United Way Central Alberta

**About Us** **We are leaders and partners in championing community solutions by creating new opportunities, leveraging and investing resources and collaborating with others.** **Mission** Strengthening vital connections that support people in need across our communities. **Vision** Thriving communities where everyone can reach their potential. **Our Community** Our region includes the city of Red Deer, the town of Drumheller and the following counties: Brazeau, Camrose, Clearwater, Flagstaff, Kneehill, Lacombe, Mountain View, Paintearth, Ponoka, Provost, Red Deer, Starland, Stettler, Special Area 4 and Wetaskiwin. **Why United Way?** What sets us apart. - ****We connect volunteers to agencies**** We support Day of Caring. We organize volunteers to accomplish work that needs doing for non-profits. This saves agencies money, and helps workplace volunteers understand how their gifts are being invested in the community. - ****We participate in and lead community initiatives**** We participate in and lead community interest groups aligned with our goals. For example: Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance (CAPRA), Alberta Financial Empowerment Collaboration, Local Immigration Partnership, and 211 provincial steering committee. - ****We support collaborative efforts**** We offer collective impact legacy grants that encourage collaborative efforts to address the root causes of issues affecting our community. - ****We strengthen understanding of social issues**** We host poverty simulations to strengthen understanding of poverty and the challenges faced daily by the working poor. These unique simulations challenge perceptions as participants experience what it is like to try to get through a month on an income near or below the poverty line. - ****We are there in times of crisis**** When crisis strikes, we quickly mobilize our network to provide support and funds to the agencies in our Community that support our most vulnerable citizens.