Category: News, Updates & Events

2019 Jail & Bail

Announcing Campaign Goal at Annual Jail & Bail

On September 19, we kicked off our 2019 campaign with over $10,000 raised at our annual Jail and Bail event in Simcoe and Cayuga. The weather was perfect and the day was full of fun, with creative crimes such as ‘Never Giving a Straight Answer,’ ‘Cow Tipping,’ and ‘Failing to Buy the Office Lunch.’ We had new faces at the events this year but by far the favourite were a pair of Jack Russels, Phinn and Dino, accompanied by their owner Sandie Heirwegh. This trio came away with ‘Most Creative Crime’ and ‘Most Funds Raised’ for Haldimand. Taking the prize for ‘Best Costume’ was David Sykes for his crime of ‘Computer Hacking.’
In Norfolk, the enthusiastic team from the Norfolk Association for Community Living took home the ‘Most Funds Raised’ award, Katherine Whitney won ‘Best Costume’ and Ron Tomczak was awarded ‘Most Creative Crime.’

It was a great day and Brittany Burley, our Executive Director, announced our campaign goal in a very new way.

“More important to us than the dollars raised, is the impact these funds have on the community, which is why this year we are going to announce our annual campaign goal as an impact goal of what we plan to achieve in the community!”

Our goal is to help 16,000 people in Haldimand and Norfolk. This number includes mental health and wellness supports for 2,000 people, educational programs for 2,500 children, community programs for 3,000 seniors and 8,000 people moving themselves from poverty to possibility. Burley stated,

“This is only possible with the support from the communities in which we live.”

We would like to extend a special thanks to the following: McDonald’s (Simcoe) for coffee, Tim Hortons (Cayuga) for coffee and prizes, OPP Norfolk for their time and fingerprinting skills, Ron Tomczak the FauxPP Officer, Turkstra Lumber (Simcoe) for creating the jail cell, Community Addiction and Mental Health Services of Haldimand and Norfolk for Photos & Presentation, Adam Veri for the logo design, MyFM for the sound system, and Foodland (Cayuga) and Shopper’s Drugmart (Simcoe) for the use of their parking lot.

Stuff the Bus 2019

United Way’s “Stuff the Bus” Helps Hundreds of Kids

Imperial – Day of Caring event (sorting supplies and stuffing backpacks)

Over 600 kids in Haldimand and Norfolk received new school supplies.

We were proud to deliver backpacks filled with new school supplies to over 600 students in need across Haldimand and Norfolk. At first, the goal seemed overwhelming as the number of kids in need grew from 125 to over 600 students, more than double from the previous year. Last year, 10 schools signed up to receive supplies while this year 29 schools signed up. This was in part due to the growing awareness of the program among the schools and community.

Our goal was to provide local students with the supplies they need to succeed, regardless of family income. We worked with the local public and Catholic schools to identify how many kids in the schools needed help and which supplies were needed the most. Donation bins were located throughout the two counties where community members could drop off donated items. The donated school supplies helped students of all ages.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation for the generous donation of back to school backpacks for students in need…and parents have been very appreciative. Thank you for supporting our students,”

Colleen Kelly, Principal of Hagersville Elementary School

Due to the generous support of local community members, businesses, churches and local charities, the United Way was successful in meeting this goal. A big thank you goes out to: Superstore, Staples, Norfolk County Public Library, Zehrs, Haldimand County Public Library, Giant Tiger in Haldimand, CAMHS Wellness & Recovery Centre, Dr. Lorelei Zeiler’s office, Julia’s Bistro, Domino’s Pizza, Cobb and Jones LLP, Norfolk Association for Community Living, Rotary Club Norfolk Sunrise, Lion’s Club Jarvis, Scotlynn Group, Toyotetsu, The Positive Vibe Project, RBC local branches, Mt. Zion United Church, St. Paul Anglican Church, Faith Centennial United Church, Simcoe Caring Cupboard, Turkstra Lumber and the many, many community members who became involved in this very important project.

The amount of donated school supplies was so great that three locations were needed in order to store them before distribution. Two Day of Caring events with staff volunteers from Libro Credit Union and Imperial were held to do the sorting, packing and delivery of the supplies to the 29 schools who signed up to receive them.

  • Libro Credit Union Day of Caring Event

When people work together, everyone wins!

We Are Hiring!

