United Way 

    Campaign

   reaches new 

      heights

By KIRSTEN GORUK           Herald-Tribune staff

 December 16, 2011

At a time of year when giving back seems to be on everyone's minds, the United Way Grande Prairie and Region is celebrating a successful year of campaigning that has successfully hit its fundraising goal.

During a thank-you lunch for the businesses and groups that fundraise for the organization, it was announced that this year's campaign raised $953,924.18, which is about $50,000 more than they had targeted.

"I was not worried. Grande Prairie is a region that I have such faith in," said Gladys Blackmore, executive director for this region's United Way chapter.

"I knew that we had to raise more money because we have more agencies coming forward."

Right now the organization is able to provide funding to 25 agencies with the help of 92 work-place campaigns.

Don Gnatiuk, this year's campaign chairman, said in a time when people are busier than ever, the United Way is lucky to have secured some of the busiest volunteers.

"There's a boom going on in Grande Prairie and yet you have time for United Way and I don't know how you can fit that in, but you make it happen. It's apparent to me that you love your community and you want to see it grow," he said as he addressed the lunch attendees.

This year, several local businesses and organizations saw huge increase in the amount of money they were able to bring in.

"It's very humbling to see the amount of support that's being put out there by volunteers who care and make our lives better. We don't see that every day," Gnatiuk said.

While they celebrate the news of this year's successes, plans for next year are already in motion.

In the coming months, the United Way has plans to reach out in different ways to help the broader community.

 "Yes, we raise lots of money and yes, we are able to support a number of agencies, but we need to find ways to reach the community to create some kind of change that's affecting the social issues that are here," Blackmore said.

In keeping with the trend set by other United Way chapters, Blackmore wants to locally examine issues such as poverty and actively work to make a difference. One of many new initiatives – the Days of Caring campaign – will be unveiled this coming spring.

"If for example, an agency is doing a renovation project inside their offices, we can bring in volunteers to help with that and reduce the cost," she said.

By encouraging people to not only donate their money, but also their time, Blackmore feel they will be able to reach out to more organizations that are awaiting help.

For those agencies that are currently within the fold, Blackmore also took the time on Thursday to remind people of just how important their contributions are.

"They are grateful from the bottom of their hearts and not because you've made their jobs easier, but because you've brought joy to the people that they're going to talk to and serve the needs of."

October 3, 2011

City proclaims October as  

                         United Way month

By ADAM JACKSON Herald-Tribune staff

For residents of Grande Prairie, October will now be known as United Way month.

Grande Prairie city council made the announcement Monday evening during its regular council meeting after a presentation from Don Gnatiuk.

"It's fabulous for our elected officials to stand behind and support the United Way," said Gnatiuk.

Not only did Mayor Bill Given proclaim the month of October United Way month, but he handed Gnatiuk his own personal donation – a payroll deduction form.

"We find that's the best way to donate to the United Way," said Gnatiuk. "It comes right off of your paycheck and you don't even notice really, but by the end it can add up and make a difference."

Given's main reason for supporting the United Way is the fact that the money stays in Grande Prairie, as well as the fact that the money streams to many different organizations.

"Each one of those agencies does a ton of work in Grande Prairie," said Given.

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United Way campaign off to a good start

By Reinisa MacLeod Herald-Tribune Staff

There was food and laughs as the United Way launched its fall campaign at Maddhatter's Liquid Lounge Thursday, but although it was a light event, the point was heard loud and clear.

The fundraising season is underway.

The national charitable initiative's Grande Prairie location is raring to go, and it's bringing its A-game with it.

With the economy still recovering from a two-year slump, the effort is needed more than ever.

Gladys Blackmore, president and executive director for the local branch, said that she's received more contacts from charitable agencies asking to access funding than ever before. In addition to the new requests, the initiatives the United Way already supports are also reporting difficulties, and are requesting more financial assistance.

"We're two years into an economic slow-down in Grande Prairie, and I think it's now really just hitting our not-for-profit organizations," she said.

In order to meet the increasing demand of this season, the organization will be increasing its target by 10%, which would bring the goal up to $900,000. The organization is asking the companies that support them to do the same.

"What we're asking is for everyone to come to the plate to hit that target, and those that have in the past, to try to up those targets by 10%," said campaign chairman, Don Gnatiuk. "After all, we're giving back to our own community."

Blackmore hinted that the face of the United Way might also be changing over the next couple years, though she insists that the primary goal is still to ensure that human care agencies receive the funding they require.

"Rather than maintaining a status quo, we're looking at finding better ways to influence both the community and the not-for-profit agencies," she said.

The organization is also looking into implementing a couple of new programs to help the community, maintaining a stronger local connection.

