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Child and Youth Success

Every child deserves
the chance to succeed.

But many kids don’t have access to after-school activities or summer programs to keep them from falling behind when they aren’t in the classroom.

These vulnerable youth need places they can go to just be kids. When they have a strong support system, kids feel safe to open up when life gets hard.

Your donation keeps kids inspired and learning, no matter where they grow up.

Child and Youth Success

Every child deserves the chance to succeed.

But many kids don’t have access to after-school activities or summer programs to keep them from falling behind when they aren’t in the classroom. 

These vulnerable youth need places they can go to just be kids. When they have a strong support system, kids feel safe to open up when life gets hard. 

Your donation keeps kids inspired and learning, no matter where they grow up. 

“I got to be a kid and not have to worry about the stresses of whatever was happening at home.”

Esther first joined a United Way-supported after-school program when she was eight years old. Sixteen years later, she’s a volunteer because of what the program meant to her when she was growing up. 

“Some kids come from not great backgrounds, and they’re always sort of the ‘adult’ at home, so they don’t really get the opportunity to be a kid,” Esther explains. “But when they come to the programs, we just let them be themselves.” 

Youth are fiercely resilient, but at what cost?

Although COVID-19 doesn’t affect our lives in the same way it once did, local kids are still dealing with the fallout from the isolation and anxiety of the last few years. 

Many kids are having a hard time keeping up in school. In low-income and rural communities, it can be hard to get stable internet or reliable transportation – causing a sharp divide between youth in different communities. As the cost of living rises, so does the pressure on caregivers to provide for their children.  

Every kid needs a place to learn, play, and grow. 

44%

of single mothers with young children are living below the poverty line in Ontario. 

10%

of Grade 7 and 8 students in Ottawa are using non-medical opioids. This number is the same for students in grades 9 to 12. 

1.1-1.2%

is the potential decrease in a student’s lifetime earnings for each month of learning loss. In Ontario, there were about 6.5 months (28 weeks) of in-person school closures during the first two years of the pandemic. 

44%

of Ottawa students reported fair or poor mental health – more than twice as many students compared to 2019, before the pandemic started.

How we help

Every kid deserves the support they need to reach their full potential. 

United Way East Ontario believes every child and youth across Prescott-Russell, Ottawa, Lanark County and Renfrew County has the right to a good life, and a safe place to grow up, learn, and make good friends – no matter their personal circumstances.  

What impact looks like

What impact looks like

A photo of a child doing some painting with their Mom at home.

When you give to United Way East Ontario, your support means kids will always have somewhere to turn when they’re in need. From after-school programs to mental health counselling, your donation today provides the vital services youth need in their lives 

With opportunities like these, kids are more likely to graduate high school—setting them up for stable employment, healthy relationships, and a brighter future. 

We take accountability seriously.

You should feel confident when supporting a charity, and we’re committed to full transparency, accountability, and cost-efficiency. We invest your gift in smart, strategic ways, to ultimately move the needle.

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100% LOCAL IMPACT
Every donation is put to work in the community where it is raised to tackle the causes you care about.

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TOP 100 CANADIAN CHARITY
Charity Intelligence, MoneySense & Maclean’s named United Way East Ontario a top-100 Canadian charity.

Learn more about United Way’s charity ratings and how your gift is managed here.

Need help?

If you or someone you know is seeking mental health help, here are some immediate resources you can use:

CALL 9-1-1
If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 9-1-1.

DISTRESS CENTRE OF OTTAWA AND REGION
24/7 access to a mental health support hub.

Visit dcottawa.on.ca
Call the Distress Line at 613-238-3311
Text 343-306-5550

211 EASTERN ONTARIO
Find community, social, government, and health services closest to you.

Visit 211ontario.ca or call 2-1-1

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WIN a $5,500 Diamond Ring from La Maison d'Or!

With each ticket purchased, you help us tackle the tough problems in our communities.