Who was that Masked Superhero?

Submitted by ENWIN Utilities

ENWIN Superhero Volunteer Mona Khalil attends the Build a Dream International Day of the Girl virtual event.

For many years, the Windsor non-profit community has relied upon, and benefitted from, the work of ENWIN’s employee-driven Community Support Committee, which has delivered a heavily events-based fundraising and volunteer program, with help from dozens of employee volunteers, known as the ENWIN Superheroes.

Together, they have supported hundreds of local events, and raised many thousands of dollars for local non-profit and charitable organizations.

ENWIN’s Manager of Corporate Communications, Barbara Peirce Marshall, who is responsible for the philanthropic program, says the company is proud of the caring and generous spirit exhibited by its employees.

“From health to safety, to education, our Superheroes have demonstrated over and over again, what they are made of,” she says. “We have never proposed an event or a fundraiser for which they didn’t step up. It is an honour to work with them.”

Peirce Marshall describes the 2020 Community Support Plan, formalized by ENWIN’s Community Support Committee in late 2019, as a substantial volunteer and events-driven initiative, promoting community education related to diversity and inclusion through public-facing events with organizations like the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County, Build a Dream, and the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers.

And then COVID struck

“By March, we were ready to roll it out,” she says. “And then COVID struck with a fury that decimated the world of events-based community support, and threatened the very existence of some of the non-profit organizations that rely on companies like ENWIN.”

It was a stressful and difficult moment, with all partners scrambling to ensure the health and safety needs of their employees, as they figured out how to continue to meet community obligations. Many non-profits were struggling to find alternative ways to fulfil their sponsorship promises, and still pay their employees. One by one, the events of the season were cancelled.

But that didn’t end the discussion – or the desire of ENWIN employees to help their community.

John-Paul Bonadonna, who coordinates the activities of the Community Support Committee, went to work scheduling virtual meetings with committee members and community partners.

“After some initial discussion, we all recognized that public events must give way to a very different style and format,” he explains. “Instead of sending volunteers out into the

community, we decided to put them to work in a virtual format, supporting the same events and organizations from afar.”

It took a while to revamp the plan, but the upshot was a strong roster of virtual programs, sponsored by ENWIN, attended remotely by ENWIN volunteers, and delivered in tandem with the partnership organizations across Windsor. “We are delighted to be able to carry these programs forward,” acknowledges Pierce Marshall. “It is more important than ever that we continue to support those who support our community.”

Finding a way to pivot quickly

Nour Hachem-Fawaz, Founder and President of Build a Dream, for which ENWIN is the 2020 Inclusive Diversity Champion, agrees. “Build a Dream is funded 100 per cent through partners who believe in promoting diversity and inclusion to A selfie of ENWIN Customer Field Representative Angelo Tiseo, strengthen the workforce,” she adds. “We are grateful to riding in isolation in the Great Cycle Challenge benefitting SickKids Foundation. companies like ENWIN that found a way to pivot quickly with us this year, to continue to support our work under a different model.”

The new Build a Dream sponsorship includes an online career fair, a digital conference, a podcast series, online spotlights featuring ENWIN employees, and the virtual version of Build a Dream’s International Day of the Girl. Throughout all virtual events, ENWIN volunteers will act as diverse inclusivity champions, supporting and educating young women about careers in STEM.

“Diversity and inclusion are important to our current and future wellbeing,” Nour notes. “It is vital to our community and to our organization, that we continue our outreach with as little interruption as possible.”

The same can be said of the work undertaken by the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County.

As executive director of the organization, Kathleen Thomas has pledged to promote and encourage a harmonious society in Windsor and Essex County, and to work towards the social equality of all cultures.

“This is work that cannot be put on hold,” she explains. “We are proud to work side-by-side with ENWIN to continue our mission through education, community engagement and the promotion of diversity and equality, as we deal with the current complexities.”

There where people were struggling

And as other support opportunities turned virtual, ENWIN’s Superheroes took up other challenges – at a grass roots level – to row, walk, run, climb and cycle; this time digitally, virtually or in isolation. Within the first few months of a world crisis, they independently raised nearly $13,000 to help organizations such as Childcan, VON Meals on Wheels, United Way, Emergency Food Action Coalition, the Canadian Mental Health Association and Feeding Windsor. Anywhere there were people struggling, the Superheroes were there – virtually – to partner, encourage, challenge and support.

“As always, our community partnerships give us a moment to reflect on what really matters,” adds ENWIN President and CEO Helga Reidel. “It is with particular poignancy that we remember, this year, that we all need to take care of one another.”

ENWIN employees have demonstrated that they understand what that means, and are determined to find a way to help – no matter what the challenge!

In recognition of both the employees’ status as front-line workers, and their ongoing commitment to supporting the community, ENWIN has provided all its Superheroes with ENWIN masks, to welcome them back to the office after so many COVID-related virtual office experiences.

“Our Superheroes may not always wear capes,” jokes Bonadonna, “But this year, they do wear masks!”.

Apprentice Powerline Splicer Eric Symes keeps himself and others safe by wearing an ENWIN Superhero branded mask.

About ENWIN Utilities ENWIN Utilities Ltd. is the licensed electricity distribution company serving customers in the City of Windsor, and is responsible for the local distribution of electricity, and the service and maintenance of the local electricity distribution infrastructure. ENWIN also maintains a contract of service with Windsor Utilities Commission (WUC) to operate and maintain the WUC owned water system that serves customers in Windsor, Tecumseh and LaSalle. @ENWINUtilities