News Releases

With its annual Community Campaign now underway, United Way Greater Toronto is bringing people across Peel, Toronto, and York Region together with a bold, new brand platform that challenges people to move beyond empathy, step in rather than look away and help tackle poverty in our communities. As economic uncertainty continues to grow in the GTA, our new brand ‘Get in the Way’ is a rallying cry that demonstrates how ordinary people can stand together to make a difference, inspiring collective action.

Excerpt On October 6, 2026, from 6:30 – 8:30pm EST, United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT), the Toronto Star, and Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) will host mayoral candidates for a pivotal discussion on the issues that matter most to Torontonians - from housing, affordability, and strong neighbourhoods to transit and public safety. At a critical time for Toronto, this debate will give residents the opportunity to hear candidates’ plans for tackling the social and economic challenges that affect us all, and visions for Toronto’s future.

The Toronto Youth Employment Table, co-chaired by United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) and the City of Toronto, is launching the Toronto Youth Employment Charter at a press conference. The Charter is an invitation for employers to take the lead in tackling the crisis in job opportunities faced by young Torontonians. The press conference will also celebrate 2,000+ youth gaining employment this summer through United Way-funded and partner agencies.

Fewer than one in three eligible voters cast a ballot in Ontario's last municipal election. Today, United Way Greater Toronto and the Democratic Engagement Exchange at Toronto Metropolitan University launched Voice the Vote, a non-partisan, community-led campaign working to change that ahead of the October 26 municipal election.

Registration is now open for the 2026 United Way Greater Toronto CN Tower climb which will be held on November 14 and 15. United Way is inviting people from all walks of life, and every fitness level to step up and be connected to a bigger movement - all in support of communities across Peel, Toronto and York region. Last year’s ClimbUP raised a record-breaking $2 million, helping 1.8 million people across the GTA access vital services through our network of over 300 agencies.

United Way Greater Toronto has appointed Bruce McCuaig as Chair of its Board of Trustees, succeeding Lisa Gonsalves following the Annual Meeting of Members on June 19, 2026.

As residents across the GTA continue to navigate rising living costs and unprecedented economic challenges, United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) is committed to expanding community impact and collective action through this year’s Community Campaign. Greg Lemaich, President & CEO of Polar Asset Management Partners will lead as Campaign Chair, alongside Jana Mosley, President & CEO of Toronto Hydro and Dominique Barker, Corporate Director, who will serve as Co-Chairs of UWGT’s Major Individual Giving Cabinet

Rising occupancy costs over the last decade have left many community organizations in the GTA struggling to afford staying in the neighbourhoods they serve, facing the risk of being displaced or even closed. United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) is committing a second major investment of $2.2 million in capital grants across 14 projects to secure community-owned spaces across the GTA and ensure residents can continue to access essential supports close to home. This round of funding is part of UWGT’s 10-year, $23-million commitment to support community agencies in pushing back against rising costs and helping to create and expand sustainable spaces.

The Slaight Family Foundation is announcing a transformative $25 million gift to St. Michael’s Hospital’s MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions and United Way Greater Toronto, taking bold, immediate action to address Toronto’s escalating homelessness crisis. This extraordinary investment will ignite an urgent response to an urgent need, while also building a new, scalable, science-backed system to move people from streets and encampments into supportive housing.

United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) announced that it projects the 2025 community campaign will raise $112 million by fiscal year-end, underscoring the dedication of a broad network of workplace employees, donors, volunteers, corporate partners, community leaders, labour partners and philanthropists coming together to ensure frontline agencies in Toronto, Peel and York Region have the support they need to meet urgent local challenges.

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.