GIVING THROUGH WORK
M anitoba Hydro supplies energy to hundreds of thousands of customers across the province, but did you know it also helps power many of the province’s charitable organizations and causes? Last year, Manitoba Hydro and its employees donated more than $1 million to a host of charities through the provincial Crown corporation’s Commu- nity Giving Program. Kathleen Hodgson, a community investment and public safety specialist with Manitoba Hydro, says the primary focus of the program is to support the community that the Crown corporation is a part of. “Whether we live in Thompson or Winnipeg or
Manitoba Hydro’s Community Giving Program was founded in 2016. Employees can choose from a variety of options to support causes they care about, including: ● Via direct donations through myCharity payroll deductions ● Through volunteerism as part of the Volunteer Grant Program ● As Employee Champions by organizing fundraising initiatives and activities The myCharity payroll deduction program allows employees to donate an amount of their choosing for each pay period to one of 30-plus eligible local, provincial and regional Manitoba charities of their choosing. The list of eligible charities was determined by a survey of Manitoba Hydro employees. Manitoba Hydro matches all employee contribu- tions dollar-for-dollar. Employees can then direct the matching corporate funds be provided to one of four regional community foundations or one of two United Way organizations located in Brandon, Dauphin, Lac du Bonnet, Selkirk, Thompson or Winnipeg. Last year, the payroll deduction program contributed more than $1.2 million to charities across the province. Hodgson says the reason matching corporate funds are directed to a foundation is that it allows the gift to be “spread around” and helps employees to get the most bang for their charitable buck. For example, an employee living in Winnipeg may want to contrib- ute to the Heart and Stroke Foundation themselves and have the corporate match directed to Thompson Community Foundation because that’s the communi - ty where they grew up. The Volunteer Grants program aims to boost em- ployee participation on volunteer boards and committees.
Portage la Prairie or further afield, we are all part of one community. We recognize that things can happen to everybody — and when we can
support them, it feels good,”
Kathleen Hodgson, community investment and public safety specialist
Hodgson says of the inspiration for the program.
“It’s a bit of a cliché, but giving feels good, and giving back matters. The Community Giving Pro - gram is employee-driven and employee-led. That’s something that speaks to the spirit and the culture of Manitoba Hydro and how our employees are the backbone of the organization. Giving is something that we believe in as an organization.”
Manitoba 5
Powered by FlippingBook