A Better Winnipeg Together

10
Meeting
Essential Needs
INSPIRING ACTION
After funding 27 high-need projects for United Way agencies
in 2014, the Richardson Foundation was once again there for
our community with funding for 31 additional projects in 2015!
The Essential Needs Fund helps agencies with small-scale
capital projects that they otherwise could not afford.
Improvements like roof repairs, flooring, appliances, and
furniture upgrades allow agencies to keep their doors open
for Winnipeggers.
Cynthia Drebot, Executive Director of the North End
Women’s Centre (NEWC), which provides healing and
recovery programs and counselling to women, says the
Essential Needs Fund literally filled cracks that were causing
her agency to cancel programming.
Problems with NEWC’s building on Selkirk Avenue brought
basement flooding during spring and heavy rains. Last
summer, the entire basement leaked four times, causing
property loss, program cancellations, and requiring valuable
staff time to clean up.
“Which is just crazy because they’re supposed to be working
with women on their recovery and counselling,” says Cynthia.
The Fund allowed them to dig down, find and repair the
foundation cracks, and landscape to keep water flowing away
from the building. And now they are staying dry!
“United Way and Richardson Foundation, recognizing
essential needs so not-for-profits can continue with their
mission and vision is huge. We’re not funded for those kinds
of things.”
“Richardson Foundation and United Way,
recognizing essential needs so not-forprofits
can continue with their mission
and vision is huge.”
— Cynthia Drebot
Cynthia Drebot, Executive Director of North End Women’s Centre,
says Essential Needs Fund has allowed her staff to focus on women
and children instead of cleaning up after basement flooding.
A BETTER WINNIPEG TOGETHER