We shared some difficult news with the media last week. At a time when the demand for social services continues to rise in our community, we’re currently forecasting that only $4.9 million will be raised during this year’s fall workplace campaign towards the $6 million overall revenue challenge issued back in September.
As I explained to the media, we’re seeing a trend in local companies kicking off their workplace campaigns much later, which means we may not learn their campaign results until well into the new year. The other side of the story is that while we're seeing significant increases among some workplaces that have completed their campaigns, overall there’s a downward trend in funds pledged.
In response to this announcement, House of Friendship - an agency with several programs and initiatives supported by United Way KW - posted a blog entry entitled “United, we are stronger”. I really encourage you to read this blog, which is written by House of Friendship employee Matt Cooper. It explores the value behind supporting United Way and provides some real answers from real people in our community about why they choose to give.
Here’s an excerpt:
“The United Way has shared its concerns and hopes for this year’s campaign. As a community and individuals we have a choice about how we respond. House of Friendship staff have chosen to step up. Join us. Think about YOUR reason for giving and support United Way and our community. We all benefit.”
Monday, November 14, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Attention all sports fans! Have we got a treat for you!
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| James Duthie, Host, NHL on TSN |
In addition to his duties at TSN, James joined Lisa in co-hosting CTV’s Olympic Daytime during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. He also hosted coverage of Team Canada Men’s Hockey during the Games. Talk about a dream job!
This coverage garnered James the Gemini Award for Best Sportscaster or Anchor in 2010. He previously won this same award in 2009 for hosting ‘NHL on TSN TradeCentre ’09’.
James also has two previous Olympic Games and a whole roster of other sports shows under his belt, including stints as co-host of the evening edition of SportsCentre, host of TSN’s CFL studio show and time spent covering the NBA.
James’ talents lie not only in broadcast journalism, but print journalism as well. In 2010, he published two books - They Call Me Killer: Tales from Junior Hockey’s Legendary Hall-of-Fame Coach and The Day I (Almost) Killed Two Gretzkys.
We can’t wait to welcome James to Waterloo later this month and hear what he has to say about Lisa.
Tickets are on sale now at http://www.uwaykw.org./
Jan
Monday, November 7, 2011
Transformational Change Ignites Uncertainty and Passion
“Change isn’t on the horizon for United Way, it is the horizon.”
I wrote these words in a blog post last fall, and they merit repeating here as we at United Way KW find ourselves in the midst of transformational change. It’s something we've been working at for over 4 years since realizing that acting as a fundraising organization for approximately 42 agencies is no longer enough; we need to move to investing in long term, sustainable social change. Doing so requires not merely a few improvements here or there, but rather an all-encompassing shift to a new direction that impacts our strategies, our processes, our corporate culture, our mindset and, of course, our stakeholders.
Not only are staff roles and expectations changing, but those of our volunteers are too, as are our relationships with organizations, donors, and the programs and initiatives we support.
Not everyone reacts to change in the same way. Some stakeholders will embrace our new direction wholeheartedly, while others may feel discomfort and uncertainty. Resistance is a natural and expected reaction.
While it is inevitable that some folks will resist our changes, it is important to keep in mind the consequences of not changing. We must remember, too, that we did not enter into this decision lightly. In order to ensure that no one in our community gets left behind, we also need to make sure United Way doesn’t get left behind.
In the midst of uncertainty, one thing is for certain. We will not emerge from this transformation the same organization we were when we began. We must adapt and respond to constant shifts in areas such as technology, organizational structure, workforce, and the economy.
Transformational change is taking place at the national United Way level too. You’ve probably already noticed our revised logo and new tagline, which aptly states “Change starts here.” In the coming weeks, we’ll be introducing you to additional changes that reflect our new direction.
Throughout this process, we at United Way KW are committed to keeping the lines of communication open and to respecting the varied reactions and opinions of our stakeholders. What won’t change is our belief in the need to work together to keep our community and its social services healthy and strong over the long term.
You may recall that United Way KW celebrated its 70th anniversary earlier this year. I firmly believe that the fact that we’ve been around for so long is a testament to our willingness - and our ability - to transform in the face of significant change.