Most notable would be the Days of Caring program, aimed at giving younger people an opportunity to help out, without necessarily emptying their wallets in the process.

The program would provide bodies to assist on projects. For example if an organization were looking into rebuilding a playground, the United Way would help provide people to assist in the physical work to shorten the project time.

"We live in a really young community, and for lots of young people, it's easier for them to give up their time than their wallet," Blackmore said.

The campaign is already off to a good start with a $26,000 donation from Alliance Pipeline, and $22,000 from Weyerhaeuser.

Though the projected goals have increased, Gnatiuk is "pumped" to take on the task and pushing the envelope just a bit further. He credits the city's residents for all the help in the past years and is hoping that once again, residents will step up to make the goal.

"That's one of the beauties of being in Grande Prairie. Grande Prairie steps up to the plate, and usually it hits a big ball, so I'm really looking forward to this year," he said.

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Campaign Kick-Off with Mike Kerr - Sept 15, 2011

 click here for Mike's message  

    EVENT SPONSORED BY:  

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 Message to United Way Heroes
 from Don Gnatiuk, 2010 Campaign Chair

  Thank you everyone for coming to our Heroes Lunch.

            You are our heroes, and this is your lunch.

         We are proud of all of our volunteers – including those who could not come today.

 Thank You to our Lunch Sponsors

• Maddhatters Liquid Lounge and Crazy Cuisine
• Atco Electric
• Mirage Spa and Salon
• Holiday Inn

Although the Fall Campaign is our most important fundraiser, the United Way is also very proud of our Tools for School Campaign.  We partner with Staples, and Costco to run Tools for School every August.

• We divide the donations between all three school districts and they in turn hand those supplies to their schools to distribute.
• In 2010, this program raised approximately $20,000 in cash and supplies

We tried our best to help you, our volunteers, to run your events and to speak to your employee groups. This year our staff and volunteers attended just under 40 workplace presentations, a record!

Because of the success of the 2009 campaign, in the past 12 months the UW has paid out an amazing $646,422.60, making a big difference in our community

There were many records set this year, as several workplace campaigns raised their biggest total ever. Just to mention a few:

• ATB Financial was our top banking group, at $22,226
• BJ Services raised $47,255 with only 88 contributors
• CN more than doubled their campaign to $10,768
• Our biggest single contributor was Costco with $81,753
• The largest company donation comes from Devon, with a combined total of $123,620. Of that amount, $20,500 comes from Valhalla which is 30% increase over last year, and another $31,000 comes from Devon Fairview in their first ever campaign.
• LSM was also up over 30% to 20,315
• Pembina Pipe also ran a great 1^st ever campaign this year, raising $16,264
• Weyerhaeuser is a significant contributor at $57,000
• And finally I’m very proud to say that GPRC doubled our 2009 campaign, raising $30,384.37 in 2010.
• This year our goal was $825,000. Did we reach it? YES WE DID!!!

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Back in the Saddle

Hello, all you wonderful United Way Volunteers! I am back in the saddle and ready for action. The election campaign was not all that I hoped for, but the good news is I get to keep working with great and dedicated people!

Thank you so much to the United Way Board for their support. And I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Brenda Yamkowy for leaving HIV North and coming over to lend us a hand for the months of September and October. Because of her dedication, you have been able to continue with your workplace campaigns just as though I never left. Thank you Brenda!

All of our volunteers have been doing a great job. Don Gnatiuk and his Campaign Cabinet have pushed the United Way to be better and stronger than ever. Some of their ideas have produced immediate results, while other ideas will take time to implement. But the goal they chose of $825,000 is in sight, and looking like it’s going to happen.

We need everyone who has wrapped up your campaign to get your envelope into Lesa and Terri for data entry. And if you are close to finished, we need to get you wrapped up. Some work place campaigns will extend past the end of November, and that is just fine. For those in this category, we do need to get a sense of where you are at, so a call to Terri would be a good idea.

I hope to see you at the United Way Heroes Volunteer Celebration Luncheon on December 2^nd. If you have not received your invitation, please contact our office.   Once again, thank you for all of your hard work.

           Introducing Don Gnatiuk, 
      2010 Voluntary Campaign Chair 

We are thrilled to welcome Don Gnatiuk, President of GPRC, to the United Way.  He has accepted the big job of Chairing our 2010 Fall Campaign.  It will be a challenge to meet Don's goals this fall, as he plans to raise $825,000!  I know with his dedication, your commitment and the support of the United Way staff and Board, we can make this happen.  GPRC has campuses in both Fairview and Grand Cache, as well as Grande Prairie of course, and we are looking forward to building a stronger profile in those 2 communities as well.  It is going to be a great year for United Way, Grande Prairie & Region!