Making a difference

Personal growth on the campaign trail

Being a Campaign Associate (CA) is a great hands-on way to learn about United Way and everything they do for our communities and people in need. My experience as a CA was very different than my typical day as a local bus operator.

I really had to organize myself differently than I would have for my usual work day. A typical day as a CA involved everything from making thank you calls to donors, responding to emails, and having meetings with organizations, to dropping off supplies and picking up donations or dressing up as Seymour – United Way BC’s mascot.

I love talking to people, networking, and putting myself out there – so the job felt like a no-brainer for me. Being a Campaign Associate is a great way to provide hands-on support for United Way, but it’s also an excellent opportunity for professional development. When I took on the role, I received training for a variety of activities, including public speaking skills and tools for writing speeches.

One of my biggest takeaways from this experience has been growth within myself. Learning a lot about United Way BC and the work they do and how they impact communities has been great. Being able to educate and inspire others about why donating to United Way is important has been a wonderful way to contribute to my community. It has been very rewarding.

Having this opportunity has shown me that regardless of the size or type of workplace (my accounts ranged from Seaspan and PCL to smaller IT firms), all companies can play a big part in the welfare of our local communities. It’s good to know that donations collected locally, stay within our community to help those in need right here.

I thank my sponsors, TransLink and Unifor Local 111, for supporting my time with United Way. This experience wouldn’t have been possible if they didn’t have such a generous culture of giving.

Thank you,

Sybil Joseph, United Way Campaign Associate,
generously sponsored by TransLink and Unifor Local 111