Union Gas’ tradition of giving continued in a big way Thursday, as the company, its staff and retirees handed $634,580 to the 2014 United Way of Chatham-Kent campaign.
The dollar value, up $25,000 from the previous year, brought one campaign co-chair to tears.
“That’s a heck of a lot of money,” Margery Muharrem said. “It’s incredible that every year they do so much.”
Margery and husband Dean are this year’s co-chairs. She said the funds raised by Union Gas are especially appreciated considering “there are other deserving charities in Chatham-Kent.”
She and Dean credit Union Gas President Steve Baker by leading from the top down.
“They (Union Gas) understand what the United Way does for the community.”
Baker shrugged off the praise and pointed to the Union Gas employees who make up the in-house United Way campaign team.
“The team has don an absolutely fantastic job. That is what really took us to the top,” he said and congratulated the staff for supporting the United Way. “There’s tons of pride inside this company. They always step up. They always give 110%.”
He said the number of fundraising events run at the company was incredible, seemingly taking place daily. And there are more to come, he added.
Overall, Union Gas has given in excess of $1 million this year, $1,019,921, Baker said, to the United Way from various Union Gas offices. That is $92,000 more than last year. He updated staff with a live town hall broadcast from headquarters prior to making the local Chatham-Kent announcement.
