United Way in Daily News

For Faculty of Nursing sessional instructor Katherine Beaumont, her third-year students, and Grade 6 teachers at West Gate Public School, providing self-care teachings along with essential personal hygiene products for pre-teens in need reaffirms the idea that great things happen when you work together for a common good.

As part of the BScN students’ school health education placement program, lessons included fun and immersive games intended to engage and punctuate the importance of personal hygiene, oral health, hand washing, bathing, and self-esteem.

What started out as a small token of care products from nursing students quickly evolved to greater collaboration and included such community partners as Youth Wellness Hub, the United Way, and Windsor Goodfellows. The group donated personal health kits consisting of combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, deodorant, first-aid kits, small packets of laundry detergent, and wellness literature. In some cases, feminine products such as tampons, liners, wipes, and additional pamphlets with coupons were also included.

“Grade school children are impressionable and can form early insecurities as their bodies undergo changes,” says Beaumont. “Our message is that it’s okay and that a little education and self-care can help them overcome anxiety, boost self-esteem, and alleviate some of the social pressures they may be experiencing.”

Kimberley Mann, an outreach worker with Youth Wellness Hub of Windsor-Essex, emphasizes that connecting with adolescents and assisting them to create or positively change hygiene habits increases the chances of a life-long healthier outlook.

Leilani Logronio is optimistic to see more collaboration in school and community health education from the University in the future. Manager of labour programs and services for the United Way, swhe adds that the benefit becomes exponential when more partners are involved.

BScN student Josh Taylor believes his placement experience validates the reason nursing students enter the field of health care and education.

“Quite simply, I’m thankful for the opportunity to be a role model and give back to the community,” says Taylor. “We’re proud that our group was able to provide valuable health teaching and personally, I had an amazing time working with the students at West Gate Public School.”

Anyone can suffer from “period poverty,” says Jada Malott.

That’s why the second-year law and politics student volunteers for Tampon Tuesday, an annual drive by the United Way and the Windsor and District Labour Council to collect menstrual hygiene products for those in need.

But, Malott says, the collection is just part of the effort: “We work to educate people about this issue of health and justice.”

She is heading up a campus effort to support the campaign, soliciting donations from faculty, staff, and students — and offering a prize draw as an incentive. Volunteers will staff a booth in the CAW Student Centre from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on three dates: March 6, 7, and 11.

“Supporters will receive a raffle ticket for each box of menstrual products — pads, tampons, panty liners, or other — they contribute,” says Malott.

Sponsored by the University of Windsor Alumni Association, the draw will award eight $100 gift cards to the Campus Bookstore, six $50 Starbucks cards, and six $50 Tim Hortons cards.

Professor Rita Haase’s course “Women’s Bodies, Women’s Health” includes a unit on menstruation. Malott took it last semester and spoke to her classmates about her activism.

“The class addresses the stigma and the taboos around menstruation,” Haase says. “Period poverty is a huge injustice towards every person that menstruates and a major problem in Windsor and worldwide.”

Those unable to bring products can donate online at www.weareunited.com/tampontuesday.

University of Windsor employees and retirees have donated more than $100,000 to the United Way, the campus campaign for the charity reports.

In just a one-week fundraising period that kicked off Jan. 22, supporters combined for a total of $114,550.88 toward cradle-to-career anti-poverty programming.

“I am especially gratified to see 24 new donors respond to our appeal, and a further 17 contributors raise the amounts of their gifts,” says campaign co-chair Sara McNorton.

“Our faculty and staff have always been generous supporters of the important work the United Way does to build local communities where all children have the ability to achieve their dreams and reach their potential.”

Learn more at uwindsor.ca/unitedway.

Three donors to the United Way are a little bit happier about supporting the charity after each winning an eight-month pass to park on campus.

The Campus Campaign for United Way held a prize draw for those who contributed by Jan. 26 in three categories:

• any donor, Colin McLellan, associate director for capital projects in Facility Services,
• a new donor, Renee Bombardier, graphic designer in Public Affairs and Communications,
• a continuous donor who increased their gift, Sara McNorton, human anatomy lab demonstrator in the Department of Biomedical Sciences.

