United Way

Ourlocalstaff,advisorsandretireesdonatedmore than$460,000toUnitedWaylastyearthrough fundraisingeventsandpledges. InWinnipegandcommunitiesacrossthecountry, theycontributetheirtime,talentandfunds,knowing CanadiansinneedaresupportedthroughUnitedWay. Proud of our many staff and advisors who support United Way Great-WestLifeandthekeydesignaretrademarksofTheGreat-WestLifeAssuranceCompany.LondonLife anddesignaretrademarksofLondonLifeInsuranceCompany.CanadaLifeanddesignaretrademarksofThe CanadaLifeAssuranceCompany.™isatrademarkofTheGreat-WestLifeAssuranceCompany. Healthy people, strong communities The health of Winnipeg neighbourhoods and the wellbeing of our citizens have a profound impact on quality of life in our city. United Way currently partners with agencies like the Stroke Recovery Association of Manitoba to provide tools and resources that help us take care of ourselves, our fami- lies and our community. By supporting United Way's essential network of programs and services, you can create opportunities for personal wellbeing, healthy relationships and improved quality of life. These include recreation, parenting, mental health and social programs. My Name is Bill I was 44 when I suffered a stroke. Until then, I'd never had a serious health issue in my life. It was Remembrance Day. A day I'll never forget. They told me I'd never speak again. It was a terrible, trying time for our family. I couldn't work anymore. I couldn't communicate my basic needs. All I could do was bang on the table to get their attention. They say grown men don't cry, but you know what, they do. I cried at the thought of never being able to tell my wife how much I love her. I cried at the thought of never again being able to tell my daughters how proud of them I am. Frustrated and desperate for information, we were referred to the Stroke Recovery Association of Manitoba. They offer art therapy and a peer support group where I met other stroke survivors – both younger and older – who were going through the same challenges. They even got me into a speech therapy program. I went there every day. It was like being in school again. It was so hard re-learning everything. The first year went by with no change. Then the second. But after two years and four months, I said my first, coherent sentence: "This … is … it." They made me repeat it three times. It's taken me years, but now my speech is pretty much normal. I still struggle with little things – like the difference between he and she. But I can smile again. And I can talk again. Now I use my voice to tell others my story. To tell them why United Way is so important to our community – that it's not just about at-risk kids, or homelessness. That, in fact, they support services for anyone at any time in life. The thing is you never know what life is going to throw at you. Tomorrow you could wake up and your world has changed. You have to start over again. And who's going to help you? When the knowledge, the tools, the supports you need are beyond your family's ability to provide, United Way is there, and thank goodness. When I worked, I remember them having a United Way campaign. "That stuff's not for me," I'd think to myself and just give them a couple of bucks to go away. Now I give whatever I can and I'm asking you to do the same. You can change a life. Take my word for it. This is it.

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