The United Way movement

• Started in Denver, Colorado in 1887 by a rabbi, a minister and a priest, who got together to help miners’ families
• United Way has its roots in Canada in 1917
• All United Ways are locally autonomous and accountable to the community they serve

United Way serving Kingston , Frontenac, Lennox & Addington:

• United Way supports human care services through Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington.
• This United Way was incorporated in 1941 as the Community Chest
• In 1941 the United Way serving KFL&A raised $23,500
• In 2010, the United Way serving KFL&A raised $3,145,000
• In 2010, the United Way funded 106 critical programs and services that helped over 74,000 people
• Local volunteers, through Citizens Review Panels, review agency applications and recommend allocation amounts to support local services and ensure services are available when they are needed the most
• United Way builds strong communities, mobilizing community resources to address issues like homelessness, the impact of poverty and the importance of programs that support early development and children and youth at risk
• United Way strengthens the voluntary sector through board development, providing Leadership Development Services to not for profit organizations in the area
• Approximately 2,000 local residents volunteer every year for our United Way
• United Way is one of the most efficient ways to raise funds for local programs and services
• When you give to United Way, you can rest assured that your gift will be well spent. In fact, United Way is among the most efficient charities in North America.
• Thanks to our large volunteer force and our strong local partnerships, we keep our fundraising and administration costs at 12 per cent. The national average for fundraising is 21 per cent and most non-profit organizations spend as much as 50 per cent on administration. This means that your gift to the United Way will go where it makes the most difference
• 350 local workplaces participate in the annual campaign; employee and corporate donations make up over 80 percent of the total raised with the balance from individuals and community events
• The United Way offers donor choice, enabling donors to designate their funds, if they choose, to an established network of programs and services, to an impact area, to any other registered Canadian Charity or to designate away from a member agency