United Way Winnipeg’s ‘Walk This Way’ campaign kicks off Sept. 18
UM community members encouraged to join
To say 2020 has been a challenging year is an understatement, with many in our own community struggling and in need. The good news is that the United Way, as they’ve been doing for more than 50 years in Winnipeg, is here to help.
But they can’t do it on their own.
On Friday, Sept. 18 the United Way Winnipeg will launch their Walk This Way campaign with a virtual event to unite the community we live in. The University of Manitoba community is encouraged to join the event by doing two simple things.
- Download and log in to the United Way’s free app
- Walk
By doing so you’ll join Winnipeggers from all across the city working to reach the United Way Winnipeg’s goal of collectively walking 5,000 kilometres. When that goal is reached the event sponsors will donate $100,000. The UM campaign team is trying to capture the excitement and energy of the overall campaign by promoting Friday’s virtual walk.
“UM has a long history of supporting the United Way at both the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses and every year we end up being one of the major institutional donors to the campaign,” says David Mandzuk, UM’s United Way campaign chair. “Last year, for example, UM employees contributed a total of $659,835 across both campuses. In particular, UM’s retirees, many of whom donate at the leadership level, are responsible for a major portion of our overall donation.”
This year’s campaign focuses on three priority areas that have emerged during the pandemic.
- Family supports
- Job readiness and training
- Mental health and addictions
Mandzuk believes that by channelling this energy and working together, we can build a better community for everyone who lives here.
The challenge this year, he adds, will be convincing our community that while the need in Winnipeg is greater than ever, some members of the UM community itself have been impacted. For example, some have been laid off, had to take reduced hours and are working from home with young children.
“I think it is important that those of us who have means, those of who have reliable employment and aren’t fighting mental health problems, realize that there are many members of our community who are not as fortunate. I think we need to encourage people to look out for and care about those members of our community who are struggling,” says Mandzuk.