Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way

On Tuesday May 11th, United Way celebrated the organizations and individuals who truly make a difference in our community.  Here are the photos taken at the event which was held at TRU’s Terrace Room and was sponsored by BDO Canada.  Thanks to Kent Wong for the amazing photos.

Gerard Hayes thanks Rod Killough for his tenure on United Way Board of Directors

 For more details on the Spirit Awards the great work of the organizatinos
and individuals who won awards click here.

On May 11th Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way hosted the third annual Spirit Awards Luncheon titled “Make a Difference”.  This celebration is to honor the individuals and organizations whose outstanding generosity and support make the dreams of building stronger communities and improving lives a reality. This year’s event was sponsored by BDO Canada.

Seven Spirit Awards were handed out to the following individuals and organizations:

Community Spirit Large Organization
CEP Local 10-B (Domtar) won this award for an organization with more than 200 employees that engages their staff and the broader community, to learn about and contribute to their community through United Way involvement.  CEP 10-B and Domtar participated in three days of caring in 2009 and always encourage employees to become involved in their community.  Congratulations CEP 10-B and Domtar! 

Community Spirit Small Organization
Service Canada won this award for an organization with less than 200 employees that engages their staff and the broader community, to learn about and contribute to their community through United Way involvement. Service Canada has actively been encouraging community involvement through Days of Caring and their United Way Workplace Campaign.

Youth Inspired Spirit Award
Future shop won this award for the second year in a row by demonstrating the capacity that youth have to care about their community.  When they exceeded their goals for their United Way Workplace Campaign, 13 members of the Future Shop team shaved their heads bald!  Congratulations Future Shop for engaging youth and for constantly coming up with creative ways to support your community.

Local Business Community Spirit Award (Winner determined by Changing the Face of Poverty)
Northern Trailer won this award for activley working with other organizations in the community to make significant contributions to alleviate poverty. Norther Trailer recently donated more than 200 beds to those in the community who need them.  The beds will be dispersed by United Way, Rotary, Urban Systems, and Four Corners Storage to various Community Partners.  Thanks for your generosity Northern Trailer!

Workplace Team Spirit Award
United Steelworkers Local 7619 received this award for their participation in the United Way campaign and for making significant contributions to the community through other initiatives and events.  The United Steelworkers participate in many community initiatives including Community Meals, and Women of Steel hampers.  Thanks for all that you do United Steelworkers Local 7916!

Community Partner Spirit Award
Kamloops United Church received this award for their PIT Stop Program (People in Transition).  The PIT Stop Program feeds a hot meal to up to 150 marginalized individuals and families every Sunday.  This program also provides an avenue for many organizations to learn about the needs of their community by cooking and/or providing the ingredients for the meal.

Outstanding Volunteer Award
Mary Strandt was the winner of this award for her leadership role and significant contributions serving the community.  Mary has championed the United Way Workplace Campaign at BCLC for many years.  She also volunteered for the 2010 Olympics and Special Olympics as well as the upcoming 2011 Western Summer Games.  Mary also volunteers for the Kamloops Curling Club, Relay for Life, the Foodbank, Girl Guides, Cubs and many more.   Outstanding doesn’t even begin to cover the scope of Mary’s volunteer work and her generosity.  Congratulations Mary!

Stay tuned for photos!

On Tuesday May 11th, United Way will be holding a Spirit Awards Luncheon at TRU.  This annual event celebrates the organizations and individuals whose outstanding generosity and support make the dreams of building stronger communities and improving lives a reality.

The following seven awards will be given out to recipients who show excellence in community spirit:
Community Partner
Outstanding Volunteer
Community Spirit Large Organization
Community Spirit Small Organization
Youth Inspired
Workplace Team
Local Business Community Spirit

Stay tuned to find out who won these awards and to see photos from the event!

Our Mission for the Campaign

Domtar Kicked off their 2009 United Way Campaign Thursday October 22nd. They have an ambitious goal of obtaining $100,000 employee and company combined. This will make them the #2 campaign in our region. To do this they will have to overtake CP Rail whose campaign last year was $94,000. Will they make it? Time will tell and if I understand correctly so will head shaving. We have the toques ready. Bring on the clippers. Thanks to the Lions Club Paddlewheelers for the barbecue

Barbecue Lions Paddlewheelers

Real Heroes Work Here

Real Heores Work Here

Domtar VP and Mill Manager Eric Ashby and Murray Matheson CEP Local 10B President are joining hands to jointly chair Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way Campaign at Domtar Kamloops Mill. United Way is very excited as their goal this year is $100,000.  $66,666.67 from the employees and $33,333.33 from Domtar.

