Without you, there would be no way.
Without you, there would be no way.
United Way of the Lower Mainland has a role and a responsibility to tackle our community’s key social issues in the most profound way. Our role: to build a healthy, caring, inclusive community; a community that we are all proud to call home. Our responsibility: to do it with integrity and courage and to ensure sustainability and embrace diversity, every step of the way.
For eight decades United Way has been helping the most vulnerable among us; we support seniors to age with dignity and purpose, connect isolated immigrants and help provide a life-line to children whose parents work numerous jobs just to make ends meet.
Research and community consultation tells us that by focusing on the following key social issues, we can help prevent problems, like poverty, in a way that will benefit us all:
Almost 30% of children entering kindergarten are considered developmentally vulnerable. If left unsupported this can affect a child’s success at school and in life.
United Way Priority: Success By 6. Our goal: School readiness for young children.
By helping young children start school with the developmental skills they need to succeed, United Way enables children to reach their full potential.
Children in their middle years are experiencing an increased sense of isolation and disconnection.
United Way priority: Helping children 6-12. Our goal: Health, happiness and resiliency for school-age children.
By providing children age 6-12 with the support and resources they need, United Way sets them on the path to success, away from school drop out, crime and poverty.
One in four seniors live in poverty and in just ten years seniors will outnumber children in many Lower Mainland communities.
United Way Priority: Helping seniors. Our goal: Independent & engaged seniors.
By providing seniors with the support they need now to stay independent and engaged in the community, United Way prevents isolation and related health problems.
To understand how we make a difference, please see How We Work.
United Way of the Lower Mainland has been supporting people in our community, from Pemberton to Langley, for eight decades. As times have changed, so have we. Read more about how we work:
In order to achieve our vision of a healthy, caring, inclusive community and to invest your generously donated dollars wisely, we must focus our efforts. United Way focuses on children and seniors. In good times and bad, United Way is there to protect the vulnerable and prevent social problems by:
Investing in our youngest children, particularly those at risk.
Ensuring that kids are developmentally ready for school can literally change the future.
Helping children 6-12 make the right choices.
Enabling children age 6 to 12 to be healthy, happy and resilient puts them on the right path to future success.
Strengthening the independence of seniors.
By supporting seniors to stay active and live independently, we all benefit.
We’ve done our homework. Working together with social service partners, advocacy groups, labour groups, politicians, research experts, the corporate community and community members, we’ve learned that United Way can create the greatest positive change, for everyone in our community, by focusing on children and seniors and by preventing social issues before they occur. United Way focuses on prevention.
United Way knows that stronger communities cannot be achieved without strengthening the underlying fabric of your community. For example, children cannot be helped in isolation; therefore, we support their families through parenting programs and we support their broader community through our Building Stronger Communities strategy.
INVEST in social services.
RESEARCH and do our homework to understand the key social issues and underlying causes that affect our community.
BRING TOGETHER community, labour, business, government, and non-profit leaders in coordinated action.
ADVOCATE and raise our voice to influence and change public attitudes, systems and policies that stand in our way.
EVALUATE to understand the impact of our investments.
United Way of the Lower Mainland funds social service agencies committed to achieving our vision for change for children and seniors. We support their critical programs and services and strengthen their capacity to deliver these vital services. After nearly eight decades, our commitment continues.
United Way is the only organization funding over 160 social service agencies to deliver more than 500 prevention-based programs and initiatives for vulnerable people throughout Metro Vancouver. Click here to see a list of the programs, initiatives and agencies we support.
United Way works with the research community to investigate the root causes of our most challenging social issues and learns how we can tackle them to ensure lasting change.
For example, United Way funded research, in partnership with UBC and the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), discovered that children in their middle years are suffering from low self-esteem and are spending too much time at home alone. In response, United Way has invested the largest-ever grant of its kind in support of out-of-school programs. The result: 600 kids every week are involved in after-school programs that provide mentoring, homework support, physical activity and leadership skills.
We engage and mobilize community partners to ensure collaborative action – school boards, governments, unions, business leaders, neighbourhood residents, and others – in identifying social challenges and developing local solutions. By working together, we make the greatest difference.
