September to December is United Way season for Tina Vincent.
For two months of every year, Vincent takes on the full-time job as the co-chair of the 42nd annual joint Vale-USW United Way Centraide North East Ontario fundraising campaign.
Representing Steelworkers Local 6500, Vincent is released from her regular duties by Vale to take on this role, leading a team of plant representatives on the campaign. She’s been doing this every year since 2011, and she loves it.
“It's amazing work,” said Vincent, speaking at the Feb. 6 lunch at the Steelworkers Hall where awards were given to individuals and workplaces for their participation in the campaign. “I love doing it, and I'm hoping to keep on doing it, if they allow me.”
Joining her in the role of campaign co-chair is Patricia Caine, executive assistant to the COO at Vale, who helps out with the onerous administrative work.
Together they make a formidable team, one that managed to bring in a total of $750,558 for the United Way in 2024, the highest single donation by a workplace in this part of the province. This includes a matching $350,000 donation from Vale Base Metals.
Vincent said this beats last year’s total of $737,000, and participation by employees is up by four per cent as well, now representing 21 per cent of the workforce.
She’s very excited by this outcome, especially given how inflation has put a pinch on everyone.
“So seeing the total, it really warms my heart,” Vincent said.
While the donation is to United Way Centraide North East Ontario, she clarifies that the money raised through the Vale-USW campaign stays in the Sudbury area.
What was done to raise this money? Events included presentations, barbecue fundraisers, a raffle for preferred parking spots and tours of agencies who benefit from United Way funds.
Vale employees were also able to see firsthand the impact of United Way programming through brain architecture activities — a tabletop experience that builds understanding of how life experiences impact early brain development.
Since 1982, Vale and the USW’s joint fundraising effort has been the largest contributor to the United Way Centraide North East Ontario, with more than $21 million raised in 42 years, said press materials.
Contributions help the United Way deliver programming and services that build strong communities, support the vulnerable and help kids thrive.
This year’s campaign total is an “incredible achievement,” said Katherine Cockburn, corporate and community relationship manager with United Way Centraide North East Ontario.
“On behalf of our team at United Way, we say thank you,” she said, adding that the money will be put to the “best use possible,” helping kids “be all that they can be” and “lifting people in our community out of poverty.”
Ray Hammond, who’s the newly-elected president of Steelworkers Local 6500, remarked that he’s been involved in the United Way campaign for half of its 42 years in some way or another.
“The work that United Way allows to happen in our community is unbelievable,” he said. “The generosity and the non-unionized members of Vale allow that to happen …
“The company allows us to have members take the time to do the canvassing that brings that money into the community,” Hammond added, thanking Tina Vincent and Patricia Caine for their work on the campaign.
Vale corporate affairs specialist Sarah Yasinchuk added her “bravo to everybody in this room” on behalf of the company.
“That number is astounding, and that makes a serious impact in the community that we're really lucky to work in and live in,” she said. “I just want to give my heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the board and the business to everybody in this room and the people that aren't here today that contributed to that number, and our employees. Thank you so very much.”
Heidi Ulrichsen is Sudbury.com’s assistant editor.