The United Way of Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo is being recognized among the top 100 charities in Canada.

A list of the top charities across the country was released by Charity Intelligence Canada last week, with the local non-profit coming in at #25.

Founded in 1978, the organization grants funds to local charities to improve lives and build a stronger community in Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo.

The charity’s three granting programs include Healthy People Strong Communities, All That Kids Can Be, and From Poverty to Possibility.

Last year, they supported 27 agencies with its granting.

The three largest grant recipients $450,000 to the Salvation Army, $428,000 to the Pastew Place Detoxification Centre, and $385,000 to the Centre of Hope.

The charity’s Healthy People Strong Communities program funded 17 partner agencies that ran 27 programs collectively.

Altogether – these programs directly impacted the lives of over 43 thousand people.

Additionally, these programs allowed 42 seriously ill or critically injured patients to receive emergency response air ambulance service.

They also provided 1,500 hours of outpatient counselling services to children, individuals and families struggling with mental health and trauma recovery.

Through the “All That Kids Can Be” program, UWFM funded 7 partnering agencies that ran 11 programs, with an impact of nearly 15,000 people.

As a result of the programs funded by the charity, 1,251 disadvantaged children were given the opportunity to access sports and social programming last year.

Additionally, around 12,000 kids and family members were given access to child/caregiver socialization and peer support; as well as professional services and referrals for additional support and intervention programs.

Lastly, the organization supported 3 partnering agencies that ran 5 programs collectively last year through its From Poverty to Possibility program – impacting the lives of nearly 28,000 community members.

This resulted in over 300 homeless individuals being re-connected with their families and loves ones – as well as over 24,000 meals served to people staying in emergency and Out of Cold shelters.

CIC graded the United Way of Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo an A-minus – based on their public reporting of the work they do and the results they achieve.

In addition, 85 cents for every dollar donated to the charity goes to funding its programs.