We add our voice to those advocating policy changes, the transformation of public attitudes, and shifts in systems that get in the way of achieving our goal.
Our planning & investment decisions must achieve positive change. This calls for: meaningful outcomes, key milestones and defined timelines. As part of our evaluation and measurement framework we gather information through:
Research that measures population-level changes.
Evaluation of programs/initiatives we fund.
Evaluation and assessment of investment results.
Building capacity of agencies to measure the impact of their work.
We know that by focusing on the above elements of community change, the lives of seniors, children and all those they touch will be measurably better. No other organization has the same breadth, depth, reach and history of achieving a profound difference in the lives of others.
Five year old Tutu’s hadn’t spoken a sound since witnessing the murder of his father in the Congo.
Thanks to the help of a United Way supported program, Tutu is now talking and playing well with others. It was a very proud moment when he set off for his first day of school, ready to learn, in September 2009.
Through Success by 6, United Way of the Lower Mainland is working to ensure our youngest children are ready to succeed in school by the time they reach kindergarten. Read Tutu’s full story.
Success By 6 is an early childhood development initiative dedicated to providing children with a good start in life.
29% of children entering kindergarten are considered developmentally vulnerable. In other words, almost 30% of our children are not ready for the learning school provides.
BC has the highest child poverty rate in Canada for the sixth year in a row.
What does this mean?
There are far too many children behind where they should be: socially, emotionally, and/or physically.
Why are so many children vulnerable? There are many reasons - it is no secret that it takes a community to raise a child, so what is going wrong? Simply put, there is not enough support in place for families with young children, to help kids develop the skills they need to succeed. A part of the problem is that BC has the highest child poverty rate in Canada. Growing up in poverty can mean a child lacks even the most basic needs, such as proper nutrition and shelter.
When we invest in our young children, we all win. Research shows that childhood early learning prevents youth aggression and violence, school drop-out and reduces the burden on our health care system.
United Way’s goal: To increase the number of school-ready children in the Lower Mainland.
United Way of the Lower Mainland is working with partners, including government, to ensure young children develop to their full potential. For example, by supporting parenting programs, food security programs, early childhood development hubs, organizations that advocate on behalf of children’s rights and by conducting research and evaluation that enables us to better understand children’s needs, United Way is helping kids succeed.
Our work is guided by our community impact model. It is the four strategies of engaging communities, strengthening non-profits, focusing on root causes, and influencing the decision-making environment that allows us to reach our goal for Success by 6.
We are committed to tracking and evaluating how your dollar makes a difference in the lives of people and our communities. Demonstrating the impact of your gift also enables United Way to continue to make wise and prudent investment choices to ensure the greatest return for our community and your generous investment.
Read more about how United Way is achieving Success By 6.
Spiros vividly recalls starting school in North Delta fresh from Greece and not really knowing how to speak English. “People would pick on me,” he recalls.
Spiros is among a group of youngsters working on an anti-bullying project called The Crafters, funded by United Way of the Lower Mainland. They bring their presentation, Let’s Stop The Bullying into local elementary schools, helping children by addressing the problems of bullying.
United Way ensures children age 6-12 have the basic values and skills needed to be healthy, happy and resilient. Read Spiros’s full story.
Research shows that children in their middle childhood years (age 6-12) are experiencing an increased sense of isolation and are disconnected from the community.
What does this mean?
Kids who feel disconnected often have low self-esteem and may spend too much time home alone. As a result, they run the risk of injury, bullying, suicide, crime and gang violence, such as the kind we’ve seen escalate on our streets and in our neighbourhoods.
Reaching children before they make the wrong choices is a key part of United Way’s prevention-based approach to address the underlying causes of issues such as bullying, violence and crime.
Many Metro Vancouver children age 6 to 12 don’t currently have the services, resources and programs they need to meet their developmental needs outside of school.
United Way’s goal: To ensure children 6-12 are healthy, happy and resilient.