Employees who would still like to give can do so by Friday, Feb. 2. The campaign will announce its final totals in the coming weeks.

The inaugural Polar Dip of the United Way Windsor-Essex County will raise funds to help local kids break the cycle of poverty.

With a theme of “Chillin’ for Charity,” the event invites participants to brave the frigid waters of Lake Erie on Saturday, Feb. 3, collecting donations to support United Way programs like On Track to Success and Ignite Academy.

• $25 gives a student the school supplies they need in the classroom.
• $50 allows a child to participate in literacy and math tutoring after school for one month.
• $100 provides a family with an emergency food gift card to provide basic needs.

Registrants will gather at 9:30 a.m. at the Roma Club of Leamington, with a shuttle to and from Seacliff Beach for the dip.

Find more information on how to participate or donate to the cause on the Polar Dip website.

In more than 165 regions across six different countries, Women United are making a difference for their local communities.

With a mission to “mobilize the caring power of women to advance the common good in our communities,” the United Way group forms a network of leaders to address issues facing women and their families.

“My experience has been amazing with Women United. It’s a great opportunity to meet and network with local women in the community. And give back to the young women and families in need. Connect with them one-on-one,” said Soula Serra, a team lead with Continuing Education, during a lunch-and-learn webinar Wednesday.

Included in the campus fundraising effort this week in support of United Way was a session to learn more about Women United and the difference its members make in Windsor-Essex.

Currently, the organization has 60 local members — with 13 from the University of Windsor, organizers said.

Each year, Women United pool their resources to contribute to the On Track to Success program, which offers wrap-around support to students in low-income families. This includes donations as well as hosting book drives, tutoring and interview assistance, and field trips.

“It’s very rewarding to see the impact of your donations and contributions,” Serra said. “Your money goes directly to On Track to Success and you know it’s a great program going back into our community.”

Women United has also created an extracurricular fund to help students access activities like driving lessons, music lessons, and sports, as well as attend important events like prom and graduation.

In addition to helping families, Women United is also an opportunity to join projects and network with others who feel passionate about giving back.

Staff and faculty in attendance at United Way events this week entered a draw for a free vacation day. Winners were Anita Bondy and Naomi Pelkey who attended the kick-off session on Monday and Laura Little who went to Wednesday’s Women United event.

To learn more about the Women United and the United Way, visit www.uwindsor.ca/unitedway.

From mentorship to fostering community connections, providing students with “wrap-around support” as they make the transition to post-secondary education is the goal of United Way’s On Track to Success.

The program offers a wide range of support to high school students in low-income families as they prepare to head into the next chapter — which for many can be an overwhelming experience.

“Our role is to support the great work that’s already happening at these institutions to help students transition, working collaboratively with our partners to meet the needs of the students best to not only get them there, which is a huge achievement, but to stay and continue with their educational pursuits,” United Way success coach Kaila DiCecco said.

As a success coach, DiCecco connects with students for the organization’s On Track On to Campus program and works with institutional partners to guide students towards available resources.

“We act as that anchor or contact person as a first step. If somebody or their family is feeling quite overwhelmed and not sure where to start, the relationship is already there and developed,” she explained.

The University of Windsor launched its Campus Campaign for the United Way Monday with a focus on the On Track to Success program which helps to remove barriers that may prevent students from graduating high school and pursuing post-secondary education.

DiCecco said each student is paired with a success coach to offer mentorship, getting to know the student and their family. In some cases, students have been working with their success coach since Grade 9.

Students continue to be supported through their post-secondary journey, and what that looks like is up to them, DiCecco explained.

“What drew me to the program is this unique ability to put the student or the youth at the centre of that support. It allows them to kind of lead and dictate what success is to them. So, what is going to help that individual be successful and obtain their goals?” she said.

“They are taking agency of their future and their careers and their aspirations and I’m essentially along for the ride in the best way. They’re the ones who will be doing it all, but I’m around to cheer them on and help them get there.”

