of Peel Region's Annual Golf Tournament on July 5, 2006, at Lionhead Golf and Country Club.

Although the tourney is several months away, the mere mention of it conjures up positive images of hot weather, cool prizes and great community camaraderie for a good cause.

United Way is proud to announce that this year's Golf Committee Chair is Bill Zakarow, Director, Procurement, Procurement & Contract Services, for Symcor Inc. This is Bill's third year of service on the committee and we are pleased to have such an enthusiastic leader for our 2006 tournament.

It's never too early to plan for golf. Confer with your colleagues and friends now and get your foursome together. And be sure to consider becoming a title or hole sponsor — it's a great way to gain exposure for your company and support United Way. Foursomes are $1,800 ($2,000 including hole sponsorship). A brochure with further details is currently being finalized.

Call Marilyn Caird, Communications Manager, Events & Sponsorship, at 905-602-3625.

Those are just a few of the findings in Children in Peel…A Snapshot of Our Youngest Children, released this month by Success By 6 Peel.

Children in Peel reflects the commitment of Success By 6 Peel to provide a strong voice on behalf of children and families in Peel Region. This community report examines how well Peel is caring for and supporting its children. Information is presented about the family and community as well as five outcome-based childhood issues: economic security, health, safety, child care, and children's school readiness. Inadequate support in any of these areas creates barriers to child development that can have long-term, negative consequences for children, their families and our entire society.

In February, Success By 6 Peel will release a "report card" evaluating its progress to date in dealing with the issues and needs documented in Children in Peel. "Both the report and the report card will help shape the work of Success By 6 Peel as it builds strategies to tackle the tough challenges faced by families and their young children," said Elena DiBattista, Program Director for Success By 6 Peel.

Success By 6 Peel is a collaborative of United Way of Peel Region and more than 60 partners in business, labour, health, social services and government. The purpose of Success By 6 Peel is to support parents and caregivers to ensure that all children from birth to age 6 have the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

2005 Community Achievement Celebration
February 2, 2005
Pearson Convention Center
Click here to download a ticket order form.

…that one in eight women — or more than 62,000 in Peel — are abused by their intimate partner?
Women abuse can instigate a cycle of violence. It takes its toll on children, who often suffer emotionally, physically and cognitively from exposure to violence against their mother.

...more than 60,000 children in Peel live in lone-parent families?
Lone-parent families experience significant stress due to issues such as childcare, unemployment and financial duress. Especially vulnerable are children who are both poor and live in homes where English is the second language.