United Way Northumberland Launches 2026–27 Campaign After Record Year of Community Impact

Pete Fisher
3 weeks ago
• Categories: Community, Local

Campaign Kick-off Breakfast celebrates $851,487 raised and growing community reach while looking ahead to another year of local action

United Way Northumberland officially launched its 2026–27 campaign Tuesday morning (September 15, 2026), bringing local businesses, community partners, volunteers and supporters together to celebrate a year of growing impact and look ahead to the work still to come.

The annual Campaign Kick-off Breakfast at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre highlighted a 2025–26 campaign that surpassed its $750,000 fundraising target, raising $851,487 to support programs, services and initiatives across Northumberland County.

That support is reaching more people and organizations than ever. Northumberland United Way reported 24,443 people served through 118 funded partners in 2025–26, compared with 17,101 people and 63 funded partners the previous year.

“I’m incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished over the past year, and I’m equally excited to officially introduce our new team members to the community,” said Alicia Vandine, Executive Director of Northumberland United Way.

“Each person brings something different to our work, and I think that reflects what this campaign is really about. When people bring their strengths, ideas and commitment together, look what we can make possible.”

The growing reach comes at a time when financial pressures are being felt by households across the country. United Way Centraide Canada’s latest Financial Anxiety Index found 60 per cent of people in Canada feel anxious when thinking about their personal finances, while 46 per cent say they could cover basic expenses for only one month or less before falling into debt. The findings helped frame Tuesday’s discussion around why listening to community needs and looking out for one another continue to matter.

Northumberland United Way’s work extends well beyond fundraising. As a convener, collaborator and advocate, the organization works with residents, businesses, community organizations and other partners to identify emerging needs, connect resources and invest where they can make a meaningful local difference.

During the breakfast, the United Way team shared examples of that work through initiatives including Northumberland Eats, Haven for All, Backpacks for Kids, Period Promise and Hygiene Cabinets, Community Matters and Day of Caring, while outlining plans to continue expanding outreach and investment throughout the County.

That work will be guided by Northumberland United Way’s soon-to-be-released strategic plan, which identifies key areas of community focus including food security, affordable housing, housing and homelessness, mental health, youth mental health, employment and aging in place. The organization will continue working with its national office and broader sector partners to bring a Northumberland County perspective to these issues and the conversations surrounding them.

The year ahead will include continued investment in local programs and partnerships, expansion of food-security initiatives across rural communities, Period Promise and Hygiene Cabinets, a first Trent Hills Day of Caring, and new opportunities for workplaces and community partners to participate throughout the campaign year.

Building on that momentum, Northumberland United Way has set a 2026–27 fundraising goal of $875,000, with the community once again being asked to help turn local generosity into local impact.

Workplace campaigns will remain an important part of that effort, but the organization is encouraging businesses and employees to think broadly about what workplace giving can look like. Alongside payroll giving, workplaces can participate through volunteerism, staff challenges, activities, special events and their own creative ideas for bringing colleagues together around local needs.

The morning also featured powerful perspectives from workplace and community partners who spoke about why their organizations continue to support United Way.

Speakers included Paul van Laren, Senior Manager with SABIC; Scott Cameron, General Manager with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories; Andy Thorne, VP Fuel Services with Cameco; Lindsay Greenland, Vice-President with Ontario Power Generation; and Kristin Berry, CPA, CA, Partner with Baker Tilly KDN LLP.

United Way Northumberland thanked each speaker for sharing their experiences and for the powerful reminder that lasting community impact depends on people and organizations choosing to work together.

There was a warm reception for the United Way team throughout the morning as it shared both the successes of the past year and its ambitions for the campaign ahead.

“The response this morning was incredibly encouraging,” Vandine said. “To look around the room and see businesses, community organizations, municipal representatives, media, volunteers, donors and longtime partners gathered together reminds us how much people care about this community. We know the year ahead will bring challenges, but we also know we aren’t facing them alone. That support gives our entire team tremendous confidence as we begin this new campaign.” Vandine said.

The Campaign Kick-off Breakfast was sponsored by Ontario Power Generation and Baker Tilly. The organization also thanked the volunteers, funded agencies, workplace partners, donors and community organizations whose contributions make its work possible throughout the year. The presentation itself centred that message around a simple idea: together, we make things possible. As the 2026–27 campaign gets underway, United Way Northumberland says it will continue listening to what people and organizations across the County are experiencing, connecting people and resources, and creating more opportunities for residents and workplaces to take part.

For more information about United Way Northumberland, its programs or opportunities to get involved, visit mynuw.org.

About Northumberland United Way Outside of government, United Way Northumberland is the largest funder of social service programs in the area.

An organization dedicated to local community impact, United Way Northumberland has been working to improve the lives of people living in Northumberland County since 1969.

Dedicated to creating lasting and positive impact, we work closely with community partners to get at the root causes of social issues to improve lives and build community by engaging individuals and mobilizing collective action.

Together with community partners, we create impact in three areas: helping kids to be all they can be building strong communities; and moving people from poverty to possibility. Our mission is to bring people and resources together to build a strong, healthy, safe community for all.