United Way hoping to push ‘the why’ this GivingTuesday
Posted Dec 2, 2025 10:23:21 AM.
Last Updated Dec 3, 2025 09:54:54 AM.
United Way Waterloo Region Communities is hoping to turn the attention from simple spending to heartfelt generosity on GivingTuesday.
It is an international day focused on empathy and the impact that one person can have on the life of another through the simple gift of giving.
That can range from giving a smile, a laugh, a helping hand or a donation to those who need it in the community.
“We work hard, and I work hard, to explain to people why. Why give to your community?” Joan Fisk, CEO of United Way Waterloo Region Communities, said. “Although we can give to lots of things, and I encourage people to give to lots of things if they can, try to remember that here is where we live, this is where we can make a safer community for upcoming generations.”
Fisk said the money raised will be going directly towards a few key areas that need attention, not just Waterloo Region, but across the country as a whole.
“We will take that money and divide it into four or five different areas of concern,” she said. “Particularly this year, housing, of course, continues to be one of the biggest drivers of difficulties in our region.”
Those other areas include food, mental health supports, and education. The good news for this year’s GivingTuesday is that residents across the community have the chance to double their impact.
United Way Waterloo Region Communities said that an anonymous group of donors are looking to match all donations, up to $50,000.
It means that those donations are set to stretch a bit further, reaching the hands of individuals and families who need them, as well as children who have a tougher time as the holidays approach.
“Children particularly need to get the support, help and nutrition,” Fisk said. “We do focus a lot on that, and poverty is very, very difficult. It holds you in for generations.”
The full list of details for this year’s GivingTuesday across Waterloo Region can be found on the United Way’s local website, where donations can also be made online.
