Whether the world of corporate social responsibility is new to you, or you’re a seasoned professional, you can probably relate to the challenge of continually coming up with fresh ideas to keep people engaged throughout the year.
Along with so many other workplaces, these featured companies stepped up to the plate at the end of the 2018 campaign to help push United Way over the 50 million dollar mark. To help inspire your organization, we compiled a few inspirational stories from best-in-class companies (and partners of United Way) that experienced incredible results with their innovative approaches.
Interested in partnering with United Way to boost the results of your giving program and do local good? Contact Lynn Holdsworth.
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
In 2018, Canadian Natural celebrated its 30-year partnership with United Way and they had some ambitious goals: increase company participation in the campaign, amplify participation in volunteer opportunities, and find a new way to engage young professionals.
So Canadian Natural set to work: they doubled the number of volunteer activities they held in 2018 and implemented their own Gen Next program within their organization, targeting employees in their 20s and 30s. As a result, Canadian Natural was able to meet their goals and even received the Gen Next Award at United Way’s annual awards ceremony in 2019! To build even further on their philanthropy, Canadian Natural generously increased their corporate gift by an additional $75,000—helping to drive transformational change in the lives of local people.
NOVA Chemicals
NOVA Chemicals is another standout. For the past three years they’ve had an average participation rate of 60 per cent. NOVA helps strengthen their campaign with executive support, including the involvement of an executive sponsor throughout the campaign.
Employees at NOVA have made an impact not only with United Way, but with many other organizations across the city, including United Way-funded agency Women in Need Society. In 2018, NOVA focused on impact through volunteering and Day of Caring® opportunities, leading to a deeper, more engaged connection to community. Plus, NOVA generously increased their corporate match by $100,000 to do even more local good!
Nutrien
Community impact is built right into Nutrien’s mission. This company is a passionate supporter of the community—with Nutrien’s Leslie O’Donaghue, Executive VP, Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer, sitting on United Way’s Board of Directors, the organization educates their workplace on the work and impact of local agencies, including United Way and United Way-funded agencies. In 2018, Nutrien’s campaign committee took a personalized, information-based approach to achieve this: they enlisted floor ambassadors to drop information at desks and engage in individual conversations around the importance of giving.
During their campaign, the committee planned an innovative event that saw employees building forts using cardboard boxes, sheets, and other miscellaneous items in the main rotunda of their office. Following the fort building event, the group donated an abundance of sleeping bags, blankets, and care packages to the Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre. The company continues to be dedicated to doing local good through corporate gifting, and generously topped up their investment with an additional $90,000 during campaign in 2018.
Shell
As a long-time partner, Shell runs a best-practice employee-engagement campaign with a strong volunteer base. Employees across Canada volunteer on the campaign committee, and call into weekly meetings to drive consistent campaigns and messaging across all locations. In 2018, Shell debuted a new initiative called “Shell Fuelling Kindness.” This volunteer initiative aimed to engage employees in volunteerism and increase involvement with agencies in the local community.
Shell kicked off their campaign with a blitz speaker day—where impact speakers and United Way representatives helped educate and create awareness with employees—and hosted a number of supporting events. From September 1–October 31 last year, hundreds of employees in Calgary stepped up to support 15 organizations with hundreds more hours of volunteering, including a range of activities such as sandwich making, donation sorting, package assembly, cleaning, and more. Shell continues to step up to support the local community and generously committed an extra $100,000 to their corporate match in 2018, helping to improve local lives.
