I have long been an advocate for the United Way of Calgary and Area, having spearheaded corporate campaigns and served on the United Way Campaign Cabinet in the 1990s.
Founded in 1940, the United Way supports local charities in the Greater Calgary Area, and through a partnership with the Town of Okotoks, United Way volunteers in our town have raised more than $1.4 million that has been invested into local agencies.
The Okotoks/United Way Partnership Committee has been directing the local campaign since a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the town and the United Way in 2002.
The committee raises funds to augment the United Way’s annual grant for Okotoks and district community services, and also determines where the United Way grants should be allocated, according to Sian Anderson, Okotoks community wellness team lead and staff liaison to the partnership committee.
“All funds raised in Okotoks stay in Okotoks,” she said.
In addition, United Way donations made through workplace campaigns can be earmarked for funding Okotoks agencies.
“On the workplace donation form there is an option to direct the funds to one of the area partners,” said Susan Brooke, the United Way’s vice president of community impact and partnerships. “It’s important to us that we support our area partners.”
The United Way/Okotoks Partnership is one of five in the area, the others being High River, Chestermere, Cochrane, and Strathmore. The principle behind the partnerships is to allow area communities whose residents may work in Calgary to have access to United Way funding.
This year, the Partnership provided grants totalling $84,000 to eight local organizations – Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools, Foothills School Division, the Inclusion Foothills Association, KidSport Okotoks, The Nurtured by Nature Mental Health and Wellness Society, The Okotoks Family Resource Centre, The Sheep River Health Trust, and the Town of High River’s Foothills Community Counselling group.
The Partnership’s goal is to increase the amount to $90,000 for 2024. The United Way campaign officially kicks off this month and generally concludes shortly after the beginning of the new year.
Coun. Gord Lang is the Town’s representative on the Partnership Committee.
“When I first joined the committee, I didn’t know a great deal about the United Way,” he said, “but it’s not just geared to one segment of society, it’s all of them. And it’s not just Okotoks, it’s also the surrounding area.”
Lang also highlighted the United Way’s support for organizations that deal with mental health issues.
“That’s been a key focus lately,” he added.
Committee chair Shari Hutchison said the Partnership’s principal fundraiser, the Okotoks Coupon Book, is just about ready to kick off.
“The coupon books will soon be available at some 30 business locations around town,” she said. “Watch for them.”
Other members of the committee are Jakki Smolcic, Sandra Clough, Janet Gabriel, Michael King, Fiorentina Maione, and Valerie Rusu. More information about donation options can be obtained by contacting the committee at [email protected].
