"Here's pie in your eye!" That was the motto of Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co. employees on October 3 when they tossed pies at their bosses. It was all in good "fund", though, as they were raising money for United Way of Peel Region.
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Reports released on October 24 by United Way of Peel Region and other members of the Strong Communities Coalition highlight huge inequities in access to health and social services for residents of Peel and other regions of the GTA/905. Growing Pains: An Urgent Message from the Strong Communities Coalition makes three recommendations to the Ontario government for immediate long-term action to address the funding issues that are at the root of the problem.

Provincial funding for health and social services has not kept pace with population growth in the GTA/905, which receives 100,000 new residents annually. Expanding almost three times faster than Ontario as a whole, the GTA/905 represents more than half the annual population growth in the province. This trend is expected to continue into the future, with the GTA/905 growing more than twice the provincial rate.

The Coalition commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to analyze provincial government health and social services funding. The resulting report, Assessing the Gap, reveals a $1.5-billion annual funding gap - $551.5-million in social services, $993.7-million in health care services. The gap results from a $181 less in per capita funding for social services and a $246 less per capita gap for health care services funding received by GTA/905 residents compared with the rest of Ontario. In both sectors, the gap in provincial funding between the GTA/905 and the rest of the province has widened. In Peel the annual funding gap is $254.6-million for health care services and $245.5-million for social services.

"As a result of this enormous funding gap, GTA/905 residents are waiting longer for services; or they are forced to leave their communities to access services or they are simply going without services, until their circumstances spiral out of control and they require costly interventions by the health, child welfare and criminal justice systems," said Shelley White, CEO of United Way of Peel Region. "We need a new approach to the funding and planning for human services."

The Coalition makes the following three recommendations to the Government of Ontario, which are designed to improve local access to health and social services for residents of the GTA/905 and to address growing funding inequities for these services in the GTA/905 regions:

1. Immediately provide growth funding for health and social services in the GTA/905 regions of Durham, Halton, Peel and York.
2. Revise the way the province allocates funding for health and social services across Ontario so that it is distributed on the basis of population size, growth and characteristics - that is, fundamentally population-based.
3. Develop a health and social services strategy for Ontario's high-growth regions to complement Places to Grow, and that this strategy be developed in consultation with the GTA/905 stakeholders, including members of the Strong Communities Coalition.

The Strong Communities Coalition is a new alliance of the United Ways in Peel, York, Durham and Oakville and the GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance with the support of York Region Human Services Planning Coalition and the Peel Fair Share Task Force. Its goal is to improve local and timely access to comprehensive and quality health care and social services in the GTA/905 regions of Durham, Halton, Peel and York.

In 2005, Portraits of Peel: Facing the Facts, a report produced by United Way of Peel Region and others, focused on severely inadequate funding of social services in Peel and garnered national media coverage. As a result, United Way was invited to join forces with the GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance to form the Strong Communities Coalition.

Visit the Strong Communities Coalition website at www.strongcommunitiescoalition.org to find out more about the Coalition's efforts to draw attention to the issue of funding inequity.

With the launch of its new five-year strategic plan, Building Vibrant Communities Together, United Way of Peel Region continues to transform into a "community- impact" organization; one that has a powerful, lasting and positive effect on our community.

Consultations with volunteers, social service agencies, municipal government, donors, community partners, and staff, helped shape United Way's dynamic new vision, mission and strategic directions.

United Way's new vision is to champion and inspire sustainable change that strengthens community and improves lives. This vision highlights the organization's determination to focus on addressing the root causes of our most pressing social issues in addition to continuing to invest in such activities as intervention, crisis management and counseling.

United Way's new mission flows from the vision: to engage the community through partnerships, to ensure people are cared for, connected and included.

This new mission reflects not only United Way's commitment to help people overcome the challenges they face, it also sets the stage for working with our communities to create measurable, cumulative and lasting change that both improves lives and builds resilient communities. The mission also recognizes United Way's unique role in mobilizing business, government, organized labour, social service agencies, education, health, cultural groups, community organizations and other key stakeholders to develop viable solutions for our community's most difficult social challenges.

United Way will focus on achieving three strategic directions in order to fulfill the new mission:

1. Diversify and increase sustainable financial resources.
2. Invest United Way resources strategically to address human services priorities.
3. Strengthen the capacity of the human service sector.

The strategic planning process began in December 2005. It was led by a task force chaired by Carol Seglins, Vice Chair of United Way's Board of Directors.

Download a copy of Building Vibrant Communities Together.

United Way of Peel Region Campaign Cabinet Chair Carl Oxholm recently received the Chartered Accountants of Ontario's 2006 Award of Distinction ("Success to the Power of 12"). A partner in PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Oxholm was honoured with 11 other under-40 CAs "who bring an exceptional attitude and spirit of accomplishment to all of their professional and personal endeavours".

"Carl brings the same extraordinary passion to his role as Campaign Chair as he does to his work with PricewaterhouseCoopers," said Shelley White, CEO of United Way of Peel Region. "We are very grateful to have a person of such strong conviction leading our 2006 campaign to help create lasting change that improves lives and builds a resilient community."

