Page 18 - United Magazine 2014
P. 18
Uie
Cooking with Gas Sweat Equity
A fundraising success story Union Gas’ Helping Hands in Action
program encourages employees to apply
Union Gas is one of the most also support it with [matching employee for up to $1,000 to help a charity of their
progressive companies in the donations dollar-for-dollar]. choice. Employees do the work to
region for workplace giving. complete the projects, often involving
And apparently, all it takes is United Way-funded Partner Agencies.
a little barbeque or ice
cream to inspire action. Audrey Bondy, Billing Support: One of my
proudest moments at Union Gas was when
Union Gas employees I was walking in the park near my house
Marian Redford, talking to someone from the Friends for
Manager of Atkinson Pool and Park. They had pointed
Community out some playground equipment that they
Investment, had put in a few years earlier that was
and Andrea looking pretty bad and they wanted to
Stass, Manager have it painted. I told them my company
of External could help out with this, and I came in on
Affairs, dish on Monday and I was really surprised at how
the best ways to bring employees together easy it was to put a project together. By
for a cause. Wednesday it was approved. We had a
great time, and one of my friends has a
United: First and foremost, why does United: What are some of the ways that daughter who needs some volunteer hours
Union Gas choose to give back to the Union Gas has engaged its employees in to graduate high school, so she came with
community? Windsor-Essex? us. It was wonderful, and a win-win for
Marian: For over a century, Union Gas has Marian: Our campaign is truly an employee everyone. I swim in that park, and the
been an active member in Ontario volunteer program. Employees across our playground equipment is right near there,
communities — we live and work in over company run various fundraisers. Projects so I look at it every day. It’s been there for
400 of them in the province. Union Gas is include selling ice cream, having bake three or four years, and it still looks good.
a Spectra Energy company, and they are sales, an auction. And the other big item
committed to investing in the communities that we do is host “Impact Speakers.” Another thing I like about the Helping
that we serve. They actually talk about what the money Hands in Action is that my husband and I
they receive from their United Way does do it together. It makes us both feel really
United: Why United Way? for their organization. We find that it really good and I look forward to spending that
Andrea: United Way is in the best position touches our employees and gives them an time with him and giving back at the same
to determine what the local needs are in understanding of why we support United time. Even though we’re sweaty and dirty,
each of those communities. United Way is Way. we always feel good when we’re done.
on the ground, they’re in touch with what
the needs are in individual communities United: Is there any event in particular that is way. A s a c o m p an y t h at o per a te s i n
and that’s why they’re such a great partner. different, or that you look forward to trying? 4 0 0 communities, it is hard to find
Marian: The senior leaders in our company something that all employees can rally
United: What does it take to run a kick off our annual campaign by having an around at one time. That is really an
Campaign at a company like Union Gas? online auction. They donate various items which exciting part of the event — we can all
Andrea: Our United Way planning goes on range from pots and pans, to an experience like participate, and we all enjoy it.
year-round. We start the year by reviewing going to the Toronto Aquarium, which is open
the success of the previous year, and we for all employees to bid on. It really kicks United: So, in a way, Union Gas also
have very aggressive plans in place. We off the campaign for the fall. It’s been benefits from the Campaign?
have recruitment very early, we engage going on for five or six years now, and it’s Andrea: I think it is also an opportunity for
employees across the organization. There very popular and a lot of fun. individual employees to take on a role
is a lot of planning that goes on behind the they haven’t before. They might be able
scenes — Union Gas and Spectra Energy United: Do you ever notice a boost in morale, to take on some leadership running the
recognize that fact, in terms of having or a sense of camaraderie amongst the campaign within their district. It is an
resources available in order to be able to employees during the Campaign? opportunity to step into a different role,
plan that campaign and engage employees, Andrea: We have an ongoing daily with different learning, and take on and
because that takes time and energy. They commentary around the auction, for sure. practice some new skills, and also an
It becomes very competitive, but in a fun opportunity to connect with others in the
community where they might not have
had before. U
18 U• i e • Fall • 2014 • Vol. 3 • United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County • www.weareunited.com •
Cooking with Gas Sweat Equity
A fundraising success story Union Gas’ Helping Hands in Action
program encourages employees to apply
Union Gas is one of the most also support it with [matching employee for up to $1,000 to help a charity of their
progressive companies in the donations dollar-for-dollar]. choice. Employees do the work to
region for workplace giving. complete the projects, often involving
And apparently, all it takes is United Way-funded Partner Agencies.
