Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ territories | April 26, 2022 – United Way Southern Vancouver Island (UWSVI) has launched a new Help A Neighbour campaign and dynamic online tool to engage community members looking to help their local neighbours.
For the first time, Southern Vancouver Island residents can view the impact of their donation online via an interactive map, and see which areas need more local love. Vancouver Island is a jurisdiction unlike any other and faces its own myriad of barriers to society – barriers that United Way works to remove every day to make the community better for everyone. The new campaign aims to initially raise at least $300,000 to fund services and supports based on need, reaching 15,000 local individuals through various UWSVI programs and initiatives.
“Our Help A Neighbour campaign really reflects UWSVI’s long 85-year history serving this region,” said Mark Breslauer, CEO of UWSVI. “The interactive map created by the campaign is a completely new concept for us and will be critically important in measuring the true impact United Way has in the community and addressing what more needs to be done. It is also a helpful tool for those interested in giving where it matters most.”
By showcasing the need across Southern Vancouver Island, the Help A Neighbour campaign hopes to spark collective action to change the lives of those around us, a truly local campaign. Municipalities and areas depicted in the map include Esquimalt, Oak Bay, Saanich, Victoria, View Royal, Central Saanich, North Saanich, Sidney, Salt Spring Island, Southern Gulf Islands, Colwood, Highlands, Langford, Metchosin, Sooke, Juan de Fuca.
“The idea behind Help A Neighbour is to ask people to transform lives within their own neighbourhoods,” said Breslauer. “This year, we will be fundraising for our four areas of action –seniors; mental health and addictions; families; and diversity, equity and inclusion. The online map will connect donors and businesses directly to local programs while showing facts and statistics related to each area UWSVI serves.”
Within each of these areas, donors are able to access specific information about the neighbourhood’s demographic (i.e. the number of seniors living in each area and the number of individuals who are low-income) stories of hope and the programs or agencies funded by United Way.
Share the news: access our Help A Neighbour toolkit.
ABOUT UNITED WAY SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND
United Way Southern Vancouver Island (formerly United Way Greater Victoria) is a trusted leader, influencer and catalyst for change. United, we accelerate change to improve the lives of our neighbours who need it most, making our local community stronger. We believe everyone in the Greater Victoria region, which includes 13 municipalities and 11 First Nations and the Southern Gulf Islands should have the opportunity to reach their potential. Last year, we supported over 125,000 individuals on Southern Vancouver Island in building better lives. That is almost 1 in 4 people in our region being helped by a United Way initiative or funded program. Show your local love today by making a gift to United Way at www.uwsvi.ca
MEDIA CONTACT
Ana Glavan
Director of Marketing and Communications, United Way Southern Vancouver Island
ana.glavan@uwsvi.ca.ca
250.984.2269
