Our Community is at Risk...United Way is Running Out of Time

For Immediate Release

December 14, 2006

[Ajax]– The annual campaign is coming to a close and the local United Way needs your support.  Our communities are at risk.  Please don’t let the social issues in our communities escalate. More than 20,000 people in our community are relying on support to assist them with much-needed social services; whether it is seniors, children and youth or families needing support to ensure they thrive.

Currently the United Way campaign has reached 55% of its $1,900,000 goal.  “Should United Way not meet its goal, the pain would be felt by many.  In addition to United Way tightening its belt, funded agencies will also receive a reduction in their 2007 funding.  That means that in a time when population and need is growing, waiting lists for services will also grow, and in fact, many residents may have to leave their own community to access services they currently find close to home,” says Edna Klazek, Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Ajax-Pickering-Uxbridge.

Despite all the hard work of the many volunteers, United Way has not raised enough funds to meet the need of their agencies.  If you haven’t already done so, please send in your 2006 campaign donation.  Alternatively, you can visit their website at www.uwayapu.org to make your donation online.  It is very convenient and easy to do.  An email confirmation is sent instantaneously and your tax receipt is immediate.

United Way is very proud that between 82 and 85 cents of donor dollars are used directly for charitable purposes in our community.  United Way’s fundraising and administration costs vary from 15% - 18%, which is among the lowest of any public charity.  This was confirmed in a 2002 expose on charitable costs undertaken by the Toronto Star in which United Way was cited as being one of the most cost effective charities.  Because United Way has a volunteer to staff ratio of 80:1, costs are kept very well controlled.

Much more important than the cost, what a donor should be asking is if their contributions are really making a difference in the lives of people in their communities.  United Way supports 60 programs that serve our community’s children, adults, seniors and people with special needs in a wide variety of ways. From providing Meals on Wheels and volunteer visitors to ensure seniors can retain their dignity and remain in their homes, to making sure that children start their school day with a healthy breakfast to help them learn better;  from helping families deal with life situations from abuse and anger management to helping them pre-empt problems with employment or financial counselling….United Way is there….and without the support provided by our donors, many of these important services would either not exist, or would be very limited in the help they can offer.   

Did you know:

• Over 200 people strive to break the cycle of abuse by leaving the abusive environment. Most are women who more often than not end up with little or no financial resources.
• 7,185 single parent families live here and, on average, single parent families’ income falls below the poverty line; notwithstanding that many are working. 
• Two parent families and seniors are the fastest growing users of shelters and food banks. 
• 1 in 6 local children live in poverty.
• 40% of seniors over 70 in Ajax area living alone are living in poverty.
• In Durham Region many seniors live in isolation and need support from the community

By donating to United Way of Ajax-Pickering-Uxbridge, you are making a positive impact on many people’s lives – right here in your community.  In 2005 alone, 20,000 people benefited from direct services funded by United Way.  The community is counting on your support to in order for the agencies to continue providing so many necessary and vital services. 

United Way Ajax-Pickering-Uxbridge provides funding to 30 agencies and a number of programs that offer assistance to those in the community. For more information on the agencies and programs that we fund please visit our website: www.uwayapu.org.

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For further information, please contact:

Gwen Noble, Resource Development Manger