Annual Report 2017 a

United Way Winnipeg
Greater than the Sum of its Parts
Where can families turn when they need some extra
support? In Winnipeg, about 35,000 people find
comfort, community, and practical help through 24
Family Resource Centres (FRCs) spread across the city.
The centres are all independent non-profits that
give families a boost with programs related to early
childhood education, health, literacy, counselling,
job-hunting, and much more.
In 2015, United Way Winnipeg took a closer look at the
centres and identified a huge opportunity to enhance
their impact on the families they serve.
“We learned that the FRCs were able to do a lot
with a minimum of resources,” says Kathy Knudsen,
Vice President, Community Impact, “and we saw
an opportunity that with further funding support,
the centres could become even more effective and
impactful in helping to support and strengthen
families.”
And so, United Way Winnipeg embarked on a fiveyear,
$7.5 million campaign for its “For Every Family”
initiative. The provincial government agreed to match
all funds raised up to $1.5 million a year. The Jewish
Foundation of Manitoba stepped forward with a
five-year $125,000 grant.
The funds will allow smaller centres to expand their
hours, promote networking and mentoring among
FRCs, and create opportunities to enhance services. In
the first year alone, the For Every Family initiative was
able to add 20,000 hours of service. (Some centres were
only open six hours a week!)
“The Jewish Foundation’s grant is incredibly generous
and we are grateful. It will help make the centres
stronger together,” says Knudsen. “The grant speaks
to the Foundation’s commitment to building a better
community for everyone.”
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Annual Report 2017