a little barbeque or ice
cream to inspire action. Audrey Bondy, Billing Support: One of my
proudest moments at Union Gas was when
Union Gas employees I was walking in the park near my house
Marian Redford, talking to someone from the Friends for
Manager of Atkinson Pool and Park. They had pointed
Community out some playground equipment that they
Investment, had put in a few years earlier that was
and Andrea looking pretty bad and they wanted to
Stass, Manager have it painted. I told them my company
of External could help out with this, and I came in on
Affairs, dish on Monday and I was really surprised at how
the best ways to bring employees together easy it was to put a project together. By
for a cause. Wednesday it was approved. We had a
great time, and one of my friends has a
United: First and foremost, why does United: What are some of the ways that daughter who needs some volunteer hours
Union Gas choose to give back to the Union Gas has engaged its employees in to graduate high school, so she came with
community? Windsor-Essex? us. It was wonderful, and a win-win for
Marian: For over a century, Union Gas has Marian: Our campaign is truly an employee everyone. I swim in that park, and the
been an active member in Ontario volunteer program. Employees across our playground equipment is right near there,
communities — we live and work in over company run various fundraisers. Projects so I look at it every day. It’s been there for
400 of them in the province. Union Gas is include selling ice cream, having bake three or four years, and it still looks good.
a Spectra Energy company, and they are sales, an auction. And the other big item
committed to investing in the communities that we do is host “Impact Speakers.” Another thing I like about the Helping
that we serve. They actually talk about what the money Hands in Action is that my husband and I
they receive from their United Way does do it together. It makes us both feel really
United: Why United Way? for their organization. We find that it really good and I look forward to spending that
Andrea: United Way is in the best position touches our employees and gives them an time with him and giving back at the same
to determine what the local needs are in understanding of why we support United time. Even though we’re sweaty and dirty,
each of those communities. United Way is Way. we always feel good when we’re done.
on the ground, they’re in touch with what
the needs are in individual communities United: Is there any event in particular that is way. A s a c o m p an y t h at o per a te s i n
and that’s why they’re such a great partner. different, or that you look forward to trying? 4 0 0 communities, it is hard to find
Marian: The senior leaders in our company something that all employees can rally
United: What does it take to run a kick off our annual campaign by having an around at one time. That is really an
Campaign at a company like Union Gas? online auction. They donate various items which exciting part of the event — we can all
Andrea: Our United Way planning goes on range from pots and pans, to an experience like participate, and we all enjoy it.
year-round. We start the year by reviewing going to the Toronto Aquarium, which is open
the success of the previous year, and we for all employees to bid on. It really kicks United: So, in a way, Union Gas also
have very aggressive plans in place. We off the campaign for the fall. It’s been benefits from the Campaign?
have recruitment very early, we engage going on for five or six years now, and it’s Andrea: I think it is also an opportunity for
employees across the organization. There very popular and a lot of fun. individual employees to take on a role
is a lot of planning that goes on behind the they haven’t before. They might be able
scenes — Union Gas and Spectra Energy United: Do you ever notice a boost in morale, to take on some leadership running the
recognize that fact, in terms of having or a sense of camaraderie amongst the campaign within their district. It is an
resources available in order to be able to employees during the Campaign? opportunity to step into a different role,
plan that campaign and engage employees, Andrea: We have an ongoing daily with different learning, and take on and
because that takes time and energy. They commentary around the auction, for sure. practice some new skills, and also an
It becomes very competitive, but in a fun opportunity to connect with others in the
community where they might not have
had before. U
18 U• i e • Fall • 2014 • Vol. 3 • United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County • www.weareunited.com •
