2025-2026 United Way WRC_Annual Report - Flipbook - Page 6
CEO Report
On behalf of everyone at United Way Waterloo
Region, I want to thank you for your generosity,
compassion, and belief in our mission. Your
support is an investment in hope, opportunity, and
lasting change for the individuals, families, and
communities we serve.
This has been a year of both
They are the compounding
opportunities and challenges. effects of an unrelenting
Our resilience has been
pressure on affordability and
tested by an evolving social
well-being.
and economic landscape,
paired with ever-increasing
No single organization and
demand for social services
no single donation can
and supports. Yet thanks to
resolve multiple
the dedication of our donors, interconnected crises.
volunteers, community
Housing instability intersects
partners, and staff, we
with mental health; food
remained steadfast in our
insecurity with childhood
commitment to funding the
development; safety and
agencies and programs that belonging with the ability to
support our community.
participate fully in community
life. This is precisely where
What I have seen this year,
United Way's role matters
more clearly than ever, is that most. Beyond funding 50+
the challenges facing our
partner organizations in the
neighbours are both
Region, we help strengthen
deepening and changing
community systems through
shape. Chronic homelessness our involvement in the Plan to
in Waterloo Region has risen End Chronic Homelessness,
129% since 2020, and on our through the Children & Youth
current path it could triple by Planning Table, and by
2028. Food insecurity now
investing in the Counselling
touches nearly 1 in 4
Collaborative's "no wrong
households. These are not
door" approach to mental
separate crises.
health care.
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