Congratulations to the 2012 Spirit Award winners!

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Signy

More than 1100 amazing organizations and thousands of employees support a United Way workplace campaign each year. While each and every one is a vital part of our overall success, some stand out for innovation, creativity and commitment. United Way’s annual Spirit Awards celebrate and recognize these individuals and organizations!

2012 Best in Show

Best in Show is all about the spirit of participation and the amazing and creative ways our campaign committees inspire it. Nominees from Transport Canada – Prairie & Northern Region and Tundra Oil and Gas Partnership were spirited competitors, but the final prize went to Manitoba Public Insurance for their Be a Champion! campaign! Congratulations!

2012 Workplace Canvasser Awards

The University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba – Extended Education captured these awards by inspiring involvement in their workplaces.

University of Winnipeg - United Way Winnipeg Spirit Awards - Workplace Canvasser Awards winners

University of Winnipeg – Workplace Canvasser Awards winners

University of Manitoba - United Way Winnipeg Spirit Awards - Workplace Canvasser Awards winners

University of Manitoba Extended Education – Workplace Canvasser Award winners

2012 Employee Campaign Chair Awards

These are the creative, organized, determined people who coordinate the entire workplace campaign effort. The winners have been selected for going above and beyond the call of duty in the areas of best practice, creativity, enthusiasm and energy. Congratulations to Christey Allen of the Canadian International Grains Institute and Stacy Loree and Jeff Eckstein of MNP (Read more about the CIGI campaign and MNP campaign!)

ECC Award Winner Christey Allen of CIGI

ECC Award Winners Stacy Loree and Jeff Eckstein of MNP

2012 Campaign Chair’s Awards

And last but not least, the highest level of recognition United Way gives – the Campaign Chair’s Award. Congratulations to Cargill Limited, Grain Insurance & Guarantee Company, James Richardson & Sons and Affiliated Companies, the Johnston Group, National Leasing and the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce!

Campaign Chair Award Winners Cargill Limited

Campaign Chair Award Winners Grain Insurance & Guarantee

Campaign Chair’s Award Winners James Richardson & Sons and Affiliated Companies

Campaign Chair’s Award Winners the Johnston Group

Campaign Chair’s Award Winners National Leasing

Campaign Chair’s Award Winners the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce

Thank you to all of you for your incredible support this year – you’ve helped create opportunities for a better life for everyone!

Click here for more information on the Spirit Awards

Spirit Awards – 2011

More than 1100 amazing organizations and thousands of employees support a United Way workplace campaign each year. While each and every one is a vital part of our overall success, some stand out for innovation, creativity and commitment. United Way’s annual Spirit Awards are our chance to celebrate and recognize these individuals and organizations!

2011 Best in Show

RBC’s team spirit netted them the Best in Show award – one Day of Caring saw more than 50 RBC employees, along with their families and friends, trek out to Camp Y to lend a hand. In just one day, the RBC team was able to get a month’s worth of work done for the camp!

RBC had two tough competitors for the top prize – finalists Manitoba Public Insurance employees danced up a storm to raise energy and dollars for the campaign, and Great West Life employees ran a raffle for the Jets season opener that raised over $25,000 for United Way!

Congratulations also to the following 2011 Spirit Award winners:

Agency partner Ma Mawi-Wi-Chi-Itata Centre, who were celebrated with a Canvasser Award in the small workplace category and Boeing Canada, for landing an award in the large workplace category. Both organizations had campaign canvassing teams who went above and beyond to connect with co-workers and raise money for United Way programs and services that create opportunities for all Winnipeggers to feel welcomed, valued, respected and accepted.

Heather Banera of the Assiniboine Dental Group and Jan Murowski of Winnipeg Regional Health Authority both earned an Employee Campaign Chair Award for their dedication to leading successful United Way campaigns in their workplaces.

Chris Couture, Managing Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and a member of United Way’s 2011 Campaign Cabinet, alongside Employee Campaign Co-chairs Jeff Eckstein and Mary Ann Porter. Edward Kennedy presented the trio with their award during our 2011 Celebration.

This year’s winners of the Campaign Chair’s Award – their very first – was PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with a stunning 96% employee participation in 2011. PricewaterhouseCoopers took a quantum leap toward a company-wide commitment to our community and United Way.

Congratulations to all our 2011 winners!

Is your campaign a star this year? Click here to find out how to nominate your workplace for a 2012 Spirit award!

These Spirit Award winners put the “fun” in fundraising!

Posted on January 2, 2011 by Ben

All over Winnipeg in 2010, lunchrooms were more lively, boardrooms more boisterous and job sites more jovial for hundreds of organizations and thousands of employees who participated in a United Way workplace campaign.

Far from frivolous though, all the fun will add up to serious change in our community.

Some of the most creative and best-led campaigns were acknowledged with Spirit Awards during United Way’s 2010 Celebration on January 20, 2011 at Canad Inns Polo Park. There, nominees walked the red carpet among more than 650 volunteers, supporters, agency partners and staff.

The North West Company received United Way’s Best in Show award for a Day of Caring event that saw employees work alongside staff and volunteers from Boys and Girls Club and residents of Gilbert Park to build a community garden in the Manitoba housing development.

One of three Best in Show finalists, the North West Company had stiff competition from United Way agency partners Art City and Graffiti Art Gallery, who were nominated for a talent show that featured a special appearance from Kids in the Hall alumni Kevin McDonald, and MTS Allstream who recreated their Exec-Factor event with a live karaoke performance of the Beatles’ “Help.”

