United Way BC president says organization still focused on local not-for-profits after amalgamation

KAMLOOPS — Almost eleven months ago, six regional United Way organizations across the province became a single entity — United Way BC (UWBC).

“It now covers, serves most of British Columbia,” UWBC President and CEO Michael McKnight explains. “That’s a bit historic in the history of the United Way and the not-for-profit sector in our province.”

The United Way is a well-established organization that fundraises and advocates for strong and healthy communities. Through amalgamation, the new United Way BC rose quickly to meet the challenges of the devastating 2021 wildfire season.

“We were able to bring talent, money and expertise in responding to a very difficult, tragic circumstance for the citizens in our province,” McKnight tells CFJC Today. “The amalgamation allowed us to do that in a more responsive, and probably holistic and effective way.”

Kristi Rintoul has been part of the United Way in Kamloops for several years. In the Thompson-Nicola-Cariboo office, she was the only team member focused on tracking the impact of the funds the United Way puts back into the community.

“Now I have a team of managers who manage community impact and investment, all looking at how best we can serve the communities we live, work and play in,” Rintoul says. “But also looking at combining our efforts and leveraging our expertise and knowledge to find innovative ways to show up in community.”

Chelsea Ingram started her position as a Resource Development Associate with the position at the inception of United Way BC last summer. During that time, she’s seen the impact the funds raised can have on those in need throughout the region.

“Being able to be there and support them when they need us most has just been so wonderful, and profound to see,” Ingram explains. “Being able to put a million dollars that we raised last year into the community — that needs this support now, more than ever — is such an incredible thing to be a part of.”

And of course, the foundation of the United Way has always been ensuring that any money raised stays within the community that donated.

“Funds raised local stay locally,” McKnight says. “That was part of the core principle of the amalgamation. We know that people relate to their local United Ways. When they make a donation to our organization, they expect to help vulnerable people in their own community.”