United Way of Peel Region is offering a one-time grant opportunity to support the involvement of residents, community and grass-roots organizations, associations, businesses, in creating concepts and plans designed to strengthen their neighbourhoods. Requests can range from $500 to $25,000. A total of $100,000 is available for distribution from this Neighbourhood Development funding stream.
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For the past 15 years, United Way of Peel Region's Community Investment department has had a unit called Training and Consulting Services, offering professional development workshops primarily for members of the social service sector. Recently renamed Strategic Transformations, this service is dedicated to providing capacity-building opportunities to the Peel non-profit sector that supports United Way's goal of positive community impact. Capacity building is developing the ability to act with knowledge, achieve results and effect change.
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On November 21, United Way of Peel Region is hosting a workshop on social innovation. "This is an opportunity for organizations to brainstorm and bounce around ideas on how they can become creative in improving or re-inventing themselves," says United Way Community Investment Manager Sharon Douglas." She adds that participants in the workshop can discuss and consider a range of "innovative" options, from making a change in their system of service delivery or merging with another organization for greater cost-efficiency and effectiveness.
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In April 2002, 6-year-old Nolan Cattell's father died of a brain tumour. With no siblings or relatives living locally, Nolan and his mother, JoAnn, were on their own.

JoAnn wanted her only child to have a male role model - someone he could learn from and have fun with while maturing. She contacted a United Way-funded agency, which placed Nolan in a group program in 2003 where he could interact with other children in his single-parent situation.
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Thanks to additional Best Start funding, Peel's mobile early learning centres are moving forward. Known as "L.I.O.N.s" (Learning in Our Neighbourhood), these centres are scheduled to be in neighbourhoods in January 2008. Work will commence immediately to ensure continued funding and sustainability of this important initiative.
more...

United Way of Peel Region's Chinese Community Advisory Council (CAC) will partner with the Peel Chinese Inter-Agency Network to hold a community information session on Friday, December 14, 2007 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Canadian Coptic Centre, 1245 Eglinton Avenue West, Mississauga.
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United Way's Day of Caring on October 18 attracted 177 volunteers from 16 organizations The volunteers visited 16 United Way-funded agencies where they completed 25 projects, including gardening, serving seniors lunch, providing computer training, helping at a food bank, painting, yard work, sorting and cleaning.
more...

November 20, 2007 is "National Child Day" - a time to celebrate Canada's most precious resource, our children. The National Child Day was proclaimed by the Government of Canada on March 19th, 1993, to commemorate two historic events for children - the adoption of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and UN adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. Peel's Children's Charter of Rights, as presented by Success by 6 Peel on May 24, 2007, was accepted, endorsed and supported.
more...

United Way of Peel Region's Spirit Awards honour the inspiration and passion evident in our very best campaigns. Spirit Award winners take campaign best practices and tailor them to fit their organizational and workplace culture. Year after year, Spirit Award winners find innovative and creative ways to promote team spirit, fun and cooperation while raising more money for our community.
more...

It's never too early to plan for next golf season, especially when it comes to the 2008 United Way Annual Golf Tournament on Thursday, July 10 at Lionhead Golf and Country Club. Year after year, it's one of the most well-attended tournaments - a must-play event.
more...

United Way of Peel Region is offering a one-time grant opportunity to support existing social-purpose enterprises. A social-purpose enterprise is a business venture that balances both revenue generation and a social mission. It is established by a not-for-profit organization that creates real economic opportunities for at-risk populations.

This opportunity is a pilot to provide funding to a small number of social-purpose enterprises, to identify learnings and outcomes from funded projects, and to determine the feasibility of a longer-term strategy related to social-purpose enterprise. Organizations are invited to submit an application. Grants up to $35,000 are available. A total of $100,000 is available for distribution through this funding opportunity. The application deadline is November 9, 2007.

Social-purpose enterprises offer at-risk individuals employment or employment-related training and experience, a way to earn income, improve their housing, foster enhanced life skills and self-esteem, and create better connections to their community. Activities within a social-purpose enterprise can provide opportunities to address the underlying causes of social and economic issues.

