Helping families stay strong

Raising three young children often left Karla, exhausted, frustrated and overwhelmed. These feelings affected her relationship with her husband, Rodney, and cast a cloud over their family life. A United Way of Peel Region-funded program provided parenting classes that helped Karla and Rodney understand each other and their children. It provided them with tools and coping skills for them to work through challenges. Ultimately their family grew stronger.

United Way-funded agencies have enhanced the lives of thousands of families and children. Your donations help increase parenting knowledge and provide skills and resources; assist children in preschool and elementary school years; build leadership skills and confidence in youth; and enhance family relationships.

“Our goal is for all individuals and families in Peel to become resilient and thrive within a vibrant community,” says United Way’s Vice-President of Community Investment Anita Stellinga. “Our investment strategy focuses on supporting individuals, families and neighbourhoods to cope with challenges and overcome them.”

Your donations help United Way champion social change by funding workshops, counselling, violence prevention, homework and breakfast clubs, recreational and educational programs, and collaboratives that together provide a solid human care network that helps keep families strong throughout our community.

2011 Campaign kicks off in Super Bowl style

Want to be motivated and inspired? Then join the team. Join Team United and attend United Way of Peel Region’s 2011 campaign “Kick-off” event on September 23 at the Hershey Centre SportsZone, from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

The annual Kick-off marks the beginning of United Way’s public fundraising campaign and the announcement of our 2011 campaign goal. The free, Super Bowl-themed event begins with breakfast upon arrival, followed by opening ceremonies, including entertainment, inspirational speeches and remarks, and a demonstration of United Way’s community impact using the strategic game of football.

After Kick-off, attendees have the opportunity to participate in neighbourhood development volunteer activities from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Volunteer activities include litter cleanups, gardening and tree planting. Volunteer projects are both personally rewarding and a great team-building exercise for employees and community groups.

Click here to register online before the deadline of September 16.
For further information, contact Jacqueline Pereira at 905-602-3650 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

United Way’s Kick-off is sponsored by

Moms receive guidance

When Catarina, mother of three, was pregnant with her first child, she had only been in Canada for one year and had no friends or family in the area she could turn to for support.

"As a new mom, I didn't know what to expect and I didn't feel there was anyone who could give me advice or guidance," she says.

Catarina heard about a United Way-funded parenting program at the Vita Centre and decided to check it out.

"I learned so much," she says. "The workshops were awesome and speakers were inspiring.”

During her third pregnancy the program connected Catarina with volunteer Doula, Nelia daAmaral. A Doula plays a supportive role to a woman and her partner during the birth process.

“Nelia was a wonderful Doula,” says Catarina. “When I went into labour, my husband had to stay home with our other children and having the Doula with me made me feel so supported.”

Catarina continues attending the parenting program with her three young sons. She is planning to become a Doula to help other moms and highly recommends the parenting program to all women.

“It’s a great place for women to get together and share their feelings and support each other,” she explains. "I am so grateful for all that I have learned and I am happy to be able to pass on my knowledge and experience to other new moms."

To learn more about the Vita Centre, click here.

Volunteering runs in the family

Rosa Bonifacio comes from a family of givers. She grew up in a community where everyone looked out for their neighbours and took time to help each other.

"It was just what you did," she says. "My parents instilled in me the importance of giving back and now I do the same with my kids."

Rosa is the mother of four children. Over 20 years ago, when her children were small, she often visited the Caledon Parent-Child Centre, a United Way-funded agency. The Caledon Parent/Child Centre provides support, resources and education that strengthen families and promote positive development of children.

"With four children, it was sometimes difficult to have quality time out of the house," says Rosa. "The Centre provided a supportive environment where I could have fun with my children and also meet other moms like myself."

As her children got older, Rosa stayed connected with the Centre as a volunteer.

"The Centre was such a blessing to me," she says. "It makes my heart feel good to give back to them and to help support our community."

Following the family tradition of giving back, Rosa's daughter, Natalie, 21, also volunteers at the Centre, and is currently a Children’s Program Assistant.

"I loved coming to the Centre so much as a child that I started volunteering when I was 12," says Natalie.

Rosa and her husband, Michael, have taught their children that giving with no strings attached is both satisfying and rewarding.

"I grew up watching my mom volunteer and she has always encouraged us kids to give back to the community," says Natalie.

Rosa believes there are some needs that money just can't fill. "Some things need the human touch," she says.

To learn more about Caledon Parent/Child Centre, click here.

Unity in Diversity Gala supports United Way

Enjoy an elegant evening with Liberty Sliver, Grammy and Juno award winner, and Trey Anthony, writer and producer of the hit play ‘da Kink in my hair, at the Unity in Diversity Gala fundraiser, on September 24, at Hilton Toronto Hotel and Suites, 5875 Airport Road in Mississauga. Guests will also be treated to Afro-centric drumming beats and keynote speaker Dr. Sheldon Taylor, Professor of African Canadian Studies at the University of Toronto.