United Way of the Lower Mainland supports innovative initiatives that are helping children develop the capacity to make wise future choices. For example, by supporting community schools, after-school programs, innovative tutoring services and research forums to broaden awareness for future action, United Way is helping to create child-friendly neighbourhoods.
By helping kids get the best possible start in life, United Way sets them on the right path, helping to prevent future problems such as school drop-out and crime.
Our work is guided by our community impact model. It is the four strategies of engaging communities, strengthening non-profits, focusing on root causes, and influencing the decision-making environment that allow us to reach our goal of helping children in their middle childhood years.
We are committed to tracking and evaluating how your dollars make a difference in the lives of people and our communities. Demonstrating the impact of your gift also enables United Way to continue to make wise and prudent investment choices to ensure the greatest return for our community and your generous investment.
Read more about how United Way is helping children.
Paddy and Henry formed a friendship over a billiard table at the Vancouver Second Mile Society in the Downtown Eastside. In his 80s, Paddy comes to this seniors’ centre almost daily to eat and play pool.
The Vancouver Second Mile Society helps low-income seniors in the downtown core combat isolation by providing a place to socialize and develop friendships. The fact that Paddy enjoys eating at the society is an example of what Executive Director Steve Chan considers a means to an end since meals are a way for seniors to sit down, talk and connect while meeting their nutritional needs.
United Way of the Lower Mainland is helping seniors to stay active and engaged in their community. Read Paddy's full story.
Almost one in five seniors lives below the poverty line.
30% of seniors live alone.
The number of homeless seniors in Metro Vancouver increased 259% in just six years.
In ten years, seniors will outnumber children in most Lower Mainland communities.
What does this mean?
When seniors suffer from isolation, poverty, and homelessness, we all lose. By helping seniors now, to stay active and live independently, we can help reduce future health care costs and enable governments to redirect those dollars to more preventative programs. Perhaps most importantly - we all benefit from the rich experience and wisdom seniors can provide.
Between 2007 and 2027, as baby boomers continue to age, the number of seniors age 65 and up will more than double. This dramatic increase in the number of older adults in our communities raises significant issues for each of us - as relatives, caregivers, neighbours and citizens.
United Way’s goal: To ensure seniors have the opportunity to remain independent and contributing to their community.
In 2009, research funded by United Way revealed an alarming shortage of programs and services for seniors, particularly in suburban areas. By 2027, the senior population in Vancouver is expected to decrease by 53% as seniors move to the suburbs - yet 45% of services for seniors are located in Vancouver.
Right now, neither services for seniors nor seniors’ organizations can cope with current demands for programs and services, let alone meet the growing needs. Through research, planning and action, United Way is bringing together community leaders, service providers and seniors themselves to strengthen our unique capacity to ensure seniors remain independent and connected to our community.
Our work is guided by our community impact model. It is the four strategies of engaging communities, strengthening non-profits, focusing on root causes, and influencing the decision-making environment that allow us to reach our goal.
We are committed to tracking and evaluating how your dollar makes a difference in the lives of people and our communities. Demonstrating the impact of your gift also enables United Way to continue to make wise and prudent investment choices to ensure the greatest return for our community and your generous investment.
Read more about how United Way is helping seniors.
United Way of the Lower Mainland understands that social change cannot be achieved without strengthening the fabric of your community.
Our Building Stronger Communities foundational strategy does just that by removing barriers for vulnerable populations and by supporting poverty reduction, information and referral services, and crisis and volunteers centres. For example, United Way of the Lower Mainland and Information Services Vancouver have created a partnership to establish B.C.’s first 211 service.
BC211 is an easy-to-remember, three-digit telephone number (211) that provides free, confidential, multilingual information and referral to a full range of community, social, and government services. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, Information and Referral Specialists link callers to the services and support they need.
While there are excellent community programs available, many people have a tough time finding the services they need. Service providers also face challenges trying to locate appropriate community services for their clients. BC211 and United Way are very pleased to announce that Lower Mainland residents are now able to access 211 services that:
Thanks to ongoing funding from United Way of the Lower Mainland, BC211 provides 211 services for communities in the Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley and Squamish-Lillooet Regional Districts.
Click here for more BC211 Facts.
