The United Way of Winnipeg during an opening ceremony in 1965. (HANDOUT)
The United Way of Winnipeg is marking its 50th anniversary today and will kick off weeks of celebrations for the occasion.
The organization, formed locally in 1965, made several announcements Monday at the corner of Portage and Main.
“Fifty years ago today, people in Winnipeg had a vision of a kind and compassionate city – of neighbour helping neighbour – and created United Way of Winnipeg,” said Herb Peters, chair of United Way’s Board of Trustees. “Today we can see how that vision has been kept alive and grown, generation after generation, with so many of you contributing your time, ideas and money, united in a common cause that today helps someone in Winnipeg, on average, every two minutes.”
To mark the occasion, United Way has created Winnipeg Wednesdays, four Wednesdays in June dedicated to celebrating Winnipeggers’ caring and compassion by having fun in ways that can make a positive difference.
- June 3 – Conscious Kindness: In a new twist on an existing concept, United Way invites Winnipeggers to raise the bar on random acts of kindness by pledging to take the time to pause and be consciously kind on June 3.
- June 10 – Red Tables: Modeled after Jeffersonian Dinners, United Way invites Winnipeggers to start a conversation that matters, with old friends and new. People can get a free resource kit to host their own Red Table meal and share their vision for making our city better, together.
- June 17 – Make It Happen: Unveiling one of Winnipeg’s first multi-project crowdfunding campaigns, United Way invites Winnipeggers to pitch in to help families and kids around Winnipeg through 17 family resource centre projects get some of the everyday things that make an extraordinary difference in the lives of the people they serve.
- June 24 – One Night for Winnipeg: United Way invites Winnipeggers to celebrate Winnipeg with some of the city’s hottest bands and acts, plus join a world record attempt for the most people drumming together at once, at the Forks from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Prior to Monday’s announcement, Mayor Brian Bowman and United Way of Winnipeg CEO Connie Walker raised a United Way flag in front of City Hall.
— Staff