United Way is seeking social-purpose enterprise proposals that meet the following funding objectives:

1. Provide enhanced employment or training opportunities for marginalized populations.
2. Strengthen the capacity of existing social-purpose enterprises.

Applicants must be registered charities with the Canada Revenue Agency. To receive an application and/or get further information about this funding opportunity, please contact Mumbi Musilla, United Way Community Investment Associate, at 905-602-2328 or mmusilla@unitedwaypeel.org.

United Way of Peel Region is offering a one-time grant opportunity to support the involvement of residents, community and grass-roots organizations, associations, businesses, in creating concepts and plans designed to strengthen their neighbourhoods. Requests can range from $500 to $25,000. A total of $100,000 is available for distribution from this Neighbourhood Development funding stream.

With 34,000 new residents each year, Peel's growth rate is one of the highest in the country. Peel has only 38 social housing units per 1,000 households (compared to 49 units for other urban centres). There are 12,400 families waiting for social housing; only 7% of the waiting list is placed annually. Multiple families living in single-family dwellings and illegal basement apartments put additional pressure on social service providers. Lack of green space, high density, inadequate transportation, isolation, inaccessible services and few social and recreational opportunities for youth and children result in social exclusion and alienation. Youth violence and substance abuse are on the increase.

United Way's Neighbourhood Development funding is intended to strengthen neighbourhoods in ways that will create opportunities for all residents, including youth, children and families, newcomers and immigrants, seniors, and people with disabilities. This will require local leaders and residents to work together. A neighbourhood that works together is a safer, healthier and more productive one.

United Way strongly encourages collaborations and partnerships among residents, business associations, registered charities, and non-profit and grass-roots organizations to apply for Neighbourhood Development funding. The applying group must be a registered charity that is actively engaged in the project. Visit www.unitedwaypeel.org for details. To RSVP for the orientation session, receive an application form or get further information, contact Anita Stellinga, Director, Community Investment, at 905-602-3618 or astellinga@unitedwaypeel.org.

For the past 15 years, United Way of Peel Region's Community Investment department has had a unit called Training and Consulting Services, offering professional development workshops primarily for members of the social service sector. Recently renamed Strategic Transformations, this service is dedicated to providing capacity-building opportunities to the Peel non-profit sector that supports United Way's goal of positive community impact. Capacity building is developing the ability to act with knowledge, achieve results and effect change.

Strategic Transformations values the following: community empowerment, sustainable and measurable change, positive community impact, and social innovation. Implementing these values is central to all United Way services.

"Strategic Transformations" is focused on what's going on immediately in the community. It's more topical and inspires debate," says Sharon Douglas, United Way's Community Investment Manager, who oversees Strategic Transformations.

Strategic Transformations is offering a Prepare-for-Impact workshop series delivered by experienced trainers. These workshops will assist agencies in setting themselves up to make community impact.

For information on our upcoming workshop series and to register online, visit www.unitedwaypeel.org. The first workshop on Effective Media Relations is scheduled for November 7.

Next month, United Way will be adding the Speak to the Experts forum, a virtual communication platform where agency staff members and volunteers can post their challenges and have experts reply in a timely manner. Participants must register online at www.unitedwaypeel.org to join the forum.

On November 21, United Way of Peel Region is hosting a workshop on social innovation. "This is an opportunity for organizations to brainstorm and bounce around ideas on how they can become creative in improving or re-inventing themselves," says United Way Community Investment Manager Sharon Douglas." She adds that participants in the workshop can discuss and consider a range of "innovative" options, from making a change in their system of service delivery or merging with another organization for greater cost-efficiency and effectiveness.

For further information and/or to sign up for the workshop, contact Sharon Douglas at 905-602-3620 or sdouglas@unitedwaypeel.org.

In April 2002, 6-year-old Nolan Cattell's father died of a brain tumour. With no siblings or relatives living locally, Nolan and his mother, JoAnn, were on their own.

