Vale and the United Steelworkers announced on Jan. 16 that together with Vale's match to employee contributions, they raised $468,290 for United Way Centraide North East Ontario.
The fundraising campaign has been an annual initiative for 37 years, and has raised more than $18 million for the community. Vale matches 50 cents to every dollar that employees donate to the United Way Centraide North East. Employees can contribute via a payroll deduction program or in lump sum payments.
"United Steelworkers Local 6500 are proud to continue supporting the United Way's 37th annual fundraising campaign," said Nick Larochelle, USW Local 6500 president.
"This year's effors are once again inspirational to all parties involved. As you can see, it's very lucrative, people really are benefitting from this campaign. Looking around the room I had a chance to talk with a couple of our canvassers, people who have been here for a long time. Thank you all for all the work you did this year."
This was the 13th year the United Way Centraide North East Ontario executive director Michael Cullen has been involved with this fundraising campaign, which is one of the biggest for the organization.
"This is the biggest along with Glencore and always has been," said Cullen. "It's been going on since 1982, it started with the original USW and Inco back in the day and has been going successfully for 37 years, it's very important, it's part of our fabric."
Cullen spoke to the Vale employees during a lunch on Wednesday and highlighted the importance of their efforts and the positive impact that it has on the community as a whole.
"Be proud of this because you are shaping the community," said Cullen. "You may or may not realize it but when something affects you personally, or your friends, or peers, or a son or a daughter, it becomes real and that's what this is about."
The charge in last year's fundraising campaign was led by Paul Paradis and Tina Vincent, who were the USW/Vale campaign co-chairs. Nick Larochelle highlighted the work that the two put in over the past year in running another successful campaign.
"The 6500 members along with the company representatives are dedicated to helping the community, the leadership of the team with Tina and Paul are really the driving force behind the success," said Larochelle.
"I think the information sharing is important; what the money actually goes towards and how it stays in the community and helps the community, $18.5 million over the last 37 years is very impressive."
