Presented by Dentons, Make Your Mark is a community-based leadership development program that educates students (grades K-12) on poverty, the role of nonprofits, and their agency as leaders. United Way will provide guidance and funding for student-led initiatives against poverty in the greater Edmonton community.
Presented by Dentons, Make Your Mark is a community-based leadership development program that educates students (grades K-12) on poverty, the role of nonprofits, and their agency as leaders. United Way will provide guidance and funding for student-led initiatives against poverty in the greater Edmonton community.
Do more together
New this year, we've redesigned our program to help teams as they develop their projects. We will also connect teams to local leaders who will mentor students as they develop their ideas. Together, we will make a greater impact.
Mentorship
Interested in becoming a Make Your Mark Mentor? We are looking for business professionals and involved community members to provide guidance to students at various points during the program. Email apower@myunitedway.ca to learn more about this volunteer opportunity.
Presented By:
Make Your Mark Project Journey
Make Your Mark teams will have 3 months (November - January) to develop and carry out their projects supported by workbooks and trained mentors from United Way. After a Kickoff ceremony on October 26, 2021, teachers and student teams will identify a problem they want to solve. They will then submit a project plan to apply for funding from United Way. After completing their projects by January 31, 2022, students will reflect on their experiences, and winners from each age group will be featured at our annual Red Tie Gala event.
Apply
To apply, teachers identify why they and their students are interested in the program and establish a potential focus area for the project.
Kickoff
Make Your Mark will begin with a virtual kickoff to connect MYM participants, align on the program details, and build awareness of poverty in our community.
Develop
Student teams will develop, refine, and plan their projects with access to United Way resources and mentor support.
Grants
Teams will submit their project plan and budget to United Way who will award grants of up to $1,000 to make their ideas reality.
Launch
With funding in place, teams will carry out their projects, measure results, and reflect on their experience. Reports are due by January 31, 2022.
Celebrate
Projects from each age group will be selected to receive awards at the United Way Red Tie Gala. All projects will be recognized and some may be featured in local news outlets.
Apply to receive up to $1,000 to bring your project to life
All participating teams will receive a level of funding for their projects. Once teams have developed and refined their ideas, they will apply for Make Your Mark grants of up to $1,000 to bring their idea to life. Mentors will support this process, offering guidance and leadership development modules along the way. United Way will review the project plans and delegate funding to teams.
A note from our presenting sponsor
“Dentons is pleased to support United Way of the Alberta Capital Region as we work towards ending poverty in Edmonton. This educational initiative is designed to not only teach our children the significance of giving back, but also empower, inspire and encourage the next generation of philanthropic leaders in our community. Helping those less fortunate is an important lesson for their development, and for the betterment of society as a whole”.
— Fausto Franceschi, Managing Partner, Dentons Canada in Edmonton
How to apply
Applications closed October 15. Thank you to everyone who applied. You will hear from United Way with decisions by October 25. Project applications will reopen September 2022.
What you need to apply
- A team: A group of motivated students
- A teacher: To guide the Make Your Mark project journey
- A dream: To impact the community and create its future leaders
Create your team
Cultivate a team of motivated students to take on this project. Each team will need a dedicated group of students and a teacher to lead the project.
Fill out the application
In this application, you will be asked to describe why you want to participate, what students will learn by their involvement, and provide a focus area for your initiative.
Submit
Applications for teacher-student teams are due by Friday, October 15, 2021.
Past Project
Keenooshayo School
Past Project
M.E. LaZerte School
Past Project
ESSMY
Past Project
Major General Griesbach School
Collaborating to grow student leaders
This program would not be possible without the ongoing support of local businesses commited to making an impact in our community.
Presenting Sponsor