The gala is hosted by United Way of Peel Region’s Black Community Advisory Council. A cocktail reception begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner, entertainment and dancing at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $70 per person and $650 for a table of 10.
All funds raised through the gala support United Way of Peel Region’s Community Fund which helps sustain a vital network of 92 programs and 52 agencies that assist hundreds of thousands of people in our community.

To reserve your seat for this very entertaining evening click here.

To learn more about United Way’s Community Advisory Councils click here.

New report calls for Peel’s fair share

United Way of Peel Region, in partnership with leading organizations in Peel Region released a report on August 11, describing a landscape where vulnerable populations are falling behind because provincial and federal funding has not kept pace with community needs.

Portraits of Peel 2011: A Community Left Behind, is the second report co-authored by United Way of Peel Region, Social Planning Council of Peel, Fair Share Peel Task Force, and the Region of Peel. The 2005 report Portraits of Peel: Facing the Facts, also identified funding challenges for Peel's service providers.

Peel's funding challenges
Portraits of Peel extracts data from a number of sources to outline the current funding challenges for the Region's community health and human services providers and the challenges that residents of Peel face in accessing these services. Data from the Peel Fair Share Task Force reveals that Peel residents receive only a little more than half the support other Ontarians receive on a per capita basis. For example:

• Peel receives $354 per capita for child care services – the provincial average* is $815
• Peel receives $62 per capita for developmental services - the provincial average* is $133
• Peel receives less than one-third of the funding other Ontario municipalities receive for adult services
• Peel families have the longest wait times for social housing of any Ontario municipality.

*2008-2009, without GTA/905 Regions

Collaborations help service providers cope
"The community has been very solution-focused in the face of these challenges. Local governments, non-profits, community health and human service providers have made extraordinary efforts to both collaborate and coordinate their work to stretch resources. This includes the 2007 development of a community Investment Strategy aimed at prioritizing community needs in ways that have the greatest impact," said United Way of Peel Region CEO Shelley White.

Regional Chair, Emil Kolb, echoed White's remarks by saying "Unfortunately, some issues, like child poverty – are growing and are taking a harsh toll on the most vulnerable in our community." He pointed to the case studies found in the report as demonstrating how the right supports can dramatically change lives. Portraits of Peel puts a human face to the statistics", he said.

The populations described in Portraits of Peel are varied, ranging from children to newcomers but they share a common risk of being left behind if the services they require are delayed or absent.

To download a copy of the 2011 edition of Portraits of Peel, click here.
Citizens can contribute to Share's election Advocacy Campaign – Act Now for Peel – aimed at involving residents in advocating for equal access to social and community health services– especially for Peel. For more information, visit www.fairsharetaskforce.ca.

Gas up for our community

Get your $25 Esso United Way Gift card and support our community as well as United Ways across Canada. For every gift card purchased, Imperial Oil donates $2 to United Way -- Centraide.

The limited-edition Esso Gift Card can be used to purchase all Esso products and services and is available at more than 600 Esso-branded retail sites across Canada or online at www.myessogiftcard.ca.

The Esso Gift Card is available through November 30, 2011, while quantities last, so get yours today.

Apply for Youth in Action Grants

If you are between the ages of 14 and 24 and want to make a positive impact in Peel Region – Youth in Action grants are for you! United Way of Peel Region and the Region of Peel are offering one-time grants of up to $2,000 to youth led-projects in Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga. A total of $20,000 is available.

Previous grant recipients include a project that connected youth and seniors so that they could learn from each other; urban/hip hop dance lessons to teach youth in the local community how to dance; an art instillation project designed to illustrate how racism and homophobia intersect; and a series of weekly workshops that used cooking to draw youth away from violence.

To receive a grant, applicants must work with an eligible sponsoring organization. The sponsoring organization must be a registered charity based in, or operating, in Peel.

All projects should have a positive impact on local residents and neighbourhoods, improving the quality of community life.

The deadline for all applications is Friday September 30, 2011.

Interested applicants are encouraged to attend one of the following information sessions:

• Tuesday, September 13, 2011 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Region of Peel Building, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Room 985B, Brampton;
• Wednesday, September 14, 2011 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Caledon Centre for Recreation and Wellness,14111 Regional Road 50 N (Hwy 50), Bolton;
• Thursday, September 15, 2011 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at City of Mississauga Civic Centre, 300 City Centre Drive, Civic Centre Committee Room A, Mississauga.

To sign up for one of the information sessions, obtain funding guidelines or request an application package, contact Nicole Dupuis at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 905-602-3622.

Youth in Action grants are an initiative by the Young Leaders Council, a group of 20-35 year olds dedicated to creating a legacy of spirited giving and volunteerism within our community and the United Way of Peel Region.