Jan
I wrote these words in a blog post last fall, and they merit repeating here as we at United Way KW find ourselves in the midst of transformational change. It’s something we've been working at for over 4 years since realizing that acting as a fundraising organization for approximately 42 agencies is no longer enough; we need to move to investing in long term, sustainable social change. Doing so requires not merely a few improvements here or there, but rather an all-encompassing shift to a new direction that impacts our strategies, our processes, our corporate culture, our mindset and, of course, our stakeholders.
Not only are staff roles and expectations changing, but those of our volunteers are too, as are our relationships with organizations, donors, and the programs and initiatives we support.
Not everyone reacts to change in the same way. Some stakeholders will embrace our new direction wholeheartedly, while others may feel discomfort and uncertainty. Resistance is a natural and expected reaction.
While it is inevitable that some folks will resist our changes, it is important to keep in mind the consequences of not changing. We must remember, too, that we did not enter into this decision lightly. In order to ensure that no one in our community gets left behind, we also need to make sure United Way doesn’t get left behind.
In the midst of uncertainty, one thing is for certain. We will not emerge from this transformation the same organization we were when we began. We must adapt and respond to constant shifts in areas such as technology, organizational structure, workforce, and the economy.
Transformational change is taking place at the national United Way level too. You’ve probably already noticed our revised logo and new tagline, which aptly states “Change starts here.” In the coming weeks, we’ll be introducing you to additional changes that reflect our new direction.
Throughout this process, we at United Way KW are committed to keeping the lines of communication open and to respecting the varied reactions and opinions of our stakeholders. What won’t change is our belief in the need to work together to keep our community and its social services healthy and strong over the long term.
You may recall that United Way KW celebrated its 70th anniversary earlier this year. I firmly believe that the fact that we’ve been around for so long is a testament to our willingness - and our ability - to transform in the face of significant change.
Jan
Monday, October 31, 2011
KW women take the media world by storm!
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| Julie Osborne, Publisher of Maclean's |
Not only is Julie currently the Publisher of Maclean’s, she recently added Acting Publisher for Canadian Business, Profit and MoneySense to her responsibilities.
A graduate of Cameron Heights Collegiate, Julie holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in French Literature and Education from the University of Western Ontario, where she also went on to earn an MBA. She speaks English, French and Spanish.
Julie works with the Canadian Olympic Committee and has attended the Games eight times. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of the Writers’ Trust of Canada and a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Canadian Women in Communications.
There’s more, but I’ll stop there. I think you get the picture when I say that like Lisa LaFlamme, Julie Osborne is very accomplished in the media world. We should feel proud that both of these women hail from our community. Talk about great role models!
Remember, tickets for our Annual Celebrity Event honouring Lisa LaFlamme are on sale online at http://www.uwaykw.org/. Check out my October 18th blog for more details.
Hope to see you there!
Jan
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Celebrity Event Tickets on Sale Now!
Tickets for our annual celebrity event are now on sale. Given this year's guest of honour and her special guests, we don't expect them to be available very long, so be sure to get yours today!
Tickets are $125 each and available online at http://www.uwaykw.org/.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available by contacting our Communications Officer and Event Planner, Meg Lagrotta, at mlagrotta@uwaykw.org or 519-888-61100 ext. 232.
Here again is our fabulous line-up for the evening:
Guest of Honour:
LISA LAFLAMME, Chief Anchor and Senior Editor, CTV National News
Guest MC:
JEFF HUTCHESON, Sports and Weather Anchor, Canada AM
Guest Panel Members:
LLOYD ROBERTSON, Host and Chief Correspondent, W5, and former Chief Anchor, CTV National News
JULIE OSBORNE, Publisher, Maclean's, and Acting Publisher, Canadian Business, Profit and MoneySense
JAMES DUTHIE, Host, NHL on TSN
Hope to see you there!
Jan
Tickets are $125 each and available online at http://www.uwaykw.org/.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available by contacting our Communications Officer and Event Planner, Meg Lagrotta, at mlagrotta@uwaykw.org or 519-888-61100 ext. 232.
Here again is our fabulous line-up for the evening:
Guest of Honour:
LISA LAFLAMME, Chief Anchor and Senior Editor, CTV National News
Guest MC:
JEFF HUTCHESON, Sports and Weather Anchor, Canada AM
Guest Panel Members:
LLOYD ROBERTSON, Host and Chief Correspondent, W5, and former Chief Anchor, CTV National News
JULIE OSBORNE, Publisher, Maclean's, and Acting Publisher, Canadian Business, Profit and MoneySense
JAMES DUTHIE, Host, NHL on TSN
Hope to see you there!
