Thanks to the generosity of Ottawa residents, United Way Ottawa is investing a total of $25.5 million in the community.

United Way/Centraide is investing $16 million in programs, services and initiatives in the six impact areas:

Children & Youth; $4.5 million will be invested in 74 programs and services that help develop positive social skills, self esteem and confidence, encourage increased engagement in school and learning, support parents and help children and youth at risk. This includes new investment in nine programs that focus on increased engagement in school and learning for vulnerable children and youth.

New Canadians and Immigrants: $1.4 million will be invested in 14 programs and services that support employment and leadership development for immigrants, increase civic engagement and participation in all aspects of the community, increase awareness of immigrant issues, and improve inclusion and integration in the community. This includes new investment in four programs that will help increase the employment levels of immigrants in Ottawa, with particular attention to building the capacity of the employment services sector to respond to increases in employment demand.

Seniors: $1.7 million will be invested in 28 programs and services that increase autonomy and independent living, ensure access to adequate supports for seniors and their families and caregivers, and encourage increased participation in recreational, social and cultural activities. This includes new investment in five programs that will help underserved seniors to age at home.

People with Disabilities: $2.5 million will be invested in 29 programs and services that increase autonomy and improve quality of live, increase participation in recreational, social, cultural and other daily activities, and heighten community awareness and sensitivity to disability issues. This includes new investment in two programs that provide employment support services such as mentoring, coaching and job development.

Individuals and Families in Need and Crisis: $4.3 million will be invested in 37 programs and services that support individuals and families by providing resources to help them maintain or regain stability in their lives, provide effective support and interventions for people experiencing crisis, provide increased safety and effective supports for victims of violence – especially women and children, and provide homeless individuals or those at risk with supports to gain or maintain stable housing. This includes new investment in four programs related to homelessness and affordable housing.

Strengthening Agency, Neighbourhood and Community Capacity: $1.8 million will be invested in 18 programs and services that help increase volunteerism and civic engagement in the community, enhance the capacity of agencies and neighbourhoods to recognize and respond to their changing community needs, and enable community members to have access to information and resources regarding community services and issues. This includes new investment in four programs that help agencies attract, support and retain volunteers.

• United Way/Centraide is investing $7.2 million in donor-directed investments in registered Canadian Charities. Donors have the option to direct their gifts through United Way/Centraide to more than 1,000 registered Canadian charities.
• United Ways in other communities will receive $1.4 million.
• United Way/Centraide investing $0.7 million to other allocations and designations not linked to impact areas.

*Our total community investment on revenues of $29.8 million, after fundraising and administration costs of 14.00% and after pledge loss (unfulfilled pledges). A detailed breakdown of revenues and expenses for this year will appear in United Way/Centraide’s 2008 Annual Report.

 About United Way/Centraide Ottawa

United Way Ottawa’s mission is to bring people and resources together to build a strong, healthy, safe, community for all. By bringing people together from all parts of our community to identify, develop and provide solutions to community needs, we promise that the donations we receive go where they are needed most. In 2008, United Way Ottawa made a record community investment to support more than 200 projects, programs and partnerships, in more than 100 community organizations.