Visit the BC211 website.
United Way of the Lower Mainland’s Building Stronger Communities strategy also integrates financial support for people living in poverty and funding for social sector capacity building and broad-based strategic partnerships across our three priority areas: Success by 6, 6-12 and Seniors.
What is United Way of the Lower Mainland?
Where is the Lower Mainland?
What is United Way's address and contact details?
Who does United Way of the Lower Mainland help?
Which communities does United Way of the Lower Mainland serve?
Why focus on seniors and children?
How does United Way work?
How can my non-profit apply for United Way funding?
How can my non-profit become a United Way member agency?
Why should I give to United Way?
Where does my money go?
What is the impact?
How many people are helped by United Way?
Does United Way measure results?
How does United Way know my dollars are used wisely?
What are United Way's fundraising costs?
I would like to donate, how?
Is personal information from donors protected?
I have a question that is not on here, who can I speak to?
What is United Way of the Lower Mainland?
United Way of the Lower Mainland is a charitable organization dedicated to creating healthy, caring and inclusive communities in the Lower Mainland. We rely on donations from individuals, work places, charitable trusts, corporate gifts, sponsorship, money raised by individuals and gifts raised during our annual campaign to improve lives and create measurably better communities.
Where is the Lower Mainland?
The Lower Mainland is a geographical area in British Columbia that encompasses communities from Pemberton to Langley including all of Metro Vancouver.
What is United Way’s address and contact details?
We are located in Burnaby, 12 km east of downtown Vancouver.
4543 Canada Way
Burnaby
BC V5G 4T4
Tel: 604.294.8929
Fax: 604.293.0010
Who does United Way of the Lower Mainland help?
United Way was established nearly eighty years ago to support non-profit social services that support those in need in the Lower Mainland. Our focus is on children and seniors. See Key Social Issues.
Which communities does United Way of the Lower Mainland serve?
United Way of the Lower Mainland serves 24 communities: Anmore, Belcarra, Bowen Island, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, Langley Township, Lions Bay, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, North Vancouver District, Pemberton, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Squamish, Sea to Sky corridor, Surrey, Vancouver, West Vancouver, Whistler and White Rock.
Why focus on seniors and children?
Through years of research, evaluation, community dialogue, collaboration and experience we’ve learned that United Way can create the greatest positive change, for everyone in our community, by focusing on children and seniors and in doing so prevent social issues before they occur. See How We Work.
How does United Way work?
United Way is more than a fundraiser; we are an organization committed to making a measureable difference in our community. Experience and research tells us that to do this effectively we must get to the heart of our communities greatest challenges. Our prevention-based approach does just that, by focusing on the root causes of our communities key social issues, including crime, isolation and poverty. See How We Work.
How can my non-profit apply for United Way funding?
United Way of the Lower Mainland specifically targets investments to children age 0-6, children age 6-12, seniors and our foundational strategy of Building Stronger Communities. Occasionally, opportunities may arise where an open grant call is made available for interested non-profit social service agencies to submit applications for funding. All notices will be posted on our website homepage and updated regularly.
How can my non-profit become a United Way member agency?
United Way’s funding model no longer includes ongoing grants to member agencies. In order to most effectively accomplish our mandate to create a lasting and measureable impact in our community, the majority of our funding is now provided to partners in the community through three-year funding agreements, or specifically directed one-year grants to agencies whose mission and mandate are clearly aligned to our priority areas or the foundation strategy.
Why should I give to United Way of the Lower Mainland?
When you give to United Way of the Lower Mainland you are making a profound difference in people’s lives in your local area and improving the quality of life we all enjoy. You are helping at-risk children get the best start in life and helping them to grow up healthy, happy and resilient. You are helping isolated seniors stay connected to their communities. You are helping to build a better tomorrow for everyone.
United Way is more than a funder of social services, we are an organization committed to making a measureable difference in our community. United Way of the Lower Mainland is the only organization funding approximately 160 social service agencies to deliver more than 500 prevention-based programs for vulnerable people throughout the region. But we are more than just a funder, United Way advances social change throughout Metro Vancouver by engaging the community, advocating for change, acting on the root causes of our community’s greatest challenges and strengthening non-profits.
