Funding requests exceed United Way resources

This year’s campaign shortfall impacted United Way’s investment to communities in Hastings & Prince Edward. With fewer dollars to allocate, citizen review volunteers had decisions to make.

Similar to previous years, the requests for funding exceeded available resources,” said Judi Gilbert, Executive Director. “This year agencies felt the impact of the organization having fewer dollars to allocate. Citizen review volunteers had $100,000 less to allocate than anticipated.”

Gilbert said many organizations were successful in receiving funding from United Way, Hastings &Prince Edward (UWHPE) there were some agencies that were not successful, and others that received less than what they had applied for.

In the 2016 campaign year, an overall investment of $1.496 million was allocated as follows:
· $520,020 in existing multi-year commitments to 23 programs from April 2016-March 2019
· $454,000 in new multi-year commitments to 19 programs from April 2017-March 2020
· $213,000 in single year investments to 13 programs from April 2017 – March 2018
· $205,398 to community initiatives such as The Good Backpack Program, 2-1-1 (211ontario.ca), Poverty Challenge and Fresh for All
· $39,167 to support not for profit agencies with collaboration and capacity building grants
· $65,000 redirected to other Canadian charities at the request of the organization’s donors

Payments for 2016-2017 funding cycle are set to begin April 1st, 2017. Prince Edward County programs traditionally supported include the Recreation Outreach Centre, Community Living Prince Edward, The HUB Child and Family Centre and others that also serve the County including Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Brain Injury Association and Children’s Mental Health Services.

This is Gilbert’s final funding announcment as the appointment of Kathy Murphy as the new executive director takes effect March 20. Gilbert had announced she would be moving on late last year.