Westport Gears Up for United Way Campaign

By Ganesh Khanna

With the leaves changing colour and everyone awakening from their turkey stupor it can only mean one thing…Westport’s annual United Way Campaign is just around the corner!

Westport has always been a strong supporter of the United Way's work in the communities. The United Way’s approach to problems is to provide long term, meaningful solutions by focusing on the root causes, to get the greatest impact and outcomes. In the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, the United Way focuses on three primary issues:

1. Poverty, particularly children living in poverty

2. Bullying

3. Social isolation of seniors

Westport’s relationship with the United Way has grown from providing financial support to actively participating in programs that work to improve the lives of children where they live and learn. But as a multinational company, Westport’s impact in the community goes beyond just Vancouver, this year’s campaign hopes to address that by challenging our global locations to work with organizations in their communities.

The Westport campaign will be kicking off on October 31st with activities including the campaign launch luncheon, W-Bay online auction, and new events that will be announced in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for further announcements.

For further information on the United Way please check out their sites:

Lower Mainland
Canada
US
France
Australia

Westport Volunteers in the Community Schools Program

Did you know that British Columbia has one of the highest child poverty rates in Canada? Also, children in middle childhood, aged 6-12, spend about 67 hours a week in unstructured activities - that’s more time than they spend in school! As a result of the generous donations by Dr. Phillip Hill and Westport employees, we have the opportunity to become the United Way’s corporate partner with their Community Schools Program. These after-school programs are offered in most Vancouver schools for children aged 6-12 to provide a safe, fun, and educational environment. From 3:30pm to 5:00pm each school day, students are able to participate in a range of programs like academia, music, sports, crafts, and art, organized by the Vancouver School Board staff and trained volunteers.  

Starting today, three Westport employees get the chance to act as volunteer program leaders through the fall term at Lloyd George Elementary (just a few blocks away from Westport). These “Yarn Artists” (Teresa K., Kat W., Heidi C.) will help kids discover all the fun and creative things they can do with yarn - from making crochet holiday ornaments to cool accessories. The students will get to do a different project each week for the next seven weeks. What other fun things can you do with yarn?  

“I’m looking forward to teaching the lessons and think this is such a great experience for the students as well as the youth leaders (high school students) who get to learn about social responsibility by contributing to their own communities,” Teresa said. “When we teach high school students about social responsibility, we are creating a future community with caring people.”

At Westport, we recognize the responsibility we have to the neighbourhoods in which we live and work.

Check out this short video showing the kids' experience and the high school volunteers' perspectives: http://vsb.bc.ca/communityschoolteams

(United) Way to go, Westport!

Caroline Santoso, part of the United Way campaign team for Westport receives the award

Yesterday evening, the 2011 United Way campaign team from Westport was honoured with the organization’s “Leading the Way" Award. It’s presented by the United Way of the Lower Mainland to the team that most successfully motivated its colleagues to contribute personal gifts of more than $1,000, and has organized the most exceptional Leadership Giving Campaign.   

The Westport United Way Campaign Team
Back row: Dr. Hill, Greg Harper, Bill Larkin, Monika Weber, Darren Gill,  Karen Hamberg,
Front row: Jason Newton, Maureen Glover, Caroline Santoso, Andrew Lew

Between 2010 and 2011, the number of leadership donors contributing to the Westport campaign jumped from 19 to 37.  In 2011, Westport employees raised and contributed $109,608, as well as a $100,000 gift from Dr. Philip Hill who donated award money received from the 2011 Earnest C. Manning Foundation Awards. His donation is intended to fund the United Way impact area of children 6-12 in the out of school or community schools program.

One of the employee bands at Westport play during United Way week 2011

Dr. Hill’s generosity inspired the Westport campaign team to find new, creative ways to encourage colleagues to donate and leverage his tremendous gift.

The Westport team enjoying lunch during United Way week in 2011

Westport believes that change starts right here in the local communities where we work, live and play. Our thanks to everyone who participated in the 2011 campaign, and to the United Way for their recognition.

For more information on the United Way, visit www.uwlm.ca