United Way of Peel Region will invest more than $9.7-million this year in local services, programs and initiatives that meet immediate social needs and tackle their underlying causes. More than $7.7-million of the $9,770,334 contributed to United Way’s Community Fund in 2009 will be used to support a network of 99 vital programs provided by 53 different social service agencies. This investment represents a slight increase over last year and will assist agencies in addressing the ongoing growth in service demands. The remaining donations will be invested through our Community Fund.

“Even though we are starting to see signs of economic recovery, we know that there can be a long delay between recovery in the market and recovery in the community,” says United Way CEO Shelley White. “Last year more than 420,000 people in our community turned to the services and programs supported by United Way, an overall increase of 6 per cent over 2008. We expect this growth to continue as our community continues to grow. Some agencies have experienced increases of as much as 300 per cent as job loss, stress and anxiety due to the economy continue to impact our community.”

This announcement represents the first allocations under United Way’s new funding strategy, Investing for Resilience. Under its new approach, United Way is focusing on building resilience in individuals, families and neighbourhoods by taking action in four areas: meeting basic physical and emotional needs; developing coping skills and abilities; providing economic opportunities; and supporting meaningful participation in our community.

Click here to read our full news release.

The birth of a first child is one of the happiest occasions in a couple’s lives. But for Jennifer Deathe and her husband Richard it was a time filled with anxiety, fear and emotional pain. During the sixth month of Jennifer’s pregnancy an ultrasound revealed severe physical abnormalities in the couple’s unborn son.

“The bottoms of his feet were facing upward instead of down,” explained Jennifer. “We couldn’t believe this was happening to us. We wanted better for our child and we felt cheated. We were utterly devastated.”

After James was born in February 2008, Jennifer sank into postpartum depression. Due to the rare malformation of baby James’ legs, his left leg would need to be amputated and he would undergo extensive reconstructive surgery.

“I cried every day for about a year,” says Jennifer. “It was disheartening to watch him in pain. I just felt so helpless.”

Jennifer reached out to Caledon Parent-Child Centre, a United Way-funded agency that provides support, resources and education that strengthens families and promotes the optimal development of children.

In addition to medical referrals, the Centre provided Jennifer and her husband with emotional support and counselling to help them cope during their son’s surgery. “They were there to listen to our concerns and help us make difficult decisions. They also enabled us to feel safe in expressing our pain,” says Jennifer.

More than a year after the surgery, Jennifer, her husband and James are doing great. According to his mom, James is an active toddler who climbs, jumps and gets into mischief on a regular basis. Now with the help of a prosthetic leg, he is learning to walk. “He is as happy as any other kid and when he smiles at me…well it just makes my day,” beams Jennifer.

The family has learned to take things one day at a time and not to dwell on the past or what the future may bring. Jennifer and James continue to get support from Caledon Parent-Child Centre and attend the Centre’s Toddler Mother Goose program once a week.

“We feel so blessed to have support from the Caledon Parent-Child Centre. I don’t think James or our family would be what we are without them,” says Jennifer.

Your donation to United Way’s Community Fund supports agencies like Caledon Parent-Child Centre that strengthen families and help children reach their full potential.

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and lend a hand at one of many United Way-funded agencies on United Way’s spring Day of Caring on May 13. Volunteering for Day of Caring is an excellent opportunity to learn more about how your donations to United Way help support our community.

Day of Caring projects include serving meals, providing computer training, conducting practice job interviews, accompanying agency clients on outings, teaching arts and crafts, helping at a food bank, painting, and garden clean ups.

During our last Day of Caring 80 volunteers contributed more than 1,000 hours of time to complete 43 different projects at 17 United Way funded agencies. By participating in Day of Caring, you help preserve agency resources for front-line services.

For more information on Day of Caring and the online registration visit www.unitedwaypeel.org or click here.

Collect pledges from friends, family and colleagues to support United Way at the seventh annual Mississauga Marathon taking place May 14th to the 16th. This year runners and walkers will experience a new route with a new finish line. The finish line, which was previously located at Lakefront Promenade Park, will be moved to Port Credit Memorial Park to accommodate the growing number of participants, spectators, and volunteers.

With “A Run for Everyone,” including the Canon Marathon, Half Marathon, Desjardins 10K and 10K Student Relay, “The Hazel” 5K, 2K Family Fun Run/Walk, and Corporate Relay, the Mississauga Marathon is an event for all ages and athletic abilities.

Take steps to help improve your community by participating yourself or pledging a runner or walker. You can also take part by becoming a volunteer. Many volunteer opportunities, including Course Marshalls, are available.

All pledges donated to United Way through the marathon support our Community Fund.

If you wish to participate as a runner or walker, make a pledge or donation, volunteer, or find out more about the marathon please visit www.mississaugamarathon.com or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Get ready to have a swinging good time while supporting your community. Register for United Way’s 19th annual Leaders on the Links Golf Tournament taking place Monday, July 5 at Lionhead Golf and Country Club in Brampton.

Fees are $500 for a single golfer, $2000 for a foursome and $2,300 for a combination of a foursome and hole sponsorship. Golf cart, locker, guest gift, on-course lunch, and three-course dinner are included. As always, there will be some fabulous items to bid on at our popular silent auction.

Funds raised through Leaders on the Links support United Way’s Community Fund which invests in programs, services and initiatives that address key social challenges in our community. These programs, services and initiatives work together to provide a circle of care, tackling issues from many different angles—prevention, education, counselling, crisis intervention. People from all walks of life and in many different circumstances receive support through United Way.

Don’t delay. Register today. Click here to download your application.

For more information on Leaders on the Links visit www.unitedwaypeel.org or contact events manager Lin Ferguson at 905-602-3625 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Title sponsors for this year’s tournament are Purlolator, Delotitte, Telus and RBC Insurance. There are also other sponsorship opportunities available. To join our winning sponsorship team 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 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 that 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. More