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22 SPRING 2018 UNITED WAY WINNIPEG BY PAT REDIGER T he United Way Winnipeg is focused on paving a better way forward for people throughout Manitoba. The agency is well known for the services it supports in Winnipeg, through the collaborative efforts of local agency partners, all levels of government, special partnerships, caring workplaces and thousands of donors and volunteers. What some people don't realize, however, is that United Way Winnipeg's reach extends far beyond the Perimeter. Bev Passey, vice-president of donor relations and resource development, says 15 of the 100 agencies the United Way funds provide services province-wide. Many of these groups have strong ties to Chambers of Commerce throughout the province. "These are groups that either visit various communities or actually have a satellite office in different communities," Passey says. "This means that people from all over the province can come in and access their services." Over the past year, more than $20 million was raised, and approximately $3 million went to organizations operating province-wide, such as the Arthritis Society, Canadian Red Cross, CNIB, Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, Canadian Mental Health Association and the Stroke Recovery Association of Manitoba. This money is going directly into frontline services, Passey notes. "When we're providing funding to health-related organizations, for example, we're focusing on the services," she says. "These services are often available for people to access right in their communities. If someone is losing their vision and they need that support, the CNIB would be there WORKING FOR ALL MANITOBANS United Way Winnipeg's helping hands reach across the province

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