2010/2011 Board of Directors. Seated from left to right: Barbara Leavitt, Shelley White and Carl Oxholm. Standing from left to right: Snigdha Malik, Dr. Colin Saldanha, Bonnie Waterfield, Geovanni Mosquera, Shaila Mehta, Michelle Cole, Norma Trim, Narendra Shah, and Sandy Fallon. Note - not all Board Members present.

More than 150 people attended United Way of Peel Region’s annual meeting at the Lionhead Golf and Country Club in Brampton on June 11.

At the Board of Directors meeting immediately following the annual meeting, Carl Oxholm, a Partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) and long-time United Way volunteer, was elected Board Chair. Other officers elected were Barbara Leavitt, president of Baxter Corporation, as Vice Chair; Bobby Sachdeva, Partner with Pallett Valo LLP, as Secretary; and as Treasurer, Norma Trim, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and Commissioner of Corporate Affairs with the Region of Peel.

Carl is a member of United Way’s Major Individual Giving Cabinet, and has served on the Campaign Cabinet since 2002. He chaired the campaign in 2006 and has also served as an Account Executive. He recently received a 10-year Ontario Volunteer Service Award in recognition of his ongoing commitment to United Way.

“It’s a great honour to be elected Chair of United Way of Peel Region’s Board of Directors,” said Oxholm. “I’m looking forward to working with fellow Board members, and United Way volunteers and staff, as we unite to tackle the serious issues in our community and create lasting, positive social change.”

Elected to the Board for their first three-year term are: Sandy Fallon, Vice President, Human Resources of GlaxoSmithKline Inc.(GSK) and Geovanni Mosquera, PgMP, PMP, P2RP, Senior Information Technology Manager for the Region of Peel’s Information, Systems and Technology Services Division.

In addition to the newly elected officers, the following individuals are continuing their terms as Board members: Harold Brathwaite, Michelle Cole, Charles Courneyea, Snigdha Malik, Shaila Mehta, Louroz Mercader, Joseph Palumbo, Monika Platek, Serge Rochette, Dr. Colin Saldanha, Narendra Shah, Don Taylor, and Bonnie Waterfield.

Click here to read our full news release.

Representatives from PepsiCo Canada were on hand to accept their 2009 Thanks a Million award at United Way of Peel Region's annual meeting on June 11, 2010. Pictured from left are: Dave Moncur, VP of Human Resources for PepsiCo Canada, Maria Da Silva, National Worker's Compensation Manager for Pepsi Beverages Canada, and Jody Peck, VP of Human Resources for PepsiCo Beverages.

Meredith Keenan (left), GE Canada's Manager of Human Resources, accepts the 2009 Thanks a Million award from Barb Leavitt, President of Baxter Corporation and Chair of United Way of Peel Region's 2010 campaign.

PepsiCo Canada and GE Canada received the prestigious 2009 Thanks a Million award at United Way of Peel Region’s annual general meeting in June. The annual Thanks a Million awards are given by United Way of Canada-Centraide Canada to corporations, employers and labour organizations that have facilitated their employees or members raising $1-million or more for United Ways across the country. PepsiCo Canada and GE Canada are both headquartered in Mississauga.

This was the first Thanks a Million award for PepsiCo Canada. Three PepsiCo divisions share the award: Pepsi Beverages Company Canada, PepsiCo Beverages Canada, and PepsiCoFoods Canada. Collectively they demonstrated strong commitment to United Way and the community, raising a grand total of $1,109,141.

This was the third consecutive year GE Canada received the award, proving they are passionate about making a long-lasting commitment to the health of the communities in which they operate. Spurred on by their campaign slogan: “Let’s Carry the Torch for a Brighter Tomorrow,” GE raised more than $1.1 million in their national campaign.

In addition 51 organizations with headquarters outside of Peel but with local operations received Thanks a Million awards.

Click here to read our full news release and the list of 2009 Thanks a Million award winners.

Satwant no longer isolated

Since being sponsored by her son to immigrate to Canada in 1996, Satwant Kaur Dhillon cared for her three grandchildren while her husband, son, and daughter-in-law worked. Once the children began attending school, Satwant, 66, began to feel lonely and isolated. Her daily routine consisted of doing a little housework and praying. Due to her sedentary lifestyle and poor diet she developed diabetes and required daily medication.

Satwant then heard about the Senior South Asian Women’s Group, hosted by Malton Neighbourhood Services, a United Way funded agency. The group provides educational workshops and social activities to enrich the lives of senior South Asian women.

After attending the groups exercise program and health workshops for two years, Satwant feels energetic and her doctor has reduced the medication required for her diabetes. The once isolated senior now socializes with new friends and enjoys a healthy, active lifestyle.

