Novelis Employees Campaign for United Way on a Roll

11/10/15

Oswego, NY – With the United Way of Greater Oswego County?s Annual Campaign well under way businesses throughout the county are currently conducting their own in-house employee campaigns in support of United Way.? One of United Way?s most generous supporters, Novelis, whose in-house campaign is coordinated by Brian Gigon, is looking to build upon the success of last year?s campaign and surpass its goal for this year.? To achieve that goal Gigon and his campaign team are using creative ideas to engage their co-workers and inspire them to support United Way.

The Novelis in-house campaign team consists of 13 volunteer members, a fact that Gigon says makes for a productive and involved group of individuals that are driven to reach a common goal.? ?We are all in it for the betterment of our community which makes it very easy to collaborate and come up with new ideas to make our campaign successful.? We?re fortunate that the ideas and incentives that we have put forward this year have been well received by our co-workers,? said Gigon.

Some of the most popular incentives have been a drawing for tickets to key Syracuse University basketball games against North Carolina and Pittsburgh; a drawing for a prime parking pass that allows an employee the opportunity to park inside of the plant during the winter rather than enduring a long cold walk; plus a variety of inter-departmental events ranging from drawings to bake sales.

Gigon said that this year they will also be conducting a boot drive similar to what the local fire departments do.? Novelis plant management volunteers will be at each entrance to the plant during both shift changes encouraging employees to help ?fill the boot? for United Way.

Additionally, Novelis hosted guest speakers representing United Way partner agencies.? Guests such as Helen Hoefer and Tim Archer of Catholic Charities addressed Novelis employees and spoke of the positive impact that donations to United Way has on the programs and services offered through Catholic Charities and on the lives of the community members that access them.

?We at Novelis realize that we are fortunate to enjoy good health and have good jobs.? We are also aware that there are many people in our community that are not as fortunate.? Some of these people may be family or friends ours or our co-workers.? I feel that supporting United Way is our way of saying thank you to those organizations that help people when they need it the most.? We at Novelis are proud to do our part in helping United Way have a positive impact in the areas of ending hunger, helping children and youth succeed, and increasing the health and well-being of our communities,? said Gigon.

Cutline for photo: Representatives of Novelis in Oswego meet with representatives from United Way of Greater Oswego County to discuss their workplace campaign in support of the United Way?s Annual Campaign.?? United Way?s Annual Campaign serves as a major fundraiser to help support the many human services programs currently offered through the United Way?s member agencies.? The programs serve thousands of families and individuals throughout Oswego County and have a positive impact in the areas of ending hunger, helping children and youth succeed, and increasing the health and well-being of our communities.?? Clockwise from lower left are Novelis Human Resources Director Malcolm Gabriel; Novelis employee Erin Lennox, United Way Resource Development Director Ali McGrath (standing in stairway); Novelis Plant Manager Chris Smith; Coordinator of Novelis? United Way Employee Campaign Brian Gigon; United Way Executive Director Patrick Dewine; and Novelis employees Kathy Harrington, Eva Drake, Gabrielle Izard, Dave Domicolo, Laura Pohl, and Carol Whipple.? Standing upper left are Helen Hoefer and Tim Archer of Catholic Charities.? Absent from photo are Novelis campaign team members Cindy Finnegan, Desiree Allen, Erin Nalle, Heidi Powers, John Glauser, Karen Cloonan, and Julie Becker.