Where does my money go?
United Way of the Lower Mainland funds approximately 160 non profit social service agencies that deliver more than 500 prevention-based programs for vulnerable people throughout the Lower Mainland. For example: in 2008, United Way invested approximately $5.1 million in Success By 6 for children age 0-6, $3.3 million helping children age 6 to 12 and $2.4 million helping seniors remain independent and engaged in their community. Click here for a list of non-profit social service agencies we support.
What is the impact?
When you donate to United Way you ensure children in your community are growing up able to take advantage of opportunities and their families are empowered to help them succeed. Seniors are no longer isolated and are able to share their wisdom and experience with the rest of their community. In simple terms, the work United Way of the Lower Mainland does – researching, planning, funding programs and services and evaluating who and how we are helping - has lasting impact. With your help, we are making the Lower Mainland stronger. Read more about our impact.
How many people are helped by United Way?
Success By 6
In 2008, United Way funded 75 organizations that used the funds to deliver 140 early childhood programs benefiting nearly 18,000 children, over 14,500 caregivers, and 15,000 families. United Way also funded 62 programs and initiatives at 38 agencies across the region that target a broader population of which children age 0 to 6 are a part.
Children 6-12
In 2008, United Way funded 53 organizations that used the funds to deliver 115 programs benefiting 42,000 school-age children, nearly 3,500 caregivers, and over 3,000 families. United Way also funded 62 programs and initiatives at 43 agencies across the region that target a broader population, of which children age 6 to 12 are a part.
Seniors
In 2008, United Way funded 42 organizations that used the funds to deliver 74 seniors programs benefiting over 49,600 seniors and nearly 700 of their caregivers. United Way also funded 48 programs and initiatives at 33 agencies across the region that target a broader population, of which seniors are a part.
Does United Way measure results?
Yes. Periodic research projects and outcome reports examine agency effectiveness in order to ensure programs are strong and have a poaitive impact on individuals and the community. Regular meetings between United Way and agency Executive Directors help to ensure strong communication links and exchange of information. United Way also provides training and support to agencies to ensure programs are effective, efficient and accessible.
How does United Way know my dollars are used wisely?
United Way monitors the programs it funds to ensure your dollars are being well managed and used effectively. United Way's application process has high standards that each agency must meet prior to receiving funding. We works closely with agencies to understand how your donation is invested and the impact your gift makes in our community. United Way is then committed to communicating that information back to our donors. See Our Impact.
What are United Way’s fundraising costs?
Efficiency matters. United Way of the Lower Mainland has one of the lowest net fundraising costs in the country -- 14 cents for each dollar raised. This is well below the Canadian average of 26 cents* for each dollar raised. Thanks to generous sponsors of materials and events and supporters of the Loaned Representative Program, we are able to do this. Our Endowment Fund also helps offset already low fundraising costs and ensures 86 cents of every donated dollar is used to support programs in our community.
*(Source: Canadian Centre for Philanthropy / Canada West Foundation 1996 survey of 1516 charities.)
United Way of the Lower Mainland’s annual campaign presents donors with several giving options. One option allows donors to directly designate gifts to any registered Canadian charity. There are costs associated with the administration of designations. The United Way of the Lower Mainland Board approved the implementation of a $12 fee for designations as a way to equitably distribute the cost of this designation service. The designation fee became effective in 2006.
I would like to donate, how?
If you would like to donate online please donate now.
If you would like to donate by phone please call Bea Togher at 604.294.8929, ext. 2326
If you would like to run a United Way fundraising campaign at your place of work please contact Kameka Clarke today via e-mail or at 604.268.1342.
Is personal information from donors protected?
Yes. United Way of the Lower Mainland is committed to protecting the privacy of our donors, volunteers, employees and other stakeholders. We value the trust of those we deal with and of the public, and we recognize that maintaining this trust requires us to be transparent and accountable in maintaining the confidentiality of the personal information that you choose to share with us.
