"This has been a challenging year for many companies," explained Campaign Chair Roland Sirois, Divisional Vice President of National Starch and Chemical Co. "Many of us were shocked by the year's natural disasters that devastated so many lives. But people responded with incredible generosity and compassion, not only to Hurricane Katrina and the Pakistan earthquake, but to the needs in our own community as well."
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Wiarton Willie didn’t see his shadow, which means winter is winding down and it’s time to think about United Way of Peel Region’s 15th Annual Golf Tournament on July 5, 2006, at Lionhead Golf and Country Club. Just picture yourself on this beautiful course with a chance to win great prizes and mix and mingle with friends and colleagues — all for a good cause. It’s an excellent way to show appreciation to your clients and staff.
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"The Spirit Awards program celebrates the extraordinary talent, creativity and dedication shown by hundreds of organizations and thousands of volunteers throughout Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga during the United Way campaign," noted United Way CEO Shelley White.
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Mild winter or not, many Mississauga residents face some very harsh financial realities when the electricity bill arrives. Now there's help available as United Way of Peel Region and Enersource Hydro Mississauga have implemented the 2006 Winter Warmth Fund. The fund provides financial assistance to eligible low-income individuals and families who are struggling to pay their electricity bills and runs to April.

The Winter Warmth Fund, originally established by United Way, Enbridge Gas Distribution and Toronto Hydro, will now provide grants to residents of Mississauga who have hydro bills they cannot pay and are at risk of losing their hydro service. Resources for the program are contributed by Enersource and its parent company, Enersource Corporation, to the United Way and requests for assistance will be managed by Dixie-Bloor Neighbourhood Centre, a United Way-funded agency.

"We welcome the opportunity to sponsor this program through United Way, using their support and expertise in delivering funds to the most vulnerable individuals and families," says Gunars Ceksters, President and Chief Executive Officer. "In addition to financial assistance bringing immediate relief to needy residents, the program integrates the no-cost installation of energy saving devices to help low-income families with the long term challenge of managing their electricity costs."

"United Way is proud to join forces with Enersource to bring this important initiative to Mississauga," says Shelley White, United Way of Peel Region CEO. "There are thousands of families and individuals in our city who are struggling to make ends meet. The Winter Warmth Fund will make a real difference."

Wiarton Willie didn't see his shadow, which means winter is winding down and it's time to think about United Way of Peel Region's 15th Annual Golf Tournament on July 5, 2006, at Lionhead Golf and Country Club. Just picture yourself on this beautiful course with a chance to win great prizes and mix and mingle with friends and colleagues — all for a good cause. It's an excellent way to show appreciation to your clients and staff.

The 2006 Golf Committee Chair is Bill Zakarow. "This year's tournament promises to be a great event. Our volunteer committee is hard at work planning a golf experience that will have something for everyone," says Bill.

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).

This year's title sponsors to date include Deloitte, RBC Insurance, Sun Microsystems of Canada, and Telus.

Call Marilyn Caird, Communications Manager, Events & Sponsorship, at 905.602.3625. Various golf sponsorship opportunities are still avaliable.

"The Spirit Awards program celebrates the extraordinary talent, creativity and dedication shown by hundreds of organizations and thousands of volunteers throughout Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga during the United Way campaign," noted United Way CEO Shelley White.

Best First-Time Campaign

• 100 or fewer employees: Permatex Canada Inc., Mississauga
• 101-499 employees: Hershey Canada Inc., Mississauga

Outstanding Public-Sector Joint Union-Management Campaign

• Hydro One Brampton and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 636 and Canadian Auto Workers Local 1285.

Outstanding Private-Sector Joint Union-Management Campaign

• 100 or fewer employees: ESAB Group Canada Inc., Mississauga
• 101-499 employees: Sealed Air Canada Inc. and Canadian Auto Workers Local 252 and United Steelworkers Local 9042, Mississauga

Outstanding Agency Campaign Award

• Fewer than 20 employees: Victim Services of Peel, Mississauga
• 21 to 100 employees: Canadian Mental Health Association/Peel Branch, Brampton
• 101 or more employees: Peel Children's Aid, Brampton and Mississauga

Speakers' Bureau Award

• Paula Gardner, member of United Way of Peel Region's 2005 Campaign Cabinet

Leadership Giving Campaign Award

• Symcor Inc., Mississauga

Outstanding Corporate Campaign Award

• 100 employees or fewer: IMS Health, Mississauga
• 101 to 499 employees: Pepsi-QTG Canada, Mississauga

Outstanding Employee Campaign Award

• 100 or fewer employees: Montship Inc., Mississauga
• 101-249 employees: (2 winners) Canadian Standards Association, Mississauga, and
• The Clorox Company of Canada Inc., Brampton
• 250 to 499 employees: Baxter Corporation, Mississauga
• 500 or more employees: (2 winners) DaimlerChrysler Canada Inc., Brampton Assembly Plant, Brampton, and
• Peel Regional Police, Brampton

Chair's Award of Merit
A campaign of excellence is chosen to receive this special recognition.

• Symcor Inc., Mississauga

Photographs of all winners are available on United Way of Peel Region's website.

Initially, Sarah saw a psychiatrist regularly. But it soon she stopped going to her appointments. She was afraid to leave home because it meant facing other people. Instead, she would go out at night because she felt more comfortable and anonymous in the dark.

Believing that she was losing her mind and that the world was against her, Sarah summoned up the courage to contact the resource centre at the Canadian Mental Health Association, Peel Branch, a United Way-funded agency. It is the entry point for many people who suffer from mental illness. She spoke on the telephone with a warm, welcoming staff member from the resource centre,who provided her with support and a sense of hope. The staff member encouraged Sarah to seek assistance through a program at the agency (Access to Recovery Case Management). At first, Sarah was afraid to go through with this, but finally decided to do so.

Today, a case manager from the agency helps Sarah as she works toward her goal of full recovery. But the person who deserves credit for getting Sarah started on the road to recovery is the person from the resource centre, whom she spoke with first when she called for help. "There was something in her that kept me going to get help," says Sarah tearfully. "If it wasn't for that individual, I wouldn't know where I'd be."

...that 39% of violent marriages have children who have witnessed the violence?
Woman 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.

...that 30% of Peel's families living in poverty have children younger than age six?
Living in poverty can present serious threats to childhood development. Often, children living in poverty don't have access to stable housing or adequate nutrition, which can have a negative impact on their emotional and physical development.