Potash of Saskatch : Making a Difference with the United Way - PotashCorp Raises $737,000 for the United Way of Saskatoon & Area

FEB 15 2012

The efforts of a United Way fundraising campaign at PotashCorp's head office and the Allan, Cory and Patience Lake facilities have been recognized by the not-for-profit organization.

PotashCorp employees and the United Steelworkers (USW) have been named the recipients of the United Way's prestigious C.J. Kirkpatrick Award. Presented in recognition of outstanding leadership in an employee campaign resulting in significant growth of the Leadership Giving Program, PotashCorp's 2011 campaign doubled leadership numbers to 104 donors and raised $737,000 for the local United Way program.

"The winners of this award have proven they are leaders in every sense of the word during the 2011 campaign, said Sheri Benson, executive director of the United Way of Saskatoon & Area. "The employee campaign chairs at head office and mine sites - Patience Lake, Cory and Allan - encouraged participation and contributions from their colleagues while raising awareness.

"Thank you to PotashCorp, its management, employees and the United Steelworkers for helping make a difference in our community.

As the second-highest overall contributor to the United Way's 2011 Community Campaign, PotashCorp and USW partners were also presented with a Top 30 Accounts Award.

PotashCorp Employee Recognized

In addition to the C.J. Kirkpatrick award, the campaign also led to additional recognition for PotashCorp's Gord Hiebert.  An instrumentation apprentice at the Cory facility and member of USW Local 7458, Hiebert was named a recipient of an individual United Way Schmeiser Spirit Award for his work in encouraging his coworkers at Cory to donate to the campaign.  Donations at Cory rose by 31 percent in 2011.

"Together with his employer, Gord educates and inspires his coworkers to donate. He understands and believes that by working together, our community will become a place that is great for everyone, Benson said.

Committed to Community

PotashCorp is committed to giving back to the communities in which we live and work - especially our hometown of Saskatoon, explained Rhonda Speiss, PotashCorp's manager of corporate philanthropy.

The United Way's mission is to improve lives and build community by engaging individuals and mobilizing collective action - a mandate PotashCorp fully supports.

"These awards from the United Way not only validate our contribution to the campaign but also encourage us to do more, Speiss said.

"Through our production of key plant nutrients we're working to help people around the world build better lives through improved agriculture and healthier diets. While our mission is global, we are committed to building better lives right here at home. That's why we're proud to support our local United Way.