United Way of the Lower Mainland embraces the principles of the Personal Information Protection Act to ensure that all personal information is properly collected, used only for the purposes for which it is collected, and is disposed of in a safe and timely manner when no longer required. For more information view our complete privacy policy.
I have a question that is not on here, who can I speak to?
Please click here to see contact details for United Way staff who will be happy to help you.
United Way of the Lower Mainland works with our partners in community to understand the key social issues that face our society. By understanding the underlying causes, we get to the heart of the problem to build a safe, caring, inclusive community that we are all proud to call home.
Below is a selection of the key resources and reports that delve deeper into our three priority areas of Success By 6, Children 6-12 and Seniors.
Making a Difference: United Way of the Lower Mainland Annual Report – Children Age 0 to 6 Focus on investments we made in children age 0 to 6 during 2008/09. Download here.
Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP): 15 by 15 Report
With support from the Business Council of British Columbia, United Way of the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Foundation, HELP has completed a groundbreaking research project that quantifies the costs and benefits of addressing early childhood vulnerability in BC. Download here.
The High/Scope Perry Preschool Study
The High/Scope Perry Preschool study is a scientific experiment that has identified both the short and long-term effects of a high quality preschool education program for young children living in poverty. Download here.
The Benefits and Costs of Good Child Care: The Economic Rationale for Public Investment in Young Children - A Policy Study. Download here.
Making a Difference: United Way of the Lower Mainland Annual Report – Children Age 6 to 12 Focus on investments we made in children age 6 to 12 during 2008/09. Download here.
Licensed school-aged child care in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia
United Way of the Lower Mainland and YMCA of Greater Vancouver commissioned a report on the availability of licensed school-aged child care in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. The report below looks at services, gaps and recommendations for future directions. Download here.
As part of the report please find a series of maps indicating the locations of licensed school-aged child care in the Lower Mainland. Download here.
United Way Middle Childhood Inside and Out: A report on the well being of children age 9-12. Download here.
Issues Affecting the Well-Being of Canadian Children in the Middle Years – 6 to 12
A Discussion Paper.A Literature Review prepared for the Middle Childhood Initiative of the National Children’s Alliance. Download here.
Middle Childhood Matters - A Framework to promote Healthy Development of Children 6 to 12.
Child and Youth Heath Network of Eastern Ontario. Download here.
Making a measureable difference in the lives of children age 6 to 12: 2009 outcomes for after-school programs supported by United Way of the Lower Mainland. Download here.
Making a Difference: United Way of the Lower Mainland Annual Report – Seniors Focus on investments we made in seniors during 2008/09. Download here.
Information Session on Pension Reform 2010
Presentation on Seniors’ Household Income in Metro Vancouver. Prepared by United Way of the Lower Mainland, this presentation summarizes household income data for the region’s over-65 population and identifies low-income groups of seniors by social characteristics, living arrangements and municipality. Click here for the presentation.
United Way Seniors Forum 2009
Full Research Report: Towards an Age-Friendly Community. Download here.
An atlas of the Lower Mainland and Sea to Sky Seniors Population and Services. Download here.
Community Indicators for an Aging Population, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
This study develops a set of indicators and a checklist that can help communities meet needs and challenges arising from population aging by identifying community attributes that are of particular importance to help seniors “age in place”. Download here.
North Shore Community Resources: Seniors in Communities Project.
A series of maps for seniors on seniors related services on the North Shore including; housing, health services, social services and home and outreach support. View the maps here.
Aging Well in British Columbia, Report of the Premier’s Council on Aging and Seniors’ Issues.
Download here.
Sustaining seniors programs through the Neighbourhood House Model.
In Vancouver, Neighbourhood Houses are an important resource for seniors. The purpose of this review is to discuss the unique approach that neighbourhood houses use in working with their neighbourhoods, and in particular, with seniors, and to describe a neighbourhood house model for seniors work. Download here.
Moving Towards Age-Friendly Communities This report, funded by United Way of the Lower Mainland, provides a summary of current and projected future population figures for older adults, via community profiles,for the region’s municipalities. The report also offers a preliminary overview of existing seniors’ services in the region, in terms of their number, type and municipal location. Click here.
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