United Way Southern Vancouver Island aims to raise $4 million for Southern Vancouver Island, and will also merge with United Way BC in April 2025, the organization announced at their public campaign kick-off event on Sept. 19 at Centennial Square.
“Our 2024 Community Campaign has an ambitious fundraising goal for the year, reflecting the level of demand for programs, supports, and services throughout Southern Vancouver Island,” said Dr. Lane Trotter, president of Camosun College and 2024 United Way community campaign chair.
"We know many people in our community are facing tough times, more so now than ever. Together, we can address challenges and focus on making a positive impact on the lives of our neighbours, friends, and families."
UWSVI will join United Way BC in 2025. This follows a 2021 merger when six United Ways merged into United Way BC. The six branches were Central and Northern Vancouver Island, Lower Mainland, Thompson Nicola Cariboo, Southern Interior, Trail and District and East Kootenay regions.
United Way BC (UWBC) is moving towards creating a single organization serving all of British Columbia, said Erika Stenson, executive director of UWSVI at the announcement.
"It means that we'll have a more efficient organization. We'll be able to share resources. We'll be able to share tools and expertise. We'll also be able to tap into provincial programs that United Way BC administers, so more money will flow into our community," she said.
The United Way Southern Vancouver Island currently powers 74 programs and has 69 agencies in action.
The event celebrated the impact that United Way makes, particularly in the prioritized three areas of action: seniors, families, and people struggling with mental health and addictions challenges.
"I do want to add that over 50 per cent of the agencies that we support do not have the ability to fundraise for themselves, so United Way is integral to them delivering their programs to people in need in our community," Stenson said.
Myles Beaman-Dodd, Development coordinator at Victoria Brain Injury Society, said United Way helps fund some of their major programs, "which is huge for us," he said. The two major programs are peer support and coping strategies, a six-month course that they offer for survivors on how to adapt after a brain injury.
"Then, we have our peer support program, which is volunteer-led by survivors themselves."
Evan James, manager of education and training at Umbrella Society – an organization which supports those with substance use – added that United Way has been a "huge support of Umbrella" since it started.
"[Their funding] is hugely integral. It's able to provide us with the staff that we need to meet an unfortunately growing demand for people wanting to make changes around their substance use."
In speaking to the future of UWSVI, Stenson clarified that the new combined entity of United Way will "remain focused on local programs."