*2016 Cone Communications Employee Engagement Study: http://www.conecomm.com/research-blog/2016-employee-engagement-study
]]>1 in 10 people in Calgary currently live in poverty; according to research from the City of Calgary, 1 in 3 worry about money for housing, 1 in 5 worry about money for food, and 1 in 2 worry about saving for the future. Unfortunately, anyone can be vulnerable—one unexpected cost can be enough to push someone living paycheque-to-paycheque into poverty. As the cost of living increases and the economic downturn continues, this paints a sobering picture of people across local communities—our families, friends, and neighbours—who are not only struggling to meet their most basic, everyday needs, but also unable to plan for long-term goals. Saving up for a down payment on a home, being able to go on a much-needed vacation with one’s family, or establishing RESPs can seem like pipe dreams: unfathomable and unattainable. It’s hard for people to be optimistic about the future when they’re living in a constant cycle of worry and stress.
This reality might seem daunting, but there’s an important strategy that can make a difference. One way for people living on a low income to start increasing their financial stability—right now—is to file their taxes. Many people are unaware they could be getting money back from their taxes, or unaware of the valuable benefits and credits they can access. People may be concerned that they owe the government money in back taxes, and filing would initiate an unaffordable cost. In addition, there could be confusion and barriers around the process; where do you start with your taxes, especially if you haven’t been filing them for many years? What are the complexities involved?
Let’s address one of the biggest qualms upfront: for most people living on a low income, filing taxes doesn’t mean a bill to pay, but extra benefits that can significantly impact their financial situation. Every year, up to $1 billion of income benefits and tax credits for vulnerable Canadians goes unused, according to Prosper Canada. Taking the tax plunge can be very advantageous, as the monetary return can significantly help people and families make ends meet in the short term, help them budget for a big-ticket purchase, or establish an emergency savings fund. Calgarians living on a low income are often eligible for tax rebates and, through filing, become eligible for a wide range of other government benefits, supports, and subsidies, on a municipal, provincial, and federal level. Here are just a few examples:
All these benefits, in combination, help put money back in people’s pockets and enable opportunities to reduce debt, grow savings, and build assets—increasing overall financial health and opening more doors for the future.
United Way of Calgary and Area believes that all people should have the income and assets needed to thrive. That’s why we’ve invested in poverty reduction efforts that are meant to empower people financially, and make a real difference in their financial well-being. One example is tax clinics: we’ve partnered with 18 organizations that each offer a number of tax clinics, which are 100 per cent free for individuals living on a low income.
“[It’s an] awesome program,” says one participant. “I found an angel to help me get my taxes all caught up. Thanks!”
At a tax clinic, trained volunteers will assist individuals with preparing their tax return and accessing supports they would otherwise not receive.
People who are eligible for this service include:
To find a tax clinic in your area, please contact 211, a free information and referral service. Simply dial 2-1-1 on the phone to connect with a trained specialist 24/7, or start a confidential chat on the 211 website between the hours of 12:00-8:00 p.m. every day.
]]>If you are considering becoming a mentor, here are some helpful tips:
1. Be accessible
Taking on the role of a mentor requires focus and significant energy and time. By leveraging phone email and the occasional lunchtime chat session, your communication stream will be in great shape.
2. Strive to be a positive role model
Good mentors are respected by their mentees. A mentee can learn a lot from their mentor simply by watching how their mentor behaves in any particular situation. Good mentors will also look out for experiences, or even create situations in which their mentees can become involved to learn new things.
3. Share what makes you an individual
Share your experiences and your failures. By getting personal, you can build a stronger relationship with your mentee. Answer any questions as openly and truthfully as you can, and choose stories and experiences that you feel are appropriate and helpful.
4. Show genuine interest in your mentee
A mentoring relationship is often very important to the mentee, so as a mentor, you need to get to know your mentee personally. Learn about their hopes and dreams so you can help them in a way that meets their personal best interest. Be objective, be patient and listen. By understanding what matters to your mentee, you can help them achieve their personal, educational and professional goals.
5. Share your network
Introduce your mentee to your network, as it may help them discover new learning opportunities, other professional contacts, job projects, additional mentors and much more!
6. Act as a sounding board
Mentees benefit greatly from the opportunity of having a good mentor listen to them. Allow them to explore their thoughts and ideas openly with you. This will often help them unravel their thinking and gain insights about a situation as they share their concerns with you.
