Regional efforts across North America show creativity, energy and generosity of spirit
Upping the ante. Stuffing backpacks. Avoiding the yips. Letting fly with a pie. Classic gridiron tailgating. And yes, even pulling an airplane.
They’re all ways that Enbridge’s workforce raised money for United Way chapters across North America in 2017.
Drawing on a workforce of about 15,400 spread across the United States and Canada, Enbridge employees and contractors again showed compassion, creativity and energy in leading successful United Way volunteer campaigns far and wide.
The final 2017 result—with totals rolling in from Houston to Hamilton, from Edmonton to Escanaba, from Chatham to Calgary to Cushing—is US$7.2 million (more than C$9 million), including special events, employee donations, and corporate matching.
“The events and the faces may change from year to year, but I find the generosity of spirit that permeates our United Way volunteer campaigns to be truly—and consistently—remarkable,” says Roxanna Benoit, Enbridge’s Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications.
Regardless of the town or city, United Way chapters work to:
- eliminate poverty and help meet the needs of our society’s most vulnerable people;
- give children and youth the support they need for a good start in life; and
- build strong, healthy and connected neighborhoods.
Image gallery: Enbridge's 2017 United Way campaigns
Our employee-led campaigns across North America showed compassion, creativity and energy, raising US$7.2 million (more than C$9 million) in total.
Some of Enbridge’s dynamic and inventive employee-led 2017 United Way campaigns included:
- A classic tailgate party in Duluth-Superior, with prizes including a pair of tickets to see an NFL clash between the Twin Ports’ favorite rivals, the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers;
- A pie-hurling competition in Edmonton, with volunteer targets graciously agreeing to take lemon meringue in the mug;
- An Enbridge team entry in Toronto’s annual Scotiabank Rat Race 5K event, along with the much-anticipated yearly poker tournament;
- A team of stout-hearted Union Gas employees in Hamilton, ON, who took part in the UPS Canada Pulling For U plane pull competition;
- The Black Cat Open golf tournament in Cushing, OK, and a golfing/fishing tourney in Longview, TX;
- The Gauntlet, a perilous team contest in Calgary featuring an egg toss and Amazing Race-esque giant puzzles;
- Burgers, brats and beans during a BBQ tour of North Dakota through Minot, Williston and Grand Forks;
- Above-and-beyond donation generosity and Days of Caring to support those impacted by Hurricane Harvey, the largest flooding event in U.S. history; and
- The Operation BackPacks Challenge, which brought in 962 backpacks for kids from Union Gas employees across Ontario.
“As a company, and as individuals, we work hard to make our communities better places to live,” says Benoit. “These United Way volunteer campaigns are primary examples.”
(TOP PHOTO: Union Gas employees celebrate their achievement during the UPS Canada Pulling For U plane pull in Hamilton, Ontario.)
