The York Region is home to some of Canada's fastest growing municipalities. But the growth of social services has not kept par with the growth in population.
This gap is exacerbated by the fact that the region is also in the midst of some demographic changes, between 2001 and 2006 there was a 55 per cent increase in York's low income population (1 in 8 people) and the poverty rate is growing 2.5 faster than the percentage increase in the total population.
In order to help fill this gap, the United Way York Region (UWYR) recently unveiled a bold new plan -- raise $30 million for the region in just three years.
"Most indicators of our region and our nine municipalities show that they are doing well around income, and health, and educational achievement," says Daniele Zanotti, CEO of UWYR. "But we are beginning to see some disturbing trends especially around double digit increases in poverty. In specific neighbourhoods around York region, [poverty] is growing faster than the provincial and national average and we know that the social infrastructure is having trouble keeping pace with the thousands who are calling York Region home."
Zanotti is hopeful that the $30 million will help the United Way build the region's social infrastructure and bring services to where people need them the most - in their own community.
"The best prevention and the best return on investment are community supports close to home," says Zanotti. "When a community has social infrastructure…there's all kinds of indicators that you've also got lower crime rates, better health, higher educational achievement, and better economic growth.
"If, on the other hand, a mom is forced to travel out of her community for services around violence, or a senior has to travel to another jurisdiction for recreational support or counselling, that impacts the individual, the family and the broader community."
"So it makes good human and economic sense for people to have supports close to home and that might be as simple as a place they can go or a place they can volunteer."
In order to achieve the ambitious 30 million goal (which Zanotti describes as "unprecedented among United Ways across Canada") the UWYR will need to expand beyond its usual fundraising strategies.
The UWYR will be reaching out to community and individual donors as well as expanding their network of partner companies and workplaces.
"The idea of the three year gives us an opportunity to develop a United Way network of support in each of our municipalities as people move in a reach out for our help."
The new fundraising campaign was announced last Saturday (August 17th) at the UWYR's annual Dragon Boat Festival fundraiser in King City. The choice of venue, says Zanotti, was not incidental.
"The reason it's our signature event is that it so perfectly represents the community and synchronically that we're all about. More than individuals brute strength or athletic skill it really requires a team to work in sync, on rhythm, and together, to win."
Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: Daniele Zanotti, CEO, United Way York Region