President Barnard’s message on United Way campaign

The following is a message from University of Manitoba President and Vice-Chancellor David Barnard:

At the University of Manitoba, we are committed to helping make our community better for everyone who lives, works and attends school in this city. We believe one of the best ways to achieve that is by working together with others through United Way Winnipeg.

This year, we are proud to be kicking off our annual United Way Winnipeg campaign. On behalf of our co-chairs, David Mandzuk (Fort Garry), Mark O’Riley (Fort Garry), Reg Urbanowski (Bannatyne) and our retirees’ campaign chair Daniel Sitar, I’m writing to ask for your support.

Here’s why we’ve already made our 2018 donations, and why we ask you to do the same:

Over 325,000 visits happen at 100+ United Way Winnipeg donor-supported agency partners each year. If you do the math, that works out to one person every 90 seconds who receives help.

That is a lot of lives impacted in many important ways. It happens in almost every corner of our community and creates healthier families and a stronger city for all of us. Last year, thanks to the support of donors like you:

• 83,100 children and youth gained access to leadership and mentoring programs, safe spaces after school, and counselling and crisis intervention.
• 26 agencies helped 32,400 Winnipeggers gain the money management and financial skills necessary to be independent and secure. These are transformative moments for the clients, who also come away with life and employment skills so they can support their families.
• And 63 agencies received 211,200 visits from Winnipeggers seeking wellness and life skills, counselling, and community development programs. Among them are 24 United Way Winnipeg donor-supported family resource centres: places of belonging and growth crucial to the health of kids and families.

Everyone experiences times in their life when they need a little help. Your gift makes sure that help is available to all Winnipeggers – including friends, family, co-workers, and students – when they need it most.

Every gift, no matter the size, makes a real difference. If you’ve donated before, thank you. Please consider that even a small increase will give hope and opportunity to even more kids and families. If you’ve never donated before, please let this be the year. Turn your kindness and love for our city into a better life for so many Winnipeggers.

Every dollar is invested directly back into the community thanks to a generous grant from the Province of Manitoba that covers fundraising and administrative costs.

You will receive an email link to United Way Winnipeg’s ePledge online system, where you can make your donation easily and securely. You can also indicate whether you’re opting for the convenience of payroll deduction or credit card payment.

If using a paper pledge then complete, separate, and submit the payroll deduction portion of your pledge form using interdepartmental mail. Then mail the rest of the pledge form using the return envelope provided. Payroll deductions will be spread evenly starting in 2019.

Donors who make gifts by cash, cheque or credit card and want a receipt for the 2018 tax year should return their pledges before the university closes in December.

Let’s show how much we love Winnipeg.