United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk is hiring an interim Executive Director

Terms of Employment:

  • Full-time 14 to 18 month maternity leave contract
  • Hours: 35 hours per week, 9 AM – 5 PM with occasional weekend and evening meetings
  • Salary: $45,026 – $55,373
  • Start Date: November 2019
  • Reports to: Board of Directors
  • Health benefits after the 3-month probationary period
  • Job Location: Simcoe, Ontario with travel throughout Haldimand and Norfolk Counties

For more information read the full job posting here – UWHN Interim ED Job Posting (003) 

Application Deadline:

  • Monday, September 23, 2019

Please submit your resume and cover letter by email only to [email protected].

Annual General Meeting Awards 2019

2019 Annual General Meeting Awards

Volunteer of the Year Peter Davidson

Harold J. Schneider Community Service Award

Marc Peppin

Spirit Awards

  • Norfolk Association for Community Living
  • Cobb & Jones LLP
  • Ontario Provincial Police – Norfolk County Detachment
  • Cayuga Foodland

2018 Caring Community Awards

PLATINUM ($25,000+)

  • Aberdeen Health and Community Services Foundation
  • Imperial
  • LCBO

GOLD ($10,000 – $24,999)

  • Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board
  • Grand Erie District School Board
  • RBC Financial Group
  • Stelco

SILVER ($5,000 – $9,999)

  • BMO Financial Group
  • CIBC
  • Domino’s Pizza – Simcoe
  • Norfolk Association for Community Living
  • Ontario Power Generation
  • TD Bank Financial Group
  • Union Gas Ltd.

BRONZE ($500 – $4,999)

  • Anonymous
  • Barrel Restaurant
  • Bell Canada
  • Brantford & District Labour Council
  • Brokerlink
  • Cobb & Jones LLP
  • Dalhousie Place
  • David’s Restaurant, Elements Day Spa, Links of Dover Coast
  • Don Hyde Marine Ltd.
  • Erie Beach Hotel
  • Fanshawe College
  • Farm Credit Canada
  • Federal Government Retirees
  • Government of Canada Employees
  • Haldimand County
  • Haldimand Norfolk REACH
  • Harsco MultiServ Canada
  • Hydro One
  • K.Smart Associates Ltd.
  • Libro Credit Union
  • MHN Lawyers
  • Meridian Credit Union Ltd.
  • Norfolk Community Help Centre
  • Norfolk County
  • Ontario Provincial Police – Norfolk County Detachment
  • Province of Ontario Employees
  • Rassaun Services Inc.
  • Scotiabank
  • Service Employees International Union
  • Sun Life Financial
  • Suncor Energy Inc.
  • Toyotetsu Canada
  • True Experience
  • Turkstra Lumber

Funding for Two New Programs

United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk Announces Funding for Two New Programs

We are proud to announce that we will be funding two new programs in 2019. United Way funding decisions are community driven and community focused. Each year a group of local volunteers representing various sectors in Haldimand and Norfolk form the Allocations Committee. Using their knowledge and first-hand experience, they allocate funds to the programs they feel will meet the most urgent needs of Haldimand and Norfolk residents.

The two new United Way funded programs are as follows:

Taylor the Turtle: My Body Belongs to Me

A seven-module body rights program for primary grade aged children that encourages the strengthening of protective factors such as emotional literacy, resiliency, self-confidence, expression abilities, and body awareness.

Path to Possibilities

Residents of Trillium Manor, a supportive rent geared-to-income home for individuals living with mental illness, learn skills to live independently. These skills include budgeting, healthy eating, grocery shopping, critical thinking, empathy, self-awareness, problem solving, communication, stress management and interpersonal relationship building.

We wish to extend a thank you to the following volunteers that made up this year’s Allocations Committee. Most of whom braved a winter storm to attend a meeting.

  • Adam Veri
  • Alison High
  • Anonymous
  • Ed Sanchuk
  • Gary Nelson
  • Haley McIntosh
  • Janice Warrell
  • Louis Brzozowski
  • Melanie Atkins
  • Scott Buchanan
  • Taylor Vanhooren

In total United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk will be supporting 15 programs throughout Haldimand and Norfolk serving 12,500+ individuals in need right here at home. The programs that continued to receive funding again in 2019 are:

  • Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Training
  • Basic Job Readiness Training
  • Club T.R.U.E. (Together, Recreation, Understanding & Enjoyment)
  • Youth Mentorship Program
  • CYPRES 55+
  • Family Services Counselling Program
  • Parenting After Separation/Divorce
  • Peer and Home-Based Vision Support
  • Settlement Services
  • Volunteer Services

Port Dover Christmas Pub Crawl Raises $3002 for United Way

Port Dover Christmas Pub Crawl Raises $3002 for United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk

Organizer Louie Brzozowski and United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk’s Board President,
Scott Buchanan

The annual Port Dover Christmas/Charity Pub Crawl is becoming more successful with each passing year.