Jan
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Annual Celebrity Event: Special Guests Confirmed!
We were thrilled when LISA LAFLAMME - a KW native who has risen through the ranks of TV news to become Chief Anchor for CTV National News - agreed to be the guest of honour for our 2011 Celebrity Event. It’s being held Friday November 25, 7 p.m., at Federation Hall in Waterloo.
Just when we thought things couldn’t get any better for this event, we’ve received confirmation that some very talented guest speakers will be participating in the evening as well:
LLOYD ROBERTSON, former Chief Anchor, CTV National News
JEFF HUTCHESON, Sports and Weather Anchor, Canada AM
JULIE OSBORNE, Publisher, Maclean's
JAMES DUTHIE, Host, NHL on TSN
If you’re wondering what to expect for the evening, it’s probably best to go with that old standby “expect the unexpected”. With Jeff Hutcheson as MC, the only thing for certain will be the laughter. As for the rest, I think our publicity statement for the event says it all: “If you think the news is compelling, wait 'til you hear the stories behind the news!”
For ticket details and sponsorship opportunities, visit http://www.uwaykw.org/.
Hope to see you there!
Jan
Just when we thought things couldn’t get any better for this event, we’ve received confirmation that some very talented guest speakers will be participating in the evening as well:
LLOYD ROBERTSON, former Chief Anchor, CTV National News
JEFF HUTCHESON, Sports and Weather Anchor, Canada AM
JULIE OSBORNE, Publisher, Maclean's
JAMES DUTHIE, Host, NHL on TSN
If you’re wondering what to expect for the evening, it’s probably best to go with that old standby “expect the unexpected”. With Jeff Hutcheson as MC, the only thing for certain will be the laughter. As for the rest, I think our publicity statement for the event says it all: “If you think the news is compelling, wait 'til you hear the stories behind the news!”
For ticket details and sponsorship opportunities, visit http://www.uwaykw.org/.
Hope to see you there!
Jan
Monday, October 3, 2011
The Economical Insurance Group and Strategic Philanthropy
Mention the phrase “corporate social responsibility”, and The Economical Insurance Group (TEIG) immediately comes to mind. This is one organization that truly understands the business value behind engaging employees and other stakeholders in supporting community needs. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, what’s good for the community is also good for business.
As with any other business initiative, developing a well-planned strategy is critical for success. TEIG began work on a philanthropic strategy in 2010, with an eye to supporting and positively impacting both the current and future social concerns of its stakeholders. The plan includes activities and initiatives that align with company values, support organizational objectives, and have the potential to create new business opportunities.
Over time, TEIG’s Philanthropic Strategy will evolve into the following components: corporate and community giving, a signature charity, learning and scholarships, and an employee volunteer program.
In particular, I’m thrilled that United Way is a leading contender to become TEIG’s signature charity and I’m excited at the prospect of an employee volunteer program that lets staff take time off for volunteer work and team volunteer projects. One need look no further than the many United Way awards TEIG has won over the years to realize just how strong and successful the relationship has been between our two organizations.
TEIG’s Philanthropy Strategy isn’t yet finalized, but I love the direction it’s heading in and hope it becomes a standard other businesses strive to achieve.
Jan
As with any other business initiative, developing a well-planned strategy is critical for success. TEIG began work on a philanthropic strategy in 2010, with an eye to supporting and positively impacting both the current and future social concerns of its stakeholders. The plan includes activities and initiatives that align with company values, support organizational objectives, and have the potential to create new business opportunities.
Over time, TEIG’s Philanthropic Strategy will evolve into the following components: corporate and community giving, a signature charity, learning and scholarships, and an employee volunteer program.
In particular, I’m thrilled that United Way is a leading contender to become TEIG’s signature charity and I’m excited at the prospect of an employee volunteer program that lets staff take time off for volunteer work and team volunteer projects. One need look no further than the many United Way awards TEIG has won over the years to realize just how strong and successful the relationship has been between our two organizations.
TEIG’s Philanthropy Strategy isn’t yet finalized, but I love the direction it’s heading in and hope it becomes a standard other businesses strive to achieve.
Jan
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