
We Sponsor Two Distinct Awards

(Also known as ‘BFF’ or ‘Invisible Champion’ Awards)
for the staff of United Way-supported agencies in the nonprofit sector.

(Also known as ‘M-B’ Awards)
for the staff of the United Way itself.
Bhayana Family Foundation Awards
(BFF/Invisible Champion Awards)
The United Way/BFF Invisible Champion Awards recognize excellence in the form of Innovation, Creativity, Dedication, Team Achievement, Leadership and Community Partnership/Building for the professional staff of Nonprofit organizations. agencies.
- In addition to a monetary award, both the award recipient and the organization receive a commemorative plaque.
- The awards are primarily peer-nominated with a focus on frontline workers.
- The awards are given annually to professionals or teams from at least 8-10 agencies.
- Impact of the awards is evaluated by surveying the awards recipients, peer nominators and agency leadership.
The Manaktala-Bhayana Family Awards
(M-B Awards)
The M-B Awards recognize staff of the host United Way who work to address community needs through their support of the social agencies. These awards celebrate excellence in the form of Innovation, Creativity or Dedication.
- The awards are primarily peer-nominated.
- The recipients are selected by a task group/committee of United Way staff representatives who review the nominations and make the final selections.
- The awards are given to a minimum of two or more professionals or teams annually.
- The impact of the awards is evaluated by the award recipients and their United Way through staff and management surveys.
“I really appreciated receiving a Building a Better UWTYR award. It made me feel very proud and very appreciated. I feel that these awards definitely create a culture of appreciation something that doesn’t happen enough for the not for profit sector. Thank you.”
– Recipient of M-B Award
Award Ceremonies
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Former BC Premier Harcourt, Michael McKnight CEO of UW Lower Mainland and Raksha M. Bhayana
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Daniele Zanotti, CEO United Way Greater Toronto
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Hon. Margaret McCain
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Karen Young CEO of United Way Calgary and Area
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Hon. Myra A. Freeman
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Mayor Naheed Nenshi
The Award Ceremonies are often light-heartedly referred to as the “Oscars” of the social service sector. They have taken on a life of their own thanks to the superb organization of the United Ways and the presence of notable speakers like Hon. Margaret McCain, Hon. Late Michael Wilson, Hon. David Peterson, Hon. Michael Harcourt, Hon. Helen Jaczek, Hon. Senator Asha Seth, CBC anchor Wendy Mesley, Mayor Naheed Nenshi, former Mayor Hazel McCallion, and many notable MPs, MLAs and local city councillors. For the Award recipients and their Executive Directors, the ceremony provides public recognition that is both well-deserved and highly-valued in the sector.
Award Recipients and their Executive Directors value the public recognition.
View all CeremoniesBFF Champions by Award Category
Dedication
This award recognizes employees who are dedicated to the mission, values and goals of their agency and go above and beyond what is expected of them.
Innovation & Creativity
This award recognizes employees who display creativity by introducing new ideas, services or practices. These individuals contribute innovative solutions to their organization by looking at new ways to achieve shared goals.
Community-Building
This award recognizes teams who work toward a common goal. Together, these individuals demonstrate commitment to success through excellent and consistent performance.
Partnership
This award recognizes employees who make outstanding contributions to their broader community. They do so by recognizing, engaging and maximizing the potential of relationships with key external partners, such as residents, schools, associations, other agencies, businesses and funders.
Team Achievement
This award recognizes teams who work toward a common goal. Together, these individuals demonstrate commitment to success through excellent and consistent performance.
Leadership
Recognizes an employee who demonstrates exemplary leadership capabilities and who consistently achieves superior team-based results. These leaders play an exceptional role in helping others contribute to their organization and advance its mission.
Impact of the Awards
Every year, the Awards program is evaluated through qualitative surveys with recipients and agency Executive Directors. The results affirm the incredible impact the Awards have on the individual, the agency team, the culture, the organization and its standing in the community. Respondents often say that winning the Award increased their sense of pride and optimism about working in the human service sector.
Rahima Mamdani, United Way Greater Toronto’s Vice President Human Capital reports that, “Recipients described feeling appreciated, proud and honoured to have won the award. A significant number astonishingly wanted to ‘work even harder, do more and improve their services to clients.”
Quotes from the Organizations touched
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—Natasha Jackson (Director, Communications Nova Scotia)
—Patricia Bradshaw (Professor at SMU, Event Organizer)
—Robyn Bradshaw (Autism NS)
—Vanessa Burns (Viewer)
—Charnell Colley (Viewer)
—The Honourable Andy Fillmore (MP, Halifax)