Global movement. Local impact.
With more than 70,000+ members across six countries and 165 communities, Women United members are making a difference, advocating for change, and creating a brighter future for women and girls.
Locally, United Way East Ontario’s Women United is a network of 742 donors and 126 members who are dedicated to leveraging their time, talents, and funds to empower women in our communities to build strong, independent lives. Members, depending on their giving level, have opportunities to review proposals, participate in the investment process, consult on major governance decision-making, act as steering member of programs, and more.
In our region, Women United makes a difference in these four areas:
Addressing gender-based violence
Empowering women in leadership
Supporting young mothers and their children
Building an equitable economic recovery
Making a difference
Women United is dedicated to transforming the lives of women and girls in our communities. We make an impact by investing in two distinct ways:
- Community Action Grants supporting small, grassroots initiatives in our region’s most vulnerable areas. These grants support women to become leaders, identifying and executing on small initiatives for the betterment of their communities.
- Community Action Grants supporting small, grassroots initiatives in our region’s most vulnerable areas. These grants support women to become leaders, identifying and executing on small initiatives for the betterment of their communities.
In 2023 alone, Women United invested $142,051 into Community Action Grants and the United Way Community Fund.
Community Action Grants supported 10 different programs operated by 10 agency partners, ultimately reaching and benefitting 834 individuals within our communities. The United Way Community Fund supported 9 different programs, 9 agency partners, and 1,888 people.
In 2023, Community Action Grants made many activities possible, including:
- Mentorship and leadership workshops for girls.
- Community gardens.
- Self-defense workshops.
- Awareness campaigns about gender-based violence and femicide.
- Lunch and learns in community housing to address issues like safety, food insecurity, and conflict resolution.
In addition, the United Way Community Fund supported:
- Parenting workshops for young mothers.
- Job skills training.
- Mental health and substance use counselling.
- Leadership training and support in community development.
Local women transforming neighbourhoods through advocacy
Residents living in low-income neighbourhoods are less likely to be able to access the tools they need to influence social policy. Driven by residents and supported by Women United, Making Voices Count ensures groups that are often sidelined have their voices are heard, and concerns are meaningfully addressed.
For women like Peggy Nesbitt, a leader in her community advocating for positive change, this initiative ensures she has the education and civic engagement training she needs to make meaningful change in her neighbourhood for the causes she cares about—causes like ensuring people with disabilities and seniors have access to food, transportation, housing, and other basic needs.
We have people with lived experience, we talk about topics that need to be challenged or fixed. It’s not just, you know, ranting and raving. We find answers ... It’s changed my life.
New Lebreton Flats community room creates opportunities for connection
Thanks to the PCL Construction’s Hard Hat Heroes Grant Program, and partners at Ottawa Community Housing, Somerset West Community Health Centre, and United Way East Ontario, a new space for neighbourly gatherings, connection, and creative collaboration opened in the Lebreton Flats community in June 2023.
In December 2023, residents embraced the festive spirit of giving at the beloved new community space. With the support of Women United’s Community Action Grants, community leaders had the resources they needed to organize a heartwarming pop-up food market, providing fresh produce to their neighbours. More than just a market, it was a bright spot for the community during challenging economic times.
The success of initiatives like the pop-up food market organized with the support of Women United’s Community Action Grants, underscores the tangible difference Women United donors make.
Women United in action
Since 2020, Women United has offered a series of virtual events called Disruptive Dialogues, which brings women together to discuss the most pressing social issues affecting our communities. In the fall of 2023, our panel—hosted by Melissa Somers, United Way East Ontario’s Senior Director of Resource Development, included: Candice Shaw from the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre, Kirsten Mercer from Goldblatt Partners LLP, City Councillor Ariel Troster, and United Way East Ontario’s Jade Nauman.
These local leaders and advocates led an illuminating discussion on the issue of intimate partner violence, providing actionable takeaways on how to make a difference on this issue. Our panel delved into key recommendations arising from last year’s provincial inquest into the deaths of Nathalie Warmerdam, Carol Culleton, and Anastasia Kuzyk in Renfrew County and the role that United Way and Women United play in this important work. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with these dedicated women towards our shared goal of a safer future, through advocacy and action.
On November 9, Women United attended and supported the recognition dinner for United Way East Ontario’s 2023 Community Builder of the Year award winners: End Violence Against Women Renfrew County, Lanark County Interval House and Community Support, Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women, and La Coalition de Prescott-Russell pour Éliminer la Violence faite aux Femmes. These four organizations are on the frontlines across our region, fighting to put an end to gender-based violence. We are honoured to have been a part of and supported such a special recognition dinner celebrating the impact and work of the recipients.
And, in honour of International Women’s Day in March 2024 with support from sponsors Sororal and BMO, Women United raised funds and awareness to help empower women and girls across our region. Through a digital campaign, we brought together leaders, advocates, and community members to recognize and appreciate the women that had invested in them.
Member spotlight
Jennifer Francis
Women represent half of the population, yet issues primarily affecting us tend to be underfunded. Women United allows us to invest in women. For many of us, philanthropy means more than just writing a cheque. We want the opportunity to engage and to learn while supporting issues that can give women a voice.
My journey with Women United began with a simple coffee chat with Melissa Somers from United Way. From those initial conversations emerged a shared commitment to understand: How can we best invest in the women of our community? Today, our impact extends far beyond those early discussions, touching the lives of hundreds of women and girls across our region every year.
I believe strongly that investing in women can have a transformative impact on our communities. As one of the founding members of United Way’s women’s giving initiative, I am so proud of our collective efforts, but I know there is much more to be done.
For those of you who are members of Women United, thank you for being part of this incredible initiative. For those who are not yet members, I invite you to join me in this movement. Together, let’s continue to invest in women.
