Campaign Corner: Hecla employees dig deep to help United Way

The United Way workplace campaign has been called one of the greatest social inventions in American history. Working together with employers and more than a million volunteers each year, United Way invites people to advance the common good and create opportunities for a better life for all.

Not many can do this better for Kootenai County than Lori Iverson and Jeanne DuPont from Hecla Mining Company. As part of the corporate team, they rally their co-workers to participate in the United Way Campaign. In order to do this, it takes planning and organizing a campaign that is fun and fulfilling for their employees. During first week of the Campaign, the Dynamic Duo spends about 20 hours organizing and planning the event. After the first week of the Campaign, following up on Pledge forms, collecting donations, shopping for employee raffle prizes and other administration duties encompasses an additional 10 hours. Their employee giving campaign itself runs about 4 to 6 weeks during the fall. Since 2006 Hecla Mining Company employees have raised more than $15,000 each year to benefit United Way and other local nonprofits through their giving campaign and payroll deductions.

"Our HR Team has taken on this role in recent years because we interact with our employees every day," shares Nelson. "We feel it fits right into our HR role. We receive a lot of support from others like Jeanne in each year's Campaign. It is a great chance to work with our employees as a team and to help the community we live in. Jeanne coordinated the Campaign in prior years as part of her role as Communications Coordinator with significant responsibility for community affairs."

United Way of Kootenai County makes it easy for companies to promote their employee giving campaign with materials and presentations, as well as online tools and resources on their website. However, it takes very special coordinators, like Iverson and Dupont, from these companies to really "cheer on their employees to the goal line."

"Our first step is to hold a Kick-Off event to promote the campaign and to help educate our employees on how valuable it is to partner with United Way to help those in need in our community," states Barry Nelson, Human Resources Director. "In the past, we have had United Way Representatives come to the Kick-Off and inform our employees of the different organizations that benefit from United Way. At the Kick-Off we announce our Goal for the current Campaign and then the fun begins! We provide employees with pledge forms and there is a giving tier. Tickets are given to employees based on their donations. The tickets go into a drawing for prizes at the end of the campaign. For their convenience, we also offer payroll deduction for each employee's donations."

Hecla Mining Company sets the enthusiasm bar high with other donation events for their employees to participate in: A Halloween Lunch Event where employees dress up and receive raffle tickets for drawings; BINGO, where employees purchase Bingo cards and receive raffle tickets for prize drawings when they win one of the games that are ongoing during the campaign; Change Game, employees are encouraged to bring in spare change to fill the United Way Money Containers; a Chili Cook Off where employees prepare their favorite chili and employees vote on their favorite with tickets awarded for winning entries; and finally, a Give@Hecla Pool where employees buy squares on a chart board for daily chances to win tickets for drawings.

"Our employee participation in all events is outstanding," proudly claims Nelson. "At the end of the Campaign, we hold a drawing for prizes from the tickets earned based on the employees participation and donations. We announce our total donations received and keep the employees informed throughout the Campaign on progress toward meeting our Goal."

When asked what it means to share a strong partnership with United Way in the community we serve, the Hecla Team expressed gratitude to work for a company that not only cares about their employees, but also the people in their community. "United Way, through its support to local charities, can help enhance the quality of life for the most vulnerable individuals in need in Kootenai County and the surrounding areas. By partnering with United Way and their organizations, our employees know their donations make a bigger impact in serving those in our community."

Because Hecla's organizational culture and its employees company-wide have always had strong principles in supporting the quality of life in the communities where they live and work, their contribution doesn't stop at the Employee Giving Campaign.

"Every year, Hecla employees volunteer on the Day of Caring for Elder Help of North Idaho - splitting wood for the Elderly, states Iverson. "My first week with Hecla I was able to volunteer for the Day of Caring. I remember thinking (being a newbie), what a rewarding opportunity Hecla gives their employees to help out those in need in our community. I now am the Team Leader for the Day of Caring and enjoy this day every year with Hecla employees splitting wood for the elderly."

Many campaign company partners have employees serve as community leaders on Community Impact Councils, or volunteer for special event fundraisers, and even serve as board members for United Way. "I have also served as a member of the Education Impact Council in the past," shares DuPont. "The stories that the agencies share are always meaningful and show that the funding that is allocated does make an impact on individuals' lives."

"Hecla employees truly care not just about the Hecla Family, but the people in our community," shares Nelson. "It has been a heartfelt experience seeing the generosity and caring of Hecla employees. It has given me the opportunity and satisfaction of knowing I have been able to help others less fortunate."

Lori Iverson has been with Hecla for 2 1/2 years and has been a primary part of the team coordinating the Campaign. Her family moved to Idaho from California almost 10 years ago. She has more than 18 years' experience as a Payroll Manager in the Construction industry. She enjoys being a part of the HR Team at Hecla which offers diversity in her job duties.

Jeanne DuPont has been involved as coordinator or assisting in the campaign for five years. She is an Idaho native, college graduate, married and a mother. She has worked in the mining industry for the past 27 years in investor relations, communications, and other roles. She also volunteers for United Way and 4-H youth groups.

The United Way of Kootenai County Volunteer Center

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* "One-Stop Volunteer Resource Center" for the whole community

* Ongoing and one-time volunteer opportunities

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(208) 667-8112

Visit the United Way's Volunteer Center website: www.kootenaiunitedway.org

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