United Way of Peel Region is a community partner in an important research study, Poverty and Employment Precarity in Southern Ontario. The study which is led by United Way Toronto and McMaster University, with a Community University Research Alliance grant from the federal government, will look at the effect of job instability on families and communities specifically in Peel, York, Hamilton and Toronto. Employment precarity refers to uncertain employment conditions such as a lack of job security, low pay, no benefits, and limited control over work schedules.

The five-year study will involve large scale population surveys administered by Statistics Canada and a series of detailed case studies using interviews and focus groups. This study supports United Way’s ongoing work in understanding and confronting social issues in our community in order to create positive lasting change. Anticipated recommendations will help develop strategies to increase employment security among vulnerable groups.

Students from Peel Alternative school in front of the forest mural they painted to help beautify the community park.

With the help of a United Way Neighbourhood Development Grant, the City of Mississauga and Volunteer MBC collaborated with artists and volunteers to revitalize a local park.

Students, teachers, corporate teams, seniors as well as community residents volunteered their time and talent to paint murals on bridges, picnic tables, benches and rocks to beautify the Central Parkway neighbourhood in Mississauga.

In addition to providing a community service, volunteers such as the students from Peel Alternative School (PAS) West had a great time painting the mural.

"What a wonderful experience for our PAS West students,” said PAS West Vice Principal Suzanne Morrison. “They returned to school with enthusiasm and a greater appreciation for our community and environment."

The Central Parkway Mural project is one of 12 neighbourhood grants awarded by United Way late last year. The grants, totalling $262,743, aim to help reduce poverty and youth violence, and create opportunities for residents to become more involved in their neighbourhood.

BD Canada employees with United Way Resource Development Manager Kimberley Souliere

Employees at BD Canada (Peel Region Chapter) raised a whopping $65,000 during their Spring into Action United Way campaign held in April. The campaign kicked off with a breakfast featuring speakers from United Way. Employees wore red to jump-start the campaign and show their support for United Way. BD Canada's commitment to match all employee donations dollar for dollar was a strong motivator in getting employees to donate using their pledge forms. Special fundraising activities and events included an online auction, a games event with BBQ lunch (Oakville facility), a Mexican-theme lunch and games (Mississauga facility), and a henna tattoo artist. BD is a proud supporter of United Way and has already begun planning for next year’s campaign. United Way salutes and thanks BD Canada for their ongoing support.

Join United Way’s Loaned Representative Program and help improve our community. A Loaned Representative is an enthusiastic individual who is loaned or sponsored by a business, corporation or organization to assist United Way during our fundraising campaign. The Loaned Representative program helps United Way reach fundraising goals by keeping our costs low, and maximizing the impact of donor dollars in our community.

Following five days of comprehensive training, Loaned Representatives participate in a unique professional development opportunity. They work alongside United Way staff, developing fundraising, leadership, project management, public speaking and teamwork skills. As part of a supportive and dynamic team, they will implement fundraising strategies and maintain ongoing relationships with hundreds of companies and organizations. After completing the program they return to their workplace energized with new skills, confidence, contacts, and a commitment to our community. This is a 16-week position that runs from August 30 to December 17, 2010.

To learn more about sponsoring a Loaned Representative or how to become a Loaned Representative, contact Lesley Allison at 905-602-3629 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

In 2003, 78-year-old Che Kin Cheng and his wife Siuyan, 72, had been married for more than 50 years. They had worked hard all their lives, raised three children, and were enjoying travelling during their retirement. However, their journey together would be cut short, when Siuyan was diagnosed with cancer.

“After my wife became ill, she needed a lot of rest,” says Che. “We couldn’t travel much anymore.”

A friend connected the couple with Carefirst, a United Way-funded agency that provides social programs, health care and supportive services that assist seniors in enjoying an enriched quality of life in the community.

Volunteer visitors from Carefirst helped with household duties and provided companionship to the couple during Siuyan’s two-year illness. Siuyan was eventually moved to the hospital where she succumbed to her illness in 2005. Grief-stricken, Che felt empty, depressed and alone.

“I didn’t know what to do,” says Che. “I would spend days just sitting and looking at the wall and remembering my wife.”

Che again reached out to Carefirst and began attending several social and educational programs. United Way supports seniors as they seek to live healthy and independent lives by funding programs, services and initiatives like Carefirst that provide social opportunities to isolated seniors.

Now 84, Che is excited about life again. He volunteers with Carefirst and is a member of the agency’s Wellness Committee. He participates in several social groups and activities including karaoke, the Happy Together Support Group, and monthly birthday celebrations. In addition, he attends Tai Chi classes and loves to entertain others by playing the piano and singing at group gatherings.

“I feel happy now and my life has a purpose again,” says Che. “I have lots of friends and I am not alone anymore.”

July 5:
Leaders on the Links Golf Tournament