Domtar Inc. matches their emplyee contributions at $.50. United Way appreciates the support of both Domtar and CEP

Over the weekend of May 30^th and 31^st, a big team of volunteers from Urban Systems joined the staff and volunteers of People In Motion at Cedar Creek Camp to take part in a 2-day overhaul of the camp grounds. Cedar Creek Camp is a 10 acre lease inside White Lake Park that is developed and maintained by People in Motion volunteers for the use of individuals living with a disability, and its function is to provide community groups and individuals with a rustic camping experience. The goal of this Day of Caring project was to increase the accessibility of the site by expanding the dock and reworking the trail system. The fantastic work crew planned and built a whole new portion of dock and railing that will allow easier wheel chair access and mooring for the organization’s boat. The volunteers also cleared walkways to improve access, and restructured the trail system to increase safety and accessibility. The volunteers from Urban Systems were also treated to a full 2-day camping excursion on the site, and got to have fun and work hard alongside the staff and volunteers from People in Motion. The weekend was an extraordinary example of volunteerism and community engagement as so many hands made the work lighter and the event even more fun. Congratulations to the crew for planning and implementing such a successful Day of Caring.

Tidying the trail network

Working together to bring portions of the dock to the lakeshore

The proud work crew

Day of Caring is an annual community initiative designed to foster a sense of caring through volunteerism. It is not a fund-raising event, but an opportunity for businesses and their employees to undertake worthwhile projects for non-profit organizations. To get involved, please contact your local United Way.

Benjamin Grant of Kay Bingham Elementary was the recipient of a United Way Youth Leadership Award in May 2009.   Read below for Benjamin’s story:

We would like to nominate Benjamin Grant because of his eagerness to volunteer in the community and for taking the initiative to raise money for an important cause. He has developed many leadership skills in our school’s Leadership Program and he has been given many opportunities by his mom to do things for others.

Last year, Benjamin took it upon himself to raise money for cancer. The disease has affected family members, so he felt strongly about the cause. Benjamin reached his goal and had his head shaved at Aberdeen Mall.

Benjamin’s mom has given him lots of opportunities to volunteer in the community. Currently, she is actively involved in Special Olympics and Boogie the Bridge. Due to her participation, Benjamin happily volunteers in these activities with her.

Helping to raise money for cancer made many people aware of the disease, especially those at his school. He did presentations to classmates and made other youth aware of the disease. A woman from the Cancer Society came to talk with some of the students, which also brought the cause to the forefront.

Benjamin is always willing to offer his time to help others. At the school, if you ask him to do something, he is able to complete the task well and independently. I am sure these qualities carry through when he is helping with odd jobs for the Special Olympics and Boogie the Bridge.

Benjamin receiving his award

Another successful Day of Caring took place on Tuesday, May 26^th, when volunteers from NRI Distribution again stepped up to the plate to paint the warehouse at the Kamloops Food Bank Food Action Centre. A team of 10 volunteers from NRI came together with Kari Benton and the staff from the Food Bank to paint the warehouse, bathroom, shelving units and hallway.  The 6 hour project was broken up for a delicious lunch and tour of the site. As always, the team of volunteers did a fantastic job of painting to give the warehouse a bright new look.

Day of Caring is an annual community initiative designed to foster a sense of caring through volunteerism. It is not a fund-raising event, but an opportunity for businesses and their employees to undertake worthwhile projects for non-profit organizations. To get involved, please contact your local United Way.

Happy volunteers!

Food Bank employees help out too

Stretch and reach!

Kari Benton of the Food Bank (far left) and all the great NRI volunteers

United Way’s Youth Advisory Council created Youth Initiative Grants to support projects developed by youth, for youth. Groups of youth or individuals can apply  for funds to lead a project in their community.

On May 26th, Kay Bingham Elementary students from Ms. Chan’s class  received a Youth Initiative Grant for $635 to beautify a courtyard in their school. United Way is proud to partner with School District #73 for the second year through this initiative.

Courtyard Beautification Project.

Students from K-7 will clean up and prepare the courtyard at their school, Kay Bingham Elementary, and plant and maintain a flower and vegetable garden. The bulbs, flowers, and vegetables from the garden will be sold yearly in the community. The project will promote healthy eating, sustainability, community involvement, and foster respect for the environment and the property of others.

Visit www.unitedwaytnc.ca/youthengagement for more information.