JoAnn wanted her only child to have a male role model - someone he could learn from and have fun with while maturing. She contacted a United Way-funded agency, which placed Nolan in a group program in 2003 where he could interact with other children in his single-parent situation. The ultimate goal of the program was to match the children to adult role models. Over the course of the program, the agency introduced Nolan to a young man named Nat Marchica and the two were officially matched in 2005.

Nolan and Nat shared something in common. Nat's father had passed away 10 years ago. Like Nolan, Nat had no relatives living nearby.

"My dad passed away when I was 19," said Nat when asked why he got involved in the United Way-funded program. "I wanted to help someone in similar circumstances."

Today, Nolan, age 11, and Nat have a strong bond. They engage in many activities together, including soccer, going to the movies, attending sports events, and playing with Nat's dog. The two try to get together on a weekly basis, usually on weekends.

When asked what is the most important thing Nat has done for him, Nolan replied with a smile on his face. "He's helped me with social issues - like girls."

How has Nat's relationship with Nolan affected his life? "It's changed it for the better. It makes a hard day better. It makes me feel like a kid again," said Nat.

Thanks to additional Best Start funding, Peel's mobile early learning centres are moving forward. Known as "L.I.O.N.s" (Learning in Our Neighbourhood), these centres are scheduled to be in neighbourhoods in January 2008. Work will commence immediately to ensure continued funding and sustainability of this important initiative.

L.I.O.N.s take early childhood development services to families in under-serviced areas; offer training in literacy, numeracy, communication and social interaction; and provide parents/caregivers with parenting information and emotional support. Success By 6 Peel, of which United Way is a partner, is currently working in conjunction with regional and municipal governments, Ontario Early Learning Centres, human support services, businesses, and school boards to develop resources and support for this initiative.

Wards 6 and 10 in the northwest and northeast areas of Brampton are growing dramatically, with an estimated 70,000 people locating there over the past five years. Current schools are filled beyond capacity. There are some public services but not nearly enough. There is increasing evidence that several families live in one house, with often only one person looking after as many as half a dozen children through the day. L.I.O.N.s will address the challenge of accessing family and early child development services as well as lay the foundation for permanent community services in these isolated areas. Similar to the Hubs and Readiness Centres already established by the Peel District School Board, these mobile early learning centres will focus on providing early literacy, child development and parenting programs to support the unique needs of the multilingual, cultural, ethnic and faith communities in north Brampton.

Each L.I.O.N. centre will be housed in a modified recreational vehicle. The concept of the L.I.O.N. centres was first seen in rural Tennessee and has been highly successful in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Edmonton, Alberta. Ontario Early Years Centre will be responsible for program and staff while the Region of Peel will be in charge of maintaining and housing the vehicles.

United Way of Peel Region's Chinese Community Advisory Council (CAC) will partner with the Peel Chinese Inter-Agency Network to hold a community information session on Friday, December 14, 2007 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Canadian Coptic Centre, 1245 Eglinton Avenue West, Mississauga.

CAC conducted a preliminary literature review regarding the Chinese community's needs in Peel and the purpose of this info session is:

• To validate the literature review by the social services providers
• To get frontline workers' input on the needs of the community
• To seek suggestions/ideas/ recommendations on how to address the needs we've identified as a broad community

We will have discussions about:

• Challenges faced by Chinese newcomers
• Current service gap
• Challenges and barriers faced by social service providers
• An action plan

For further information, contact Jenny Qin, United Way's Community Outreach Coordinator, at 905-602-3628 or jqin@unitedwaypeel.org.

United Way's Day of Caring on October 18 attracted 177 volunteers from 16 organizations The volunteers visited 16 United Way-funded agencies where they completed 25 projects, including gardening, serving seniors lunch, providing computer training, helping at a food bank, painting, yard work, sorting and cleaning.

"It's the largest Day of Caring we've ever had!" exclaimed Marilyn Caird, United Way's Communications Manager, Events.

Click here to view photographs from the event.

