On behalf of the volunteers of the Wetaskiwin Local Impact Committee, United Way Central Alberta is pleased to announce the approval of two new grants that will benefit local charities.

After reviewing applications from the many deserving local charities, the Wetaskiwin Committee has granted $2,000 to the Medi Lending Society and $500 to the Wetaskiwin Society for the Promotion of the English Language and Literacy (SPELL).

This new funding is a result of the first year energies to run a specific Wetaskiwin campaign, where donors were assured that money raised in Wetaskiwin would stay in Wetaskiwin. As Robert J. Mitchell, C.E.O. for United Way Central Alberta explains, “Our region has grown considerably and is now very large. The basic principle is that a local committee is best placed to make local decisions; they are the ones aware of the local dynamics and also of the local needs.”

All local investments made by United Way must meet our strategic investment criteria in one of three areas: Education – to help kids to be all they can be; Income – to move people from poverty to possibility; and Wellness – to build strong and healthy communities. As an organization dedicated to creating lasting community impact, United Way Central Alberta invests in a wide array of human service programs across the region that help local people transition from dependence to independence, and improve their quality of life.

These two new Wetaskiwin investments are is in addition to the $5,883 designated to registered charities through the United Way Central Alberta 2016 campaign. Designated donations can be allocated anywhere in Canada, and are not stewarded by or invested in specific programs according to United Way’s criteria. Funds are passed directly to the charity to allocate as they see fit.

For the 2017 fundraising year, any money raised in Wetaskiwin will again be invested locally to assist the community with the delivery of much needed programs and services. All registered Wetaskiwin charities may apply for program funding under several categories (details at www.caunitedway.ca), and local businesses interested in running a fundraising campaign this fall should contact Barry McDonald, Regional Development Officer, at [email protected].ca to get started.