Regional United Way amalgamation now official – four organizations form United Way Halton & Hamilton

Regional United Way amalgamation now official –

four organizations form United Way Halton & Hamilton

HALTON/HAMILTON, ONTARIO – The amalgamation of the United Ways of Burlington & Greater Hamilton, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville is now official. The new entity formed by the four organizations is called United Way Halton & Hamilton (UWHH).

“We are stronger together,” says Interim CEO, Jeff Vallentin. “Already we’re seeing the benefits of coordinating our efforts and optimizing our resources. We look forward to collaborating with our partners in communities across the region to lead meaningful, measurable change.”

While the new organization will tackle broad-based issues that transcend municipal boundaries, it will maintain the local focus that has been the hallmark of United Way throughout its history.

“We know that donors are passionate about, and very committed to their hometowns, so money raised in each community will stay in that community,” says Brad Park, former CEO of United Way Oakville, now Chief Development Officer of UWHH.

To support this alliance, and maintain a local presence across the region, United Way Halton & Hamilton has a total of four offices – in Halton Hills, Hamilton, Milton, plus a new one at 4210 South Service Road, Suite 101, Burlington. Staff who formerly worked in offices in Oakville and elsewhere in Burlington, will be based in this new space, now known as UWHH’s Halton office.

This alliance is the result of an extensive process of research, evaluation and consultation that started in 2015, and culminated with the detailed planning that has gone into every aspect of the transition.

A key change is happening at the Board level. The new United Way Halton & Hamilton will have one board of directors. There is a process in place for the former four board chairs to assemble the inaugural board from the existing four boards. The new board will then select a board chair and a permanent CEO. Agency partners from all of the former United Ways will remain eligible for funding.

“We will now be able to function more effectively within an increasingly complex environment where urgent, rapidly-evolving social issues demand our attention,” says Janet Foster, former Executive Director of United Way Halton Hills, now Senior Manager Campaign and Agency Relations at UWHH. “The communities we serve are changing, and so are we.”

“This amalgamation will give us a bigger, stronger and more versatile team,” says Kate Holmes, former CEO of United Way Milton, now Director Resource Development – Campaign Events at UWHH. “Together, we can accomplish so much more than we ever could separately.”

“These four United Ways have demonstrated a true commitment to building a stronger United Way. Together, they will improve more lives locally, and across the region. United Way Halton & Hamilton is leading by example,” says Dr. Jacline Nyman, President and CEO, United Way Centraide Canada.