Investing in resilient people

In the middle of the night, a woman awakens her three children. Wearing their pyjamas, the children get into the back seat of a car and their mother drives off into the darkness. Where will they go?

In one year, more than 23,600 women who have been abused, and their children, received shelter, counselling and support from United Way to help them begin new lives free from violence. When you give to United Way, your donations support a network of essential services that assist those in our community who are vulnerable to abuse.

“When someone is affected by abuse, there is a higher risk of isolation, poverty and homelessness,” explains United Way Director of Community Investment Anita Stellinga. “United Way is committed to investing in programs that not only meet these immediate needs but also proactively tackle root causes of these challenging social issues.”

United Way funds a network of programs and services that create a circle of care to break the cycle of violence and abuse. We invest in agencies that provide emergency shelter; counselling for women, children and men; interest free loans to women fleeing abuse; and assistance finding housing and employment.

When you support United Way, you invest in lasting, positive social change that creates resilient people, strong families, and a better community for all of us.

Journey to recovery

In 2001 Farheen Khan was sexually assaulted in broad daylight. A man followed her out of an apartment building elevator into a hallway where he first verbally assaulted her with racial slurs. Then, he grabbed her and threw her to the ground, holding her down as he attempted to rip off her hijab.

"I was stunned and terrified," says Farheen. “I remember thinking - this can’t be happening!”

Fortunately Farheen was able to fight off her attacker and escape to safety. After telling her parents about the assault, the family chose not to contact the police. At the time it was Farheen’s parent’s belief that disclosing the assault would stigmatize Farheen and could bring dishonour to the family.

Keeping her feelings bottled up caused Farheen to experience extreme health issues and illness. After suffering in silence for five years, a friend encouraged Farheen to contact the Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centre of Peel (SA/RCCP), a United Way Funded agency that provides supportive, recovery counselling for survivors of sexual trauma and violence. Farheen's contact with the agency assisted her in coping with the trauma and moving forward with her life. She later volunteered with SA/RCCP to help others by raising awareness about sexual assault and violence against women.

“Two out of three women in Canada experience sexual violence and less than 10 per cent report it to police,” she explains. “Had I not contacted the SA/RCCP for help, I would have continued suffering emotionally and physically.”

Today, Farheen, 30, feels physically and emotionally healthy. She is employed in an executive position with the SA/RCCP and is a published author. She continues to be an advocate for women and also assists in the fight against poverty in Peel.

Jacqueline feels privileged to volunteer

“There is a sense of joy in assisting someone to heal and discover that life is worth living,” says Jacqueline Fehlner.

Jacqueline volunteers her skills as an art therapist at a United Way funded agency, helping those with terminal illness find inner peace and healing through artistic expression.

“In Art therapy, the person is given a visual voice to express feelings and emotions and to tell their story when there are no words” explains Jacqueline. “Art Therapy often helps people work through personal pain and loss.”

Her own pain and loss is what led Jacqueline to help others. More than 20 years ago her son was stillborn. Her overwhelming grief sent her into a deep depression. She was able to find deep inner peace through art and wanted to share this process with others. She returned to school to study and become an Art Therapist.

“I came to realize that I could use my skills as an artist, educator, and therapist to help people heal during a critical time in their lives,” she says.

As a volunteer, Jacqueline feels honoured by those who accept her into their hearts and into their lives.

“Assisting people in their life journey is a privilege,” she says. “There is great joy in seeing someone heal and find peace – and to play a role in that process is extremely rewarding.”

Day of Caring™ takes place June 2

Roll up your sleeves and grab a paint brush, broom or rake, and spring into action for our community. Registration for United Way’s spring Day of Caring™, taking place on June 2, is now open.

“By volunteering for Day of Caring™ employees across Peel have an opportunity to play a direct role in community building while experiencing firsthand how their contributions support local United Way funded agencies,” explains United Way President and CEO Shelley White. “Many volunteers participate as a group and find it to be a great team-building experience, as well as personally rewarding.”

Volunteers can register for a variety of projects including painting, yard work and cleanups, computer training and more. Day of Caring™ helps preserve agency resources to ensure maximum funding goes to vital frontline programs and services that hundreds of thousands of men, women and children in our community depend on. United Way’s spring Day of Caring™ is generously sponsored by TD. Paint and related supplies are donated by the Brampton North Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse. To register online for Day of Caring™ or learn more, click here.

Black Community Advisory Council in action

In support of the United Nations declaration that 2011 be the International Year for People of African Descent, United Way’s Black Community Advisory Council (BCAC) and United Way President and CEO Shelley White collaborated on a letter to our community partners. The letter advises our partners of the declaration, and offers BCAC’s assistance with acknowledging it within their organizations.

The BCAC is one of three councils created by United Way to build and promote inclusion in Peel Region. The Council aims to highlight the assets and contributions of Peel’s Black community, which numbers more than 95,000, as well as identify and address key challenges and gaps in support services.

Since its launch in February 2010, BCAC has engaged in a number of activities and initiatives including: council awareness and recruitment during Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Citizenship Week; collaborated with the Black Community Action Network in Peel to co-host “Come On People!” – a workshop promoting the collective community working towards social change; and partnered with Nexus Youth Services for its first-ever Black History Month event.

The BCAC is comprised of people from different segments of Peel’s diverse Black community. Council members represent different sectors including business, health, education and the community.

To join the BCAC or learn more, contact Suelyn Knight, Community Outreach Coordinator at 905 602-3617 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Here are some examples of the difference your donation to the Community Fund makes in neighbourhoods in Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga:

$5.00 per pay ($130 a year) provides 10 children with two weeks of summer camp activities.

$9 per pay ($234 a year) provides one parent with a 16 hour parenting course, including textbook, which will improve his/her parenting skills and improve his/her relationship with their children.

$10 per pay ($260 a year) provides one child with a safe place to go after school for an entire year.

$10 per pay ($260 a year) will provide a vulnerable child with regular recreational and interactive outings for one year.

$10 per pay ($260 a year)provides 45 youth, aged 13 to 24, with eight workshops to help them develop leadership skills

$12 per pay ($312 a year) enrolls three women who were victims of abuse and domestic violence in an 8-week support group with their children to enhance their life skills and learn about a wide range of community services.

$40 per pay ($1,040 a year) provides one woman with one year of free, confidential 24-hour crisis counselling which includes the development of a plan to escape to safety and how to keep herself and her children safe while living with her abuser.

$40 per pay ($1,040 a year) provides one adult survivor of childhood abuse with counselling and support.

$40 per pay ($1,040 a year) provides a woman who has been abused by her partner with one year of confidential 24-hour crisis counselling so that she and her children can be safe.

$56 per pay ($1,440 a year) provides a four month stay in a shelter for a woman and her three children plus 24-hour, one-to-one and group counselling

May 14-15 - Mississauga Marathon

May 27 - Region of Peel's 2011 Golf Tournament in support of United Way

June 2 - Day of Caring

June 24 - United Way of Peel Region's Annual General Meeting