7. Bring a fresh perspective
A good mentor can often provide their mentee with a fresh perspective on an issue. Being more removed from an issue or problem can allow the mentor to provide objective feedback to their mentee.
8. Provide helpful feedback and acknowledge achievements
Not all feedback is necessarily helpful. A good mentor knows this and will deliver it in a constructive way that helps their mentee further develop specific qualities or skills. Always ask for permission to give feedback before doing so. Ask your mentee questions and empower them to work through their issues so they can learn to trust their own judgement. Additionally, help build your mentee’s confidence by celebrating and acknowledging their achievements.
9. Have fun
Being a mentor is an exhilarating experience. Mentors often learn a great deal about themselves through the course of a mentorship relationship. Remember to make the experience a fun and engaging one for the mentee and for yourself!
Many people are working one or more jobs, but are still struggling to make ends meet. One missed paycheque or unforeseen cost could have huge consequences for so many families, but it’s not something most of us feel comfortable sharing. Many people experience a sense of shame around their situation and are worried about how they would be perceived if they spoke out—that others would think they aren’t working hard enough or aren’t able to manage their finances effectively.
Living paycheque to paycheque is a tough reality faced by many people from all neighbourhoods across our city. In 2016, more than 40,000 Calgary households were at risk of becoming homeless, having spent more than 50% of their income on shelter. (1.) And many of these households are next door to you–regardless of your area code.
“I don’t even want to think about what would happen if one of us lost our jobs. My husband and I are both professionals, and we have done our best to plan our finances, but in reality, if we were thrown a curve-ball—losing a job, an unexpected illness, or even getting into a car accident—it could really send us into a financial tailspin.”
– Lindsey, Calgary Professional
The fact is, the number of Canadians who live from one paycheque to the next is at an all-time high, a staggering 47% according to this article from the CBC. The article also states that more than a third of those polled feel overwhelmed by their debt levels. There’s no question that this is affecting the mental and physical health of our friends and neighbours who are struggling to make ends meet.
Working multiple jobs to pay the bills leaves you feeling burnt out and overwhelmed, but what are the long-term effects of so much stress on the body? More and more studies, like this one, are finding that when a person is under chronic stress, it can actually suppress the immune system and make them sick. This can lead to inflammation in the body which has been linked to longer-term illnesses. As people in a community become unhealthy, it can also impact the overall health of the community.
“For years I worked during the weekdays as a professional, and took on babysitting jobs during the evenings and weekends to pay the bills. Despite having a university education and a professional career, the combination of student loan payments, my mortgage, and the cost of groceries left very little wiggle room by the end of the month. Working so many hours each week took a toll on my health, and I was often sick. It was so tough to stay afloat, let alone get ahead.”
– Rebecca, Corporate Calgarian
The stigma around financial challenges needs to be reduced. Being able to share in an authentic way can help build community and contribute to positive mental health. The best way to make change is to work together. Being more comfortable sharing our struggles with each other will have the most positive impact.
So what can we do right now?
Here are some of the ways we can make things better and do local good:
* Talk about it. Just as we’ve become much more comfortable talking about mental health in general, talking about working and struggling can help people feel supported.
* Start something in your community that is low-cost but increases social capital. A community garden, a meditation group, or walking group are ways to improve your community and bring people together.
* If you know someone who’s working and struggling to balance everything, offer help. Shovel their walk, offer childcare, or again, just be someone they can talk to.
From the outside, the Gosbees seemed to have it all—health, happiness, and affluence. But George had been battling with addiction and mental health issues for much of his adult life, and his commitment to seeking help fluctuated over the years. The stigma surrounding mental health, and the fear to be perceived as weak or incapable, drove him to work harder, even as his troubles grew.
But for George’s wife Karen, seeking mental health support for herself and their three children became critical.