November 20, 2007 is "National Child Day" - a time to celebrate Canada's most precious resource, our children. The National Child Day was proclaimed by the Government of Canada on March 19th, 1993, to commemorate two historic events for children - the adoption of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and UN adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. Peel's Children's Charter of Rights, as presented by Success by 6 Peel on May 24, 2007, was accepted, endorsed and supported. United Way of Peel Region is a partner of Success By 6 Peel.

Wearing a royal blue ribbon shows support for National Child Day.

Canada's future depends on the healthy development of our children. The blue ribbon demonstrates that you think Canada's children deserve prime consideration in all economic, social and political decisions, policies, programs and expenditures.

It's time to get into the Spirit - the Spirit Awards, that is!

United Way of Peel Region's Spirit Awards honour the inspiration and passion evident in our very best campaigns. Spirit Award winners take campaign best practices and tailor them to fit their organizational and workplace culture. Year after year, Spirit Award winners find innovative and creative ways to promote team spirit, fun and cooperation while raising more money for our community.

The winners are selected by an independent panel of judges who assess each nomination according to the awards criteria.

Below is the list of Spirit Awards available to win. Spirit Award entries must be received by 5 p.m. on December 20, 2007. Spirit Award winners will be announced at United Way's Community Achievement Celebration on January 31, 2008.

Outstanding Agency Campaign Award
Presented to an agency employee campaign that has exceptional participation and promotes giving to the Community Fund. Awarded to both funded and non-funded agencies.

Outstanding Corporate Campaign Award
Presented to a corporation/company that excels in the many areas of corporate support to United Way.

Outstanding Employee Campaign Award
Presented to the employee campaign that has the greatest increase in participation and/or dollars raised.

Best First-Time Campaign Award
Presented to a new workplace campaign that has had outstanding participation in its first campaign. It recognizes new campaigns that have vitality, excitement, involvement and excellent communication. Workplaces that have not run a campaign in two years are also eligible.

Leadership Giving Campaign Award
Presented to the workplace campaign that conducts an exemplary Leadership Giving campaign. There is only one Leadership Giving Campaign Award presented each year.

Best National Employee Campaign Award
Presented to the employee campaign that runs an exceptional national campaign that has the greatest increase in participation and/or dollars raised.

Outstanding Joint Union-Management Campaign
Presented to a workplace campaign run jointly by union members and management that exemplifies teamwork, leadership and community giving. Awarded in both the private and public sector categories.

It's Your SAY Spirit Awards for Youth
Presented to schools that find innovative and creative ways to promote school spirit, fun and cooperation while fundraising for United Way of Peel Region.

Speakers' Bureau Award
This award will be presented to the Speakers' Bureau volunteer who was an active and effective ambassador for United Way throughout the entire campaign.

Chair's Award of Merit
Presented by the Campaign Chair to a company or organization that has gone above and beyond its traditional support during the campaign.

For more information, click here to visit the Spirit Awards page on United Way's website.

It's never too early to plan for next golf season, especially when it comes to the 2008 United Way Annual Golf Tournament on Thursday, July 10 at Lionhead Golf and Country Club. Year after year, it's one of the most well-attended tournaments - a must-play event.

Circle the date and tell your mates! Details to follow in an upcoming issue of Way to Go!

Brampton Civic Hospital opens on Sunday, October 28. All staff and patients will be transferred from Peel Memorial Hospital the same day. Brampton Civic Hospital will have 479 in-patient beds while Peel Memorial has 349 beds. "There are not enough beds and services and funding at Brampton. We're only getting 130 new beds to care for all of Peel Memorial's patients and Brampton," said Jagtar Shergill of the Brampton Health Coalition.

Peel Region is developing plans to build 269 new affordable housing units on two Brampton sites. The buildings will include much-needed two- and three-bedroom units for families. "Increasing numbers of families and individuals in Peel are paying more than half of their income on housing, making the need for more permanent affordable rental housing a priority," says Regional Councillor Paul Palleschi, President of Peel Living, the Region's non-profit housing company.