Each year, United Way of Peel Region invites companies and organizations to "donate" an employee as a Loaned Representative to assist with its campaign from September to December. For 16 weeks, Loaned Representatives collaborate with United Way staff to raise funds through hundreds of workplace campaigns in the community. Companies and organizations can either loan or sponsor an employee to participate in the program. The program provides a unique professional development opportunity for employees who are emerging leaders.

• "I became a Loaned Representative to use my skills to make a difference in an organization that does so much for many people in our community."
  - Andrew Griffith, Region of Peel
  
• "I want to lend my enthusiasm and expertise to make this campaign the most successful ever!"
  - Brian J. Martin, Volunteer, Conflict Mediation Organization
  
• "I am honoured and proud to be appointed for this year's campaign."
  - Vince Esposito, Peel Regional Police Service
  
• "I was thrilled to accept this opportunity presented by my employer…I find working with United Way to be a fulfilling experience."
  - Kerry Tubb, Canadian Citizenship and Immigration
  
• "I came to United Way of Peel Region to have the opportunity to open up my avenues in the public eye…I could not have been happier for this opportunity."
  - Cheryl Myles, Region of Peel
  
• "I volunteered as a Loaned Representative as a way to give back to my community and for the opportunity to network and develop new skills."
  - Finola Pearson, City of Mississauga
  
• "I feel that the combination of my skills and experience as a public affairs professional, my familiarity with the not-for-profit sector and fundraising, and my belief in the importance of the programs and services United Way supports will enable me to contribute to the success of this year's campaign."
  - Geeta Naipaul-Denton, Region of Peel
  
• "I joined United Way of Peel Region's Loaned Representative program because I wanted to be a part of something meaningful and to make a positive contribution to the quality of life of the residents of Peel."
  - Jennifer Miller, Elderly Services Advisory Committee of Halton
• "In 2005, I volunteered as a Loaned Executive for United Way of Pioneer Village, Massachusetts. It was an extremely gratifying experience to be so involved in serving others. Being a Loaned Representative for United Way of Peel Region is a continuation of my commitment to the community."
  - Beverley Henry

"Here's pie in your eye!" That was the motto of Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co. employees on October 3 when they tossed pies at their bosses. It was all in good "fund", though, as they were raising money for United Way of Peel Region.

In addition to the pie toss, HP held a successful walkathon and a head-shaving event to raise funds. The company has increased its Leadership giving (gifts to United Way of $1,000 or more) by 44% and has reached 97% of its campaign goal (as of October 6).

In 2004, after many years of collaboration between the City of Mississauga and the University of Toronto at Mississauga, 13 key organizations in the city, including United Way of Peel Region, came together to collectively work toward improvements in local health.

HCSC is aimed at bettering the health of the people of Mississauga. Working together, these organizations developed the Healthy Mississauga 2010 Plan that focuses on nine priority local health issues, which the member organizations will individually, and collectively, work toward.

The World Leadership Awards are given to cities whose leaders have shown exceptional imagination, foresight or resilience in a number of key fields - especially cities that have reversed trends, shaken off traditional images, and acted as an example and inspiration to others.

Shelley White, CEO of United Way of Peel Region, said: "I am pleased that United Way has taken a leadership role in this strong community initiative and that it has gained international recognition."

Recognizing Diane's problems, her school referred the troubled teen to a United Way-funded agency where she received counselling. The counselling sessions revealed that Diane had been courageous and resilient in her early childhood and had acted to protect other children from abuse and neglect.

Diane was encouraged to become involved in a co-op daycare placement program organized through her school. At the day care Diane was recognized for her special way of relating to children with autism and helping them to participate in routines. She was gradually given more responsibility in her placement and then offered a summer job at the daycare.

Diane is earning her last few Grade 12 credits and plans to take a college program in early childhood education. Family circumstances have not changed, but she is enjoying positive relationships in her life, thanks to the support of United Way.

Nayna Sangha, LINC Manager at Malton Neighbourhood Services, will be helping to distribute dozens of used coats collected by Danier Leather during their “Warm Your World” national coat drive that took place on Thanksgiving weekend. Nationally, close to 1,000 coats were collected by Danier for distribution through United Way-funded agencies. In Peel, close to 100 coats were donated. In addition, Danier Leather will donate to United Way a minimum of $5 for each coat collected during the drive. Thanks Danier!

United Way of Peel Region funds an agency that provides financial assistance for basic needs not covered by any other resource. These include prescriptions, identification document replacement, etc. This funding helps address one of United Way's priorities - alleviating hunger, homelessness and poverty.

United Way of Peel Region also funds an agency that provides referral and access to resources for young people coping with unplanned pregnancies. This supports another United Way priority - strengthening families and children.

Planning a fundraising campaign for United Way? Here are a couple of fun, easy-to-execute ideas:

Pie Toss
As you can see by the HP item in this issue, a pie toss is a hilarious slapstick event. Recruit management to help you with this carnival classic. Give employees the opportunity to toss whipped-cream pies or damp sponges at willing volunteers for a dollar or two. Make sure the targets wear garbage bags to protect their clothes!

Pot-Luck Lunch
Hold a pot-luck luncheon one day during your campaign. Ask each willing staff member to contribute a dish. Have each person sign up ahead of time to ensure a mix of salads/starters, main courses, drinks and desserts. Consider adding a multicultural twist by requesting dishes from around the world. Sell tickets to the luncheon.