This type of support can range from helping students prioritize mental and physical wellness, one-on-one mentoring, assistance with researching different post-secondary programs, support with applications, and ensuring students have the appropriate credits for their desired program, as well as helping to navigate financial aid.

According to the United Way website, there are 173 students enrolled in the program which runs in priority neighbourhoods of West Windsor, downtown, and Leamington. Ninety per cent of students graduated high school on time — 7.5 per cent higher than the provincial average.

Visit www.uwindsor.ca/unitedway for more information on the program and how to donate.

The University of Windsor campaign for United Way begins today.

Each staff and faculty member should have received an email on Friday, Jan. 19, with a personalized link to donate. If you missed it, check your inbox again tomorrow.

The biggest impact is made by continuous donors; joining their ranks is easy with payroll deduction. Read the campaign email for more information and your donation link.

Three free parking passes will be raffled at the end of the week for new and continuous donors, including one for supporters who increase their gifts.

Monday, Jan. 22 – Online launch and information sessions at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Come and learn about the work United Way does in Windsor and Essex County, including on the University of Windsor campus. Those who attend either session will be entered in a draw for a free vacation day. MS Teams invites have been sent out.

Wednesday, Jan. 24 – Women United event. Attend this session to find out more about this organization and the difference its members are making in Windsor-Essex. Attendees will be entered in a draw for a free vacation day.

Visit www.uwindsor.ca/unitedway for more information and to donate. Email questions to unitedwaycampaign@uwindsor.ca.

Next week is the start of this year’s campus fundraising campaign for the United Way.

The charity’s “On Track to Success” program emphasizes supporting children in low-income families. It has a proven record of making a difference in young people’s lives and helps students from elementary school all the way to post-secondary education.

The program has seen some great results with the support of donors:

• 90.2 per cent of students in the program graduate on time from high school.
• $178,000 in bursaries were provided to students in 2021-22.
• 76 per cent of graduates are actively enrolled in a post-secondary program. In comparison, the national average for similar households is 47 per cent.
• 90.5 per cent of students who started in the program are still enrolled, a higher retention rate than similar support programs.

Students supported by this program testify to its ability to help them get to university and enjoy success while they are here.

Sarah, a first-year concurrent education major, says she will always vouch for On Track to Success.

“I can’t explain the amount of gratitude that goes out to everyone that’s helped me along the way,” she says. “Without this program, I’m sure I wouldn’t even be re-enrolled back at the university yet. If there’s ever a program you look to support, I 100 per cent can say that you should look for the one that puts in the time and energy to care about its students and makes them feel like a priority.”

Mohamad, a second-year law and politics student, agrees.

“On Track at UWindsor has been a pivotal part of my university journey, offering invaluable guidance and support in numerous ways,” he says. “It helped familiarize me with the university’s system, addressed my academic challenges, and most importantly, taught me how to effectively advocate for myself.”

The campus campaign for United Way will conduct accessible online events and content Jan. 22 to 26. Visit uwindsor.ca/unitedway for information and to donate.

The campus campaign for United Way will conduct accessible online events and content Jan. 22 to 26, with plans to move back to an in-person effort in the fall.

The charity addresses the most pressing needs of the local community, says professor emeritus Geri Salinitri.

“I am a proud volunteer, donor, and member of Opportunities United,” she says. “The mission of the United Way is to improve the lives of individuals and the health of the community, working to make positive change on matters of education, health care, poverty, and homelessness.”

The campaign focus will be to encourage current donors to consider increasing their gifts and new donors to consider becoming payroll donors — an easy way to give to a worthy cause that has a local impact and believes in the power of education to change people’s lives.

Scheduled activities include:

• Monday, Jan. 22 - Online launch sessions at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Attendees will be entered in a draw for a bonus vacation day.
• Wednesday, Jan. 24 – Women United event. Attendees are entered in a draw for a bonus vacation day.
• Friday, Jan. 26 – Campaign wrap-up, with all donors entered into a draw for three free parking passes.

Visit www.uwindsor.ca/unitedway for more information and to donate.