“I wasn’t happy with the situation. I realized that as long as I was going to continue doing what I did, the pattern was going to manifest itself in my kids. George was either going to get better or not. But then, it wasn’t about George, it was about my own journey, and that took me forever to figure out. I saw therapist after therapist, and even went back to school to get an academic understanding of what addiction was and what I was dealing with,” she says.
Navigating the healthcare system to get her family the support they needed proved to be more challenging than Karen had anticipated.
Laureen MacNeil, executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Calgary branch, has witnessed this many times. She says navigating the healthcare system and accessing the right supports is often an uphill battle, which is why many people try to find help online or by reaching out to their friends and family for help. But, the different opinions can often be overwhelming and not very helpful in the long run, which is why many people don’t get the help they need until it’s too late.
“We are catching too many people at the crises stage, and it is very costly. People end up in the emergency room, and once they’re discharged, they are left to their own devices. They don’t know where to go,” says Laureen.
The gaps in the system make it difficult for people to seek help, especially those who are vulnerable or do not have the resources to pay for additional support.
“If it’s hard for people like myself who have the financial means to access the best services out there, I can’t imagine how hard it is for others, especially youth, newcomers, or people living in poverty,” says Karen.
Yared Belayneh, the mental health strategy lead at United Way of Calgary and Area, cautions that mental health issues can happen to anyone—they are not the problem of the poor man, the homeless addict, or the chronically vulnerable. George’s story, he points out, is a prime example of that—a story that’s all too common, particularly among business executives who can find it harder than others to access supports because of perceived stigma, and questions over their fitness for their substantial roles. According to Yared, in order to support people like George and his family, our community needs to focus on reducing the stigma by encouraging people to ask for help, and building sustainable support, not one-time, episodic counselling support.
“Hospital-based services cost substantially more than community-based services, even though recovery happens in the community. So, how do we help people come forward and seek help before they reach that acute stage where recovery is costly to both the individual and the system?” he asks.
For Karen, help came in the form of a support group for families and friends of alcoholics called Al-Anon.
“It wasn’t until I went to Al-Anon, and spoke to people with similar lived experiences, that I realized I need to do this for myself and my kids. It wasn’t until I found myself in that common community, hearing those common stories, that I started to break away,” she adds.
After George’s death, Karen became a steadfast mental health advocate in Calgary. In July 2018, The City of Calgary announced it would be convening a community-wide mental health and addiction strategy, allocating $15 million towards existing social service agencies and $10 million on the development and implementation of new initiatives. As part of her advocacy work, Karen volunteered to sit on the city-wide taskforce responsible for developing and implementing the new strategy. She hopes to use her lived experience and her family’s struggle with navigating Calgary’s healthcare system to inspire change on a systems level.
“There’s no one solution. We have to stop focusing on that single solution and start saying we have to learn more about it,” says Karen. “So, how do we use our collective resources to create an evidence-based, marked improvement in how to access resources that will have a far reach?”
CMHA’s Laureen believes the partnerships and the vision of The City and funders will allow them to build pathways that will ultimately lead to long-term change.
“We are intellectually rich in this city, passionate, and we know we can handle ups and downs, sometimes it’s just about revealing what we have, and sharing it with others. If we are aware of the gaps in the system, our sector could rally around and within existing resources to connect and serve clients better. It can’t just be one organization looking at this. We need to get all the collaboratives working together. It’s complicated but doable work,” she says.
Karen says it is incumbent on the community to ensure those who need support can access it without having to jump over hurdles.
“For anyone with mental health issues…it should be clear as day how to map through the system. And that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing—I want to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and use my lived experience to help others.”
Thanks to Karen Gosbee for sharing her story! As a leader in the social sector, United Way invests in various services that support individuals with mental health issues to navigate and access effective community-based services, champion communities to reduce stigma and promote social inclusion, and help build a strong network of coordinated service providers.
We are excited to work with community leaders like Karen to advocate for policy and systems change that move the needle on complex social issues like mental health.
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