Demand for community and social services surges due to pandemic
Sustainable Recovery Grant applications announced for local charities May 3, 2021 - United Way and local partners announce this week the Sustainable Recovery Grant (SRG) call for applications in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants will provide entrepreneurial coaching to charities to help them build sustainability and resilience in
70th Anniversary year comes to a close
A Message from Kahir March 31, 2021 Dear Friends and Neighbours, Wow, what a year it has been. United Way, as a movement, has always been a champion of community collaboration, and our past year has been no different. The past 12 months has been one of the most challenging ones
Celebrate 211 Day on February 11th
An inaugural pan Canadian 211 Day February 11th is 211 Day across North America! This year, for the first time, anyone living anywhere in Canada can pick up the phone and dial 2-1-1 to reach a Service Navigator for information on community-based health, social and government services in or near their
United Way SIBC invests $1.9M for COVID Relief this year
Over 90 local charities receive grants for recovery efforts December 7, 2020 – Today, United Way Southern Interior BC (SIBC) is pleased to announce another round of COVID Relief funding that will see another 33 programs receive over $436,000 in the coming weeks. This was funded in part by the Government
United Way Canada launches interactive map showing ECSF grants across Canada
Tuesday, September 15, 2020 – The national network of local United Way Centraides, in partnership with United Way Centraide Canada (UWCC), have disbursed more than $95M through the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF). The ECSF was created in response to the sudden and critical need for community services during the COVID-19
In the News: Grant to provide hot meals for Penticton seniors
Meals will be served twice a week at the Penticton Seniors’ Drop-In Centre Shown above: Past president Don Wilson of the board of the Penticton Seniors’ Drop-In Centre stirs the soup at the seniors centre. A $14,705 grant from the Government of Canada Emergency Community Support Fund administered by the United
United Way Southern Interior BC invests $1.3M for COVID Relief
90+ local charities impacted by response and recovery efforts August 18, 2020 – Today, United Way Southern Interior BC is pleased to announce that over $1.3M has been invested in 90+ charities throughout our region to support people who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Several granting streams have been rolled
United Way and local partners announce Sustainable Recovery Grant recipients
July 13, 2020 – United Way Southern Interior BC (SIBC) announced today the recipients of a new grant stream designed to address the emerging and sustainability needs of charities dealing with COVID-19. United Way partnered with Interior Savings Credit Union, the Community Foundations of the North and South Okanagan, and Valley
RDCO, United Way and other local partners team up to tackle poverty
Grant Advances Regional Wellness & Poverty Reduction Strategy June 23, 2020 A grant from the Union of BC Municipalities Poverty Reduction Planning and Action Program will be used in the development of regional wellness and poverty strategy for the Central Okanagan. The $149,000 grant awarded to the Regional District of Central
Local Youth-led programs receive funding
June 18, 2020 – This spring, the Central Okanagan Foundation and United Way’s GenNext contributed $6,000 to support three youth led projects based in the Central Okanagan. These grants are available to young people up to age 25 who are partnering with an organization to create positive change in their local
United Way invests in seniors-related programs in the Southern Interior
New Horizons for Seniors Program impacts 26 local charities Kelowna, BC (June 2, 2020) - In our region, approximately 20% of seniors live in poverty or isolation and are at greater risk of poor health outcomes due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With that and other vulnerable populations in mind, the
Seniors Week 2020: Celebrating Community Resilience during COVID-19
Across our region and beyond, the Safe Seniors, Strong Communities initiative - a unique collaboration between the United Way Better at Home program, bc211 and the B.C Ministry of Health - mobilized over 8,500 local volunteers from across the province, providing vital support needed by isolated seniors in their neighbourhoods and
Neighbours complete 90,000+ volunteer acts for vulnerable seniors during COVID-19
As Seniors Week is recognized across Canada, over 8,500 B.C. volunteers step up to help isolated neighbours MEDIA RELEASE June 1, 2020 (Vancouver, B.C.) - Over 8,500 local volunteers from across the province are helping out isolated seniors in their neighbourhoods and communities during the global pandemic. At the end of
United Way and Foundations invest over $300K in relief funds for local charities
May 28, 2020 - A partnership between the Central Okanagan Foundation (COF), the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen (CFSOS), the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan, and United Way Southern Interior BC (UWSIBC), has granted over $300,000 to 35 projects and programs directly dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. Valley
United Way launches federal Emergency Community Support Fund
Government of Canada funding for social sector accepting applications until June 26 Kelowna, BC (May 19, 2020) - United Way Southern Interior BC (SIBC) announced today the launch of the funding applications for the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF). The fund provides financial support to local non-profits adapting their frontline services
In the News – PPE Day of Caring for local Charities
Castanet - May 13, 2020 PPE for beloved charities Black Press Media - May 14, 2020 United Way provides PPE to Okanagan charities The organization hosted their Day of Caring at Kelowna’s Ramada
New COVID-19 Grant Stream to Focus on Sustainability and Resilience for Charities
May 12, 2020 - In response to COVID-19, the Sustainable Recovery Grant is available to support sustainability and resilience for the charitable sector. This collaborative partnership, led by United Way, will fund entrepreneurial coaching and support for charities, focused on building sustainability in four key areas: revenue, operations, people and impact.
In the News: Safe Seniors, Strong Communities launched
Helping isolated seniors stay connected and cared for during COVID-19 March 26, 2020 (Vancouver, B.C.) - Seniors will be able to receive the support they need during the COVID-19 crisis through a new province-wide initiative, Safe Seniors, Strong Communities. Seniors can request volunteer help with grocery shopping, meal prep and prescription pick-up
United Way launches COVID-19 recovery and response plan
New relief fund and resources launched to rally support for social & community services sector supporting the most vulnerable people impacted by this crisis. March 24, 2020 — Today, United Way Southern Interior BC along with the Community Foundations of the North, Central and South Okanagan and other community partners, are
An update from UWSIBC re: COVID-19
March 16, 2020 To our valued Community and Media Partners, Volunteers and Donors, Like most organizations, United Way has developed measures to manage operations during the COVID-19 situation. In light of the recent measures taken at the provincial and federal level in regards to COVID-19, we want to reassure you that
Central Okanagan Poverty Reduction Committee Releases Regional Analysis
February 12, 2020 - The Central Okanagan Poverty Reduction Committee is excited to announce the release of the Central Okanagan Community Wellness Analysis. The Community Wellness Analysis is a project the committee undertook in early 2019 to address the lack of regional and community-specific data around poverty. The analysis provides baseline
United Way invests in 80 local programs through Community Fund
September 11, 2019 (Southern Interior) – This week, United Way announced grants of over $620k from the Community Fund for 80 vital programs delivered by 54 unique charities across the Southern Interior including Central, South & North Okanagan, Similkameen, Columbia & Shuswap area. These investments will help improve the lives of
United Way delivers car seats destined for families in need in the Southern Interior
August 29, 2019 (Okanagan region) – This week, United Way Southern Interior BC (SIBC) along with key distribution partners delivered 169 child car seats across the Southern Interior. Our team of do-gooders packed up an Idealease truck full of convertible car seats and delivered to 27 charity partners throughout the Okanagan
4 Local programs win awards from Social Enterprise Accelerator Fund
August 21, 2019 – Today, United Way Southern Interior BC (SIBC), in partnership with Interior Savings Credit Union and the Community Foundations of the North and South Okanagan, announces the four recipients of the second year of their Social Enterprise Accelerator Program. The fund grew this year due to increasingly innovative