The United Way is holding their annual fundraising campaign, and Wawanesa Insurance continues to be a major supporter of the organization that provides financial support to a variety of programs and organizations across the globe.  United Way Worldwide is a privately-funded nonprofit with a network that spans more than 40 countries and territories and 6 continents.

Senior Communication Specialist at Wawanesa Insurance, Brad Hartle, says in the past few years the Wawanesa, Manitoba-based company has been a major supporter of the United Way's annual fundraising campaign, through financial support as well as their executive holding positions as volunteer campaign Chairs in Winnipeg and in Brandon.

Raising funds and giving annually through their own incentives at Wawanesa Insurance now during the Christmas season is something they've been doing for a number of years.  "Within our company anyone who is able to participate with Wawanesa Insurance, we're matching dollar for dollar, with no limit.  So, we try to make it really easy to give, with the option of your donation coming right off your paycheque.  We open it up to Board members, to retirees, to some of the folks who do contract work for us, and to all our employees."

This year, they set a goal of $600,000 but exceeded their goal by an extra $175,000. The company raised $775,000 from their employees from across North America with their ‘dollar-for-dollar’ match to gift just over $1.5 million to the United Way.

Hartle shares how in previous years they raised funds through story-telling at the cafeteria during a special lunch, where employees shared stories of someone who has used the United Way or had some connection to the United Way. "And that way we were able to hear those powerful stories of recognizing what United Way has done for our community."  This was just one incentive in the Wawanesa office at the grass roots of the company.

In recognition of how COVID has affected everyone this year, he stresses that nobody was pressured to give this year.  "But if people did want to give we tried to make it fun and very interactive for people to come together to give. We tried to switch it all to a digital platform," he explains. "So, we were able to bring some speakers in and share digitally, but we were also able to have some fun."

Employees shared their talents in a variety of ways, through home-based concerts, scavenger hunts, guest speakers, contests and more ... all digitally.   All money raised within a region remained in that region.  Westman donations were given to the Brandon and Area United Way.

"Throughout COVID there have been a lot of different services that the United Way is supporting across rural Manitoba as well," explains Hartle.  "One really important one is the 211 service, which is a service where anyone can call and they'll help you navigate through a range of services that are available to you and to your area. So, I think when we give to the United Way we are giving to their work and I think they are doing a great job of making sure that they're helping people across our communities."

Hartle shares his thanks to those who are dedicated to keeping everyone safe by being a front line worker during the past year through the pandemic.  "On behalf of Wawanesa Insurance I really want to thank the people and the organizations out there who are on the front lines to support our communities at this time for what they're going through," shares Hartle.  "For us as a mutual company, one with strong roots in southwestern Manitoba, we are very proud to support the communities that we are living in."

(Photos submitted by Wawanesa Insurance)