United Way 2023 campaigns: Pet photos, fire ring raffles and surplus steel

Enbridge campaigns raise US$4M (C$5.2M) for chapters in 120+ communities across North America

A campaign as true as steel.

In 2023, Enbridge employees across North America raised about US$4 million (C$5.2 million) for United Way chapters across the continent in a variety of ways—including a creative project in Bemidji, MN involving surplus pipe steel.

Team members based in our Bemidji pipeline maintenance shop spent three months collecting old pipe stock, obsolete fittings, and other scrap metal, brought it all to a local metal recycling business, and came away with a US$13,000 check that they presented to the United Way of Bemidji Area.

“Our Bemidji PLM crew did an amazing job,” says MayRinda Cain, an Enbridge lands and right-of-way representative based in northern Minnesota. “It felt great knowing that the money raised would go to helping local families and investing in the community where we live and work.”

All told, more than 2,100 members of the Enbridge workforce took part in our 2023 United Way campaign, supporting 123 communities across North America. That US$4-million (C$5.2-million) total includes employee and contractor donations, retiree giving, special events, regional donations and Enbridge’s corporate match through our Fueling Futures program.

Over the past six years, dating back to 2018, Enbridge’s employee-fueled United Way campaigns have raised more than US$28.5 million (C$37.3 million) toward health, education and economic mobility in the community.

“Enbridge team members have always embraced and celebrated the opportunity to come together in support of the United Way, whose mission aligns with our core values—ultimately helping people in the communities where we live and work,” says Pete Sheffield, Enbridge’s Chief Sustainability Officer and VP External Affairs U.S.

Highlights of our regional 2023 United Way campaigns include:

• A high-octane car show in southwestern Ontario, with proceeds benefiting the United Way chapter in Sarnia.
• Volunteer events in Houston at the Bread of Life, to pack boxes of household and hygiene items, and the Catholic Charities El Rio Warehouse to organize clothing, household goods, and other non-food supplies.
• More than 25 events in Edmonton that engaged more than 160 team members volunteering 850+ hours of community service.
• Fire ring raffles, meat raffles, an auction and a golf tournament in the Midwest, supporting the Head of the Lakes United Way in Duluth, MN and the Delta County United Way in Escanaba, MI.
• A golf tournament in Toronto that raised more than C$250,000.
• A pet photo contest and a 10 Days of Caring campaign that yielded 300 volunteer hours of community service in Calgary.
• A cornhole tournament in Cushing, OK to benefit the United Way of Payne County.

More than 630 Enbridge team members were also in a giving mood for GivingTuesday, the world’s largest generosity movement—with more than US$580,000 (C$750,000) in donations raised on Nov. 28 and 29, a total that included Fueling Futures company matches.

“This year’s campaign results again demonstrate how Enbridge team members consistently live up to our company’s values,” says Sheffield.

(TOP PHOTO: Members of Enbridge's pipeline maintenance crew present a $13,000 check to representatives of the United Way of Bemidji Area following a fundraising scrap metal drive.)