From left: Jeff Loomis, Momentum Executive Director; Lucy Miller, United Way of Calgary and Area President & CEO; Donna McBride, Momentum Operations Director

Each year, United Way of Calgary and Area celebrates the spirit and generosity of people and organizations that display outstanding leadership and dedication through the Spirits of Gold Awards.

Just this past month, Momentum was recognized with the 2015 Spirits of Gold: Social Innovation Award.This award is presented to initiatives or agencies that have implemented a socially-innovative idea that has led to a community or organizational change.

Momentum was recognized with this award for their leadership in convening, designing and stewarding the Financial Empowerment Collaborative. With this group, Momentum has been leveraging what they’ve learned through their financial literacy programs to create systems change with the potential to affect change for 45,000 Calgarians living on low incomes by 2023.

It’s no secret that poverty is a complex issue, so it is understandable that it requires a many-sided solution. While no single approach alone can end poverty, asset-building has been proven to be effective in creating financial stability for people living on low incomes. Together, Momentum and the Financial Empowerment Collaborative are using this knowledge to create opportunities for Calgarians to transition out of poverty.

The Financial Empowerment Collaborative has over 40 members from a variety of sectors including nonprofit, government, financial, education, and business.

SOURCE: Momentum