Editor's Picks

When United Way Greater Toronto’s President & CEO Heather McDonald appeared before the Council of the Regional Municipality of Peel, she spoke about the challenges facing residents. Her answer was collaboration.

This week, we reflect on how our Community Real Estate Capital Grants are helping to add new community spaces and upgrade existing facilities. We're also exploring employment programs for people with disabilities, our work in Thorncliffe Park and an award-winning participant from the ILEO Storefront Starter program.

This week, we reflect on how collaboration fosters safe communities, meaningful work, a new respite care centre and an upcoming opportunity to see our work in action at Jane's Walk.

This week, we reflect on what needs to happen to support women, a new housing initiative and our latest report on the impact of funding cuts on immigrants and refugees.

Across the GTA, more and more families are turning to food banks. But food insecurity is only one piece of a much larger puzzle. Solving it means addressing poverty itself. 

This week we explore Toronto’s mental health crisis, how Community Action Grants are driving resident-led change across the GTA, and how United Ways are having their say in Ontario’s next Poverty Reduction Strategy.

This week we reflect on how winter amplifies challenges, how our Community Real Estate Initiative is already helping local agencies, and the success of the Social Medicine Initiative and our Youth Success Strategy.

Increased development and upcoming revitalization projects in Cooksville, South Markham and Jane Finch are creating major changes and challenges across these neighbourhoods. To ensure equitable opportunities, United Way Greater Toronto is expanding its Community Action Grants (CAG) program with a $1.13 million investment to support local priorities in each neighbourhood.

Over four million Ontarians are food insecure. In 2024, more than one million Ontarians relied on food banks, making 8.7 million visits. The $10 million gift from the Slaight family will support six organizations working to keep communities fed including: Daily Bread Food Bank, Food Banks Canada, Right to Food, Second Harvest, The Stop Community Food Centre and United Way Greater Toronto. Working through their local, regional and national networks, these organizations will help make sure food reaches people and neighbourhoods facing the greatest pressure and will strengthen the broader response to hunger.

This week we're reflecting on the end of the year, our annual holiday gift guide and how you can double your impact before the end of the year through our gift match.

Welcome to United Way’s 2024 Gift Guide! It's full of socially conscious goodies from local creators and United Way supported programs.

Meaningfully addressing poverty in Ontario requires bold leadership. The Ontario Government can substantially reduce poverty across the province through measures that ensure financial stability, access to safe, accessible and affordable homes, and critical community services that help people thrive.