Congratulations also to the following 2010 Spirit Award winners:

People First HR Services, who picked up a Canvasser Award in the small workplace category and MTS Allstream for netting a second award in the large workplace category. Both organizations had campaign canvassing teams who went above and beyond to connect with co-workers and raise money for United Way programs and services that create opportunities for all Winnipeggers to feel welcomed, valued, respected and accepted.

People First HR Services Ltd. Jenna Buckley, Michelle Baker, Pamela Habing (presented by Gregg Hanson, 2010 Campaign Chair)

MTS Allstream. Darron Field accepting the award from Gregg Hanson

Sheila Alexander of Dakota Collegiate and Tom Hosfield of Canadian National Railway Company, who both earned an Employee Campaign Chair Award for their dedication to leading successful United Way campaigns in their workplaces.

Shelia Alexander, Dakota Collegiate.

Tom Hosfield: CN Rail.

Wellington West Capital, Johnston Group and Cargill Limited, who each picked up a Campaign Chair’s Award (United Way’s highest level of recognition) for consistently embodying the spirit of United Way through involvement, contributions and leadership.

Wellington West Capital Inc. Dennis Stewner accepting the award from Gregg Hanson

Johnston Group. Sharon Anderson, Kailea Shmon, Sam Penner, Ashlee Mann and Briget Waples accept the award from Gregg Hanson.

Cargill Ltd. Gary Speers, Daniel Schwersensky, and Karen Chow accept the award from Gregg Hanson.

2009 Spirit Award winners shine bright

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Ron

Throughout 2009, generous Winnipeggers everywhere worked hard to ensure United Way has the resources to continue changing lives. Of those, several stand out for extraordinary leadership and commitment to our community through a United Way workplace campaign.

Comm news - Spirit shines United Way recently recognized these individuals and organizations during our 2009 Celebration and Spirit Awards gala at Canad Inns Polo Park.

Congratulations 2009 United Way Spirit Award winners:

Canvasser/Team Canvasser Award
Jamie Gramiak, New Flyer Industries
Thank you to individuals and teams who act as United Way ambassadors and who inspire your friends and co-workers to support lasting change and better lives through United Way.

Employee Campaign Chair Award
Laurie Reimer, Online Business Systems
Jo-Ann Trudeau and Dave Chimuk, Manitoba Public Insurance
Thank you for your dedication to leading a successful United Way campaign in your workplace. Your energy and enthusiasm play a vital role in United Way’s ability to maintain a network of essential resources.

Campaign Chair’s Award
Johnston Group
Manitoba Blue Cross
PCL Constructors
Thank you to businesses, organizations and employee groups who consistently embody the spirit of United Way through your involvement, contributions and leadership. You have achieved United Way’s highest level of recognition.

Best in Show
Of hundreds of workplace campaigns held throughout the city in 2009, Winnipeggers voted General Byng School’s Tattoo Tamblyn event the best example of creativity, enthusiasm and spirit; and one of the wildest, wackiest moments of our 2009 Campaign.

In an Idol-esque competition, General Byng was one of three finalists vying for the most electronic votes from close to 600 United Way volunteers, supporters and staff in attendance at United Way’s Celebration and Spirit Awards gala.

Accepting the award on behalf of General Byng were principal Darren Juby and educational assistant Matt Tamblyn - who helped the school earn the award by covering his entire body with hundreds of United Way temporary tattoos purchased by staff and students for donations of $1 each. The event raised close to $600.

Congratulations also to Best in Show finalists Manitoba Public Insurance and BDO Canada LLP for entertaining and inspiring us all with humour, enthusiasm and undeniable spirit!

Watch United Way’s website for 2010 Spirit Award info and nomination forms.

General Byng voted Best in Show

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Ron

Congratulations General Byng School for taking top honours in United Way of Winnipeg’s Best in Show competition!

Comm news - Gen Byng Best in Show Out of hundreds of United Way fundraisers and workplace campaigns held throughout the city in 2009, Winnipeggers voted General Byng’s Tattoo Tamblyn event the best example of creativity, enthusiasm and spirit.

The school earned the award by covering educational assistant Matt Tamblyn, 27, from head to toe in United Way temporary tattoos purchased by staff and students (approximately 350 from K to 9) for donations of $1 each.

Matt jokes that he agreed to the stunt early in the morning before he’d had his coffee. “Once my coffee got into my system, I was like ‘wait a minute – I’m going to have to be shirtless in front of the whole school?’”

But he quickly went from doubt to determination – even shaving his body so the tattoos would stick. In the end, General Byng raised over $600, doubling their original goal.

Equally important as the money however, was the opportunity to plant the seeds of community involvement early, Matt said. In fact, this is the first time students have participated alongside staff in the school’s annual United Way campaign.

“We thought, ‘why not start teaching the students now how to give and be part of the community and about giving back?’” Matt said.

General Byng’s nomination and win is the first ever for a school but Matt is certain it won’t be the last. Byng’s principal Darren Juby has already challenged other schools in the Pembina Trails division to a ‘Best in Show-off’ in 2010.

And while he’s hesitant to elaborate now that General Byng is defending champion, Matt is planning even bigger and better things for the school’s next campaign, vowing to stick to any promise: “If they really want it, I’m willing to do it.”

Nominate your organization or co-worker for a 2010 United Way Spirit Award.