United Way of Central Alberta is funding three new agencies for the first time in 10 years.
Agencies with educational programs to help children and youth — Butt Ugly Anti-Tobacco Society, Envision Family First, and Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta — will now receive funding.
They run a total of five programs.
Chief executive officer Robert Mitchell said the United Way was able to open up funding opportunities because of the successful 2012 campaign that raised $2.1 million.
“We actually raised the most money that we’ve ever raised as an organization and we’ve been going about 47 years,” Mitchell said on Tuesday when the United Way announced that $1,691,190 from the campaign will be invested into Central Alberta’s social service sector.
The United Way also developed three-year funding agreements for agencies that focus on education.
Over the next two years the three-year funding model will be rolled out to agencies that help people in poverty and agencies that focus on health and wellness.
United Way of Central Alberta funds a total of 30 agencies.
About $95,000 was also committed to the United Way’s Community Impact Fund which will include funding to the 211 Community Phone Support program.
The 211 call system, a simple three-digit telephone call like 911 for emergencies or 411 for directory assistance, will connect Central Albertans to a range of community, health, government and social services information.
In Central Alberta, 211 will enhance what was offered by Community Information and Referral Society (CiRS), now called Volunteer Red Deer.
Mitchell said work is underway to update the 211 database with the hope that provincial funding will be provided to make the service publicly available by the end of this year or early 2014.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com