Featured Sponsored Employee
A learning experience not to be forgotten
A glimpse into the Sponsored Employee Program at United Way
When Brendan Dellandrea signed on to participate in the Sponsored Employee Program for United Way Toronto, the University of Toronto employee and part-time student had no idea what to expect. Within the first few days of his secondment, he was struck by the high calibre of the peers he'd be working with for the next 15 weeks. And he quickly realized this was much more than simply volunteering his time and expertise to charity. "It was a classic case of 'you get as much out of it as you put into it' and I saw it as a challenge from the start," says Brendan. "Of course, I had no idea it would be so rewarding in the end."
One of the most pleasing aspects of the job for Brendan was the variety of responsibilities that were handed to him. Collaborating with United Way's Resource Development Managers, Brendan oversaw a number of workplace campaigns, which meant familiarizing himself with account histories, applying best practices, and training workplace canvassers with the information he'd gleaned from his research. "I see this program as a great opportunity to develop different skills in a totally new environment," he says. "I was provided with the chance not only to improve my public speaking and project management skills, but also to help raise money for a great cause and have some fun at the same time."
Looking back on his experience with the Sponsored Employee Program, Brendan is quick to recall the impact that one of the United Way agency guest speakers had on him and his colleagues. Her name was Adrienne, and she had been studying at the University of Toronto when she was suddenly stricken with a psychological illness. As a result, she lost an enormous amount of weight, became estranged from her parents and ended up in a psychiatric ward. Her turning point came years later when she was referred to United Way-funded agency, Sistering, a place where she was able to discuss her problems and engage in meaningful activities. She had reached a point where she was beginning to entertain thoughts of returning to university because loves to read and learn.
"Any one of us in that room could have been Adrienne," says Brendan. "Her story cut to the quick and I realized just how vulnerable we all are, whatever our background—and ultimately, how vital the services of United Way agencies are."
*Since participating in the United Way Sponsored Employee Program in 2006, Brendan has taken on a project management and training role at the University of Toronto.