The campaign kicked off on Monday October 24 with Matt Rees, President, ORLEN Upstream Canada and guest speaker Dr. Lucy Miller, President and CEO of United Way of Calgary.  During the two weeks, ORLEN Upstream Canada staff took part in volunteering activities named “Days of Caring”. ORLEN Upstream Canada staff volunteered their time at Brenda’s House, which is an emergency homeless shelter for families, as well as Children’s Cottage Society’s Crisis Nursery. During the second “Day of Caring” the staff prepared 658 sandwiches for the Drop Inn Centre.  These lunches help feed the working homeless in Calgary – people that while they have jobs are unable to afford a roof over their heads.

“I am so proud of ORLEN Upstream Canada Ltd. Running their first ever United Way campaign during a difficult year like this says so much about the company and the people who work there. Thank you for being there when your community needed you most. I enjoyed meeting the ORLEN team at their campaign Kick-Off, and I was so excited to learn that 100% of ORLEN employees participated in their United Way campaign! You’re one of the very few workplace campaigns in the city to achieve that significant milestone. Many are vulnerable in this economy and, through your gift to United Way, you have created a hopeful future for them. Your investment is strategically directed to overcoming poverty, helping kids succeed, and building strong communities. Thank you ORLEN Upstream Canada!” – Lucy Miller, President & CEO.

The ORLEN Upstream Canada United Way Committee organized a number of ways for their staff to get personally involved; through donations, entertaining fundraising events and volunteering opportunities. The employees took part in e-mail bingo, jeans week, a halloween party, a bucket drop raffle, and ‘Adventures with a VP” silent auction.  The campaign achieved its goals of 100% staff participation and exceeded its target for funds pledged by 300%.  ORLEN Upstream Canada was able to raise $16,927.00 CAD for the United Way of Calgary and Area.

“It was a great pleasure for the ORLEN Upstream Canada team and myself to partner with the United Way of Calgary and Area - said Matt Rees, President, ORLEN Upstream Canada – I am very proud of the effort, engagement and commitment exhibited by our team.  It clearly showed a level of generosity and kindness not seen everywhere. We hope to make United Way a part of our continuous commitment to the communities we work and live in.”

The employees of ORLEN Upstream, a parent company of ORLEN Upstream Canada, also engaged in volunteer activities. In June in Poland they renovated the Community Educational Centre of TPD (the Children’s Friends Society) and gave gifts to kids who are taken care by the centre.  ORLEN Upstream Canada belongs to the Capital Group of PKN ORLEN SA, one of the largest petroleum and petrochemical companies in Central and Eastern Europe and the largest in Poland. Volunteering and charitable activity is essential element of PKN ORLEN’s corporate culture.