To learn more about Youth in Action Grants click here.

Calling on Peel Residents to ask Provincial Candidates "Why?"

Why do Peel families with special needs children wait up to 12 months for an assessment? Why are there 2,000 Peel families on the wait list for urgent dental care? These are just two questions that the Region is asking all Peel candidates in the lead up to the October 6, 2011 provincial election.

Due to Peel's strong population growth, demand for provincially funded services like childcare, affordable housing, public health, mental health and addiction, and developmental services have simply out-paced available resources. So, Peel residents wait months or even years to access these key services. For example:

• A family that has found social housing in Peel today has typically waited up to 15 years
• Youth in Peel can wait up to 10 months to access day treatment services

"For many years Peel residents have waited longer than other Ontarians for important community health and social services," says Region of Peel Chair Emil Kolb. “The gap is significant and growing. The residents of Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga can make this a priority in this provincial election simply by asking all Peel provincial candidates why we wait so long and how they plan to address the gap.”

To help make this a priority in the provincial election, the Region of Peel launched PeelAsksWhy.ca. It is an interactive, community engagement campaign that is encouraging residents, businesses and community groups to ask their provincial candidates why we wait so long for key social and community health services.

"Community involvement is essential to educating and engaging our local provincial candidates and future provincial government in conversations about ways to address our communities' long waiting lists," says Chair Kolb. "Peel Asks Why enables everyone to join in the conversation."

This election is your chance to voice your concerns about the lack of timely access to social and community health services in Peel. Visit PeelAsksWhy.ca to become familiar with the issues and take action by becoming engaged in this campaign and sharing your experience with long wait times with us. Join us on Facebook or Twitter and spread the word that Peel is seeking answers to some important questions.

For more information contact Lowell Rubin-Vaughan, Senior Advisor, Government Relations at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Neighbourhood Development Grants: Call for submissions

Do you have a great idea on how to improve your neighbourhood? Why not apply for a Neighbourhood Development Grant of up to $15,000 – maybe your idea can become reality.

The grants, totalling $300,000, are jointly offered by United Way of Peel Region and the Region of Peel. They give Peel residents an opportunity to partner with local agencies and businesses to create resident-led projects that enhance the quality of neighbourhood life.

Previous grant recipients included: a park beautification project that brought together volunteers, youth and seniors to revitalize a community park; a community kitchen that brought the community together with a number of different activities; a resident council made up of concerned residents hoping to improve the neighbourhood conditions for their families; and a neighbourhood festival that brought residents together and promoted community pride and unity.

“These grants are empowering residents to work together to strengthen their neighbourhoods in ways that create hope and opportunity,” says Anita Stellinga, United Way vice-president of community investment. “Research has proven that a neighbourhood that works together is safer, healthier and more productive.”

All grant applications must be received by United Way of Peel Region at 90 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Suite 408, in Mississauga, no later than Wednesday, September 14 at 4 p.m.

For more information about this funding opportunity and how to receive an application, contact Areeta Bridgemohan, manager, community investment at 905-602-3630 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Charmayne Brown at 647-248-0569 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

To learn more about United Way’s Neighbourhood Development Grants click here.

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

$2 per pay ($52 per year) provides a warm winter jacket for a child or a month’s supply of baby formula to a family struggling financially.

$5 per pay ($130 per year) provides 10 hours of computer training to a child to enhance his or her writing skills, increasing the chances of success in school.

$8 per pay ($200 per year) provides a daily snack program to a child to ensure he or she is able to maintain a healthy active lifestyle.

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

$15 per pay ($390 per year) provides 10 children with a backpack filled with items such as personal hygiene products, a coping & crisis kit and art supplies to help them cope as a family member struggles with mental illness.

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

$45 per pay ($1,170 per year) funds an educational speaker event for 100 family members or caregivers to inform them about community resources, crisis management, Ontario Disability support and other programs to help them cope.

$69 per pay ($1,800 per year) provides special supplies and activites to one child that has been recently diagnosed as autistic.

$82 per pay ($2,140 per year) provides 10 parents with an eight-week, intensive parenting program and related resource materials to help enhance their parenting skills.

$192 per pay ($5,000 per year) allows 15 couples or families to attend counselling so that they can improve their relationships.

Sep. 13 - Employee Campaign Chair Workshop

Sep. 20 - Employee Campaign Chair Workshop for Non-profit organizations

Sep. 23 - Campaign Kick-off
sponsored by

Set. 23 - Day of Caringsponsored by

Sep. 24 - Unity in Diversity Gala Fundraiser

Sep. 28 -Community Detour

Oct. 5 - Community Detour

Oct. 29 - Region of Peel's Run, Walk and Roll 5K

Feb. 9 - Community Achievement Celebration