Like building blocks providing a firm foundation and steady, upward progression, each of the seven decades leading to United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County’s 70th anniversary has been a period of learning, change and advancement.
The organization has come a long way since Adrian Vido’s initiation with United Way in 1995 when he was plant manager at the Chrysler minivan plant.
“What a transformation!” he says.
Lorraine Goddard
United Way has always striven to respond to the community’s needs in practical, caring ways. Four million local people have been helped throughout its 70 years. “United Way was the first at the table to support pillars in our community, like The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County, Handi-Transit and Welcome Centre for Women,” says Lorraine Goddard, United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County CEO.
Empowering Windsor-Essex, United Way evolved from the Community Fund established in 1947 by Ford Motor Company, Chrysler Canada, General Motors, Hiram Walker and Sons (the Big 4) and their associated unions. In 1973, the formal creation of the local United Way brought together numerous social agencies, providing a framework for collaborating and combining resources, energies and goals.
Gary Parent first got involved as a union representative at Chrysler’s Tecumseh Road truck plant, canvassing workers for funds during the 1967 Red Feather campaign. The late labour leader Charlie Brooks maintained that autoworkers’ responsibilities went beyond the plant gate and extended into the community.
“I think Charlie’s point was that good wages and benefits have to be shared with others less fortunate in community,” Parent says.
With union encouragement, the Big 4 led the annual United Way fundraising campaign on a rotating basis for more than 30 years, while upholding their individual financial commitments.
Parent is proud that for more than two decades, Windsor-Essex was the highest per capita financial supporter of United Way throughout Canada. Donations made locally stay in Windsor-Essex County.
“At one point, we reached $10 million annually,” he says.
Chrysler and Ford union members continue to contribute to United Way via payroll deductions, as they’ve done for decades. More than 500 companies and their employees provide support. With the recent economic downturn, some workers who regularly donated have received services offered through the organization.
“You never know when you will need United Way,” says Parent.
“United Way is all about people,” says Goddard. “Those who help United Way do its work, staff and volunteers, and those who receive help from United Way.”
She points out that in the past, United Way has worked to fill in the gaps to meet needs in the community. Today, it maintains those efforts while also focusing on poverty reduction – a goal that Parent says is shared by the labour movement – investing more resources to help shift people out of poverty.
United Way is examining its direction for the next 10 years, determining how the organization remains relevant, resilient and adaptable to the changing conditions in people’s lives.
Adrian Vido (left) and Gary Parent are co-chairs of 70 years ReUnited.
The 70th milestone is an opportunity to thank and reconnect with the community. Goddard says, “We look to be here for the next 70 years.”
Everyone is invited to the 70 Years ReUnited anniversary celebration, co-chaired by Parent and Vido on Nov. 10. Guests can stroll through displays divided into the seven decades, each revealing photos and stories of United Way programs and people, the local community and memorabilia of that decade. The tour will conclude with a visual presentation of what United Way is doing now and its plans for the future.
The event will recognize supportive individuals and organizations, including FCA, Ford, Caesars Windsor, UNIFOR, BASF, Green Shield Canada, Libro and financial institutions such as RBC, TD, CIBC and Scotiabank, and Tepperman’s Furniture. “It will be a reunion for everybody,” says Vido.
He is touched by the personal stories. “We have a 102-year-old gentleman in a local retirement home who proudly told us when United Way started in 1947, he was working at Ford Motor Company and began donating then. He has never stopped giving.”
Leading up to the Nov. 10 anniversary event, people can email their own stories, photos, memories and selfie videos to www.70years@weareunited.com or upload them on the United Way’s Facebook 70 years reUnited event page.
The 70 Years ReUnited reunion and interactive experience is at 4 to 10 p.m. at the Giovanni Caboto Club, 2175 Parent Ave., Windsor. The ticket price is $35; retirees and students pay $25. Gourmet appetizers are included.
Guests can register for the event online at www.weareunited.com/70years. Or they can make reservations by calling 519-258-0000, ext. 1178 or emailing 70Years@weareunited.com.
This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County.
