United Way Centraide Responds
When COVID-19 arrived, United Way Centraide Canada and our local members leapt into action. We knew the most vulnerable people across our country would be hit the hardest, so we immediately began advocating on behalf of local service agencies that support them. We reached out to our partners, stakeholders, and government funders to find solutions to new problems and offer support to those who need it most.
What We’ve Accomplished Together
$47M+
raised for COVID-19 relief and invested in community programs and services
$9M+
in government funding invested in programs that help vulnerable seniors
$165M+
in government funding invested in community support services and programs
100%
of people across Canada given access to the 211 helpline
Canadian Communities Made Stronger
Keeping Communities Strong
For the past year, the work of United Way Centraides (UWCs) has been focused on supporting our communities as they contend with the effects of the pandemic.
Within days of the WHO declaring a global pandemic, the UWC network across the nation brought key partners together through community response tables to prepare to support the most vulnerable. We mobilized new and existing donors to support the Local Love in a Global Crisis campaign, raising money and in-kind donations, then leveraged our local expertise to provide immediate resources to our community service partners to help those in greatest need.
Recognizing the local reach and expertise of the UWC network, the Government of Canada engaged us to quickly and effectively disburse approximately $145M through the New Horizons Seniors Program and the Emergency Community Support Fund.
We also increased the capacity of the 211 helpline and expanded the service to reach every corner of the country with government support.
The Stories Behind the Numbers
What’s Next
The United Way Centraide network continues to work with governments, partners, and other stakeholders to help ensure local charities and non-profits can continue to support people through the pandemic and beyond.