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Milestones with Meaning
UPS Canada isn’t just marking 50 years of service; they’re celebrating by fostering stronger communities through initiatives that empower their employees and drive lasting impact. This milestone reflects their dedication to delivering what matters in the communities they serve.
Partnering with Volunteer Canada, UPS Canada has aligned their anniversary celebrations with employee volunteering initiatives that tackle pressing issues like food security, disaster relief, and human trafficking awareness. These efforts highlight their mission to strengthen local communities with purposeful action.
“This partnership demonstrates how aligning corporate celebrations with purpose-driven action amplifies impact and inspires employees,” says David Vandenberg, Manager of Corporate Citizenship at Volunteer Canada.
2025 Highlights: Grounding Purpose in Action
Toronto Hub – February 6 Partnering with GlobalMedic, UPS Canada employees prepared and packed individual dry food kits for disaster prevention. These kits were distributed to food security programs across the GTA, combining immediate relief efforts with long-term community support.
Caledon Hub – February 28 As part of their 50th-anniversary kickoff, UPS Canada marked Human Trafficking Awareness Day with a volunteer activation at their Caledon hub. Employees built 750 comfort kits for Yellow Brick House, a local charity supporting women fleeing domestic violence, abuse, and trafficking. These kits provided critical resources to help survivors in their journey toward safety.
This event featured key UPS leadership, including The UPS Foundation President Nikki Clifton (also a board member of Points of Light), UPS Canada’s President, and their Director of Community Relations.
Leveraging Milestones to Inspire Local Engagement
Corporate milestones present a valuable opportunity to strengthen community connections while engaging employees in meaningful ways. By leveraging these moments to align organizational values with meaningful action, companies can create a ripple effect:
- For employees: They feel pride in their employer’s values and their role in creating tangible impact.
- For communities: They receive support that aligns with their most critical needs.
- For the organization: It reinforces their reputation as a purpose-driven leader committed to sustainability, safety, and community well-being.
Volunteer Canada specializes in co-creating purpose-driven initiatives, enabling organizations like UPS Canada to turn milestone celebrations into meaningful platforms for employee engagement and localized community impact. By embedding purpose into these key moments, companies inspire their teams and leave a lasting legacy of impact. “Anniversaries aren’t just about looking back—they’re about using the occasion to pave the way for the future,” says David.
Looking Ahead: Scaling Impact for 2025
This year, UPS Canada and Volunteer Canada have events lined up across the country to reach hubs and employees from coast to coast with meaningful volunteering opportunities to celebrate the 50th anniversary. These initiatives will reflect local needs, as Volunteer Canada works closely with UPS Canada’s Internal Champions—employees who know their communities best—to co-create projects that build on existing charitable partnerships or foster new ones based on local feedback and voices. This approach ensures that each activation is rooted in the specific needs of its market, creating the most impactful programs possible.
“This collaboration illustrates what’s possible when purpose meets scale,” adds David. “Volunteer Canada is proud to support UPS Canada as they extend their impact from coast to coast.”
Be Part of the Change
UPS Canada demonstrates how corporate volunteerism can drive meaningful change by using milestones like their 50th anniversary to inspire employee engagement and amplify local impact. “” said Whilna Stewart-Franklin, Director of Community Relations at UPS Canada. “” By aligning organizational purpose with action, these moments of celebration create opportunities to strengthen employee engagement and foster deeper connections with communities, leaving a legacy of meaningful contributions that resonate far beyond the event itself.
Ready to explore how your organization can amplify its purpose through employee engagement? Partner with Volunteer Canada to co-create innovative, locally informed, and scalable programs for your teams.
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