This year’s event supported United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk, bringing in a grand total of $3002.55. The money was raised in less than 7 hours with two teams competing to see who could raise the most funds. The women’s team “Babes” competed with the men’s team “Boys” with the women’s team coming out on top raising almost double the amount of the men’s team.

This was a fun event with approximately 45 minutes at each stop which started at The Beach House and then on to the Fisherman’s Catch, The Terrace Room, Southside Louie’s, The Brig at the Norfolk Tavern, and Two Eleven Main.

United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk were very grateful to have been chosen as the recipient this year. Many thanks to the event organizer Louie Brzozowski and for all participants and participating pubs. When community gets involved, everyone wins. 😊

Change 4 Change Campaign

Our first ever… 

United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk is pleased to announce the results of their first ever Change 4 Change campaign. In the month of November, five local restaurants donated $1 from every sale of their feature item to United Way’s Change 4 Change campaign. In its very first year, Change 4 Change raised $900 to help our community. Participating restaurants included Domino’s Pizza Simcoe, Ferrera, Kaley’s Restaurant, The Barrel, and The Blue Elephant. The premise of the Change 4 Change campaign is that the donation of your change (or $1) is enough to create positive change in our community because every dollar makes a difference.

“This was our first year running Change 4 Change and I’m really pleased with the results,” stated Brittany Burley, Executive Director of United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk. “We are grateful to the restaurants that we had on board from Simcoe and hope to be able to expand Change 4 Change across the rest of Norfolk and Haldimand Counties in 2019. We heard great feedback from this year’s participants and plan to implement that feedback to make next year’s Change 4 Change campaign even better. Most importantly, I’d like to extend a big thank you to The Blue Elephant, The Barrel, Kaley’s Restaurant, Ferrera, Domino’s Pizza Simcoe, and all of the customers who made the decision to support us through their purchases.”

Every dollar provides opportunities to improve lives and build healthy communities. For anyone interested in making a donation to support United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk, please contact United Way at 519-426-5660, in person at 23 Argyle Street in Simcoe, or online at www.unitedwayhn.on.ca. If you are a restaurant interested in participating in Change 4 Change next year, please notify United Way.

  • The Blue Elephant's Heather Pond and Judy Tomczak Communications Assistant of United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk

Contact: Brittany Burley, Executive Director
United Way of Haldimand and Norfolk
Phone: 519-426-5660 Email: [email protected]

Annual Fashion Show 2018

FASHION for a GOOD CAUSE 

We had a blast at our annual Fashion Show at The Coach Pyramids, 250 Argyle Street North, Caledonia on September 20th at 6:30 p.m.

To watch the video see our facebook page.

Sometimes raising money is just plain fun! On September 20th we had our annual fashion show at The Coach Pyramids in Caledonia and we shopped for a good cause. Fun, fashion, wine tasting, door prizes and shopping for a good cause.

Thank you to all those who participated in this event.

Brittany Burley
Yvonne Holloway
Carol MacFarlane
Robyn Robinson
Janice Smith
Judy Tomczak
Ron Tomczak

Local Vendors:
Avon
Dr. W. Janushewski Family Dentistry
Jensen’s Cheese
Koncir Automotive
Mary Kay Cosmetics – Kim Odorjan
Regional Auto Glass
Shoppers Drugmart
Speedy Glass
The Apple Place
The Blue Elephant
The Brick
The Burning Kiln Winery
The Coach Pyramids
The Crepe House in Port Dover

Jail and Bail 2018

Jail & Bail 2018

Click here to watch our Jail & Bail Video on Facebook!

It was a fun day for everyone!

On September 12, we hosted our second annual Jail & Bail event in Simcoe and Cayuga. The day was full of fun, creative crimes and lots of bail money raised for a good cause. Some of our criminals received bribes from coworkers to stay in jail long after their bail had been reached. What a great opportunity to have some fun with your coworkers! With the help of our willing jailbirds and those who posted their bail and bribes we were able to raise over $11,000.

A special thanks goes to the following donors: McDonald’s (Simcoe), and Tim Hortons (Cayuga) for coffee, Domino’s Pizza (Simcoe) for pizza, Shelly’s Family Dining & Catering (Cayuga) for cake, OPP Haldimand & Norfolk for their time and fingerprinting skills, Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show (jail cell – Norfolk), Touch of Haven (jail cell – Haldimand), Community Addiction and Mental Health Services of Haldimand and Norfolk (Photos & Presentation), Adam Veri (Logo design), Foodland Cayuga (use of their parking lot), and Turkstra Lumber Simcoe (tent).