Highlights of 2021

GenNext Fall Fling

The GenNext Committee rang in the end of summer and beginning of fall with the first annual Fall

Fling. Still working within COVID limitations, it was a fun outdoor event that saw food trucks, local beverages provided by Dixon ' s Distillery and Fixed Gear and our community gathering in person, in support of our community for the first time in two years!

Partnerships to End Poverty

In 2021, United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin became the host agency of the Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination (PTF). The PTF works collaboratively, informed by diverse voices of experience, to take local action and advocate for system and policy change to address the root causes of poverty. United Way and the PTF are proud to be creating synergies with their work by collaborating on key community projects including the Poverty to Possibility Collective Impact Project and Guelph-Wellington ’ s goal to solve homelessness.

Community Wide 50/50 Draws!

In partnership with the Guelph Storm and Guelph Nighthawks, United Way held multiple 50/50 draws to help raise much needed funds, when the pandemic prevented special events from taking place. Over $13,000 was raised to help support our community. Special thanks to Sani-Bin and Staebler Insurance for their support to promote and build the winning pots!

United In Conversation

2021 saw the return of an in-person campaign kick-off, to launch a Radical Recovery. It was so great to see our community come together once again to support one of our most important campaigns to date. The event featured a flash mob performance which brought much needed laughter and positivity to a few very difficult years.

In November 2021, we hosted the first of our United In Conversation engagement series, focused on The Diversity of Mental Health. Our goal - to host interactive, authentic and radically fresh conversations between community members on issues impacting all of us in order to learn from and listen to different

perspectives and lived experiences.

Sponsored by Sleeman Breweries & the University of Guelph, this first conversation explored mental health and wellbeing as it is experienced in diverse communities, including the voices of people with disabilities, racialized communities and the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Thank you to all who joined in the conversation as we continue our learning journey.

#RadInRed

At the end of November, we issued a red alert. We needed our communities ' help to take action on a radical recovery. We encouraged you to wear your red – a red shirt, red scarf, red shoes or even red lipstick – post a selfie on social media with the #RadInRed and make a donation to the

United Way campaign – or ask others to join you! You stepped up and it was incredible to see your response and your passion for this community. Thank you for joining us and helping us bring attention to the issues that matter!