CGI's Red Tie Event kicks off fundraising campaign
CGI’s senior leadership team makes the fundraising cut. From left to right: Dave Cameron, VP, Financial Services; Doug Wilson, Sector Vice President, Financial Services; Rob Mayer, Vice President, Financial Services; Jamie Holland, Senior Vice President and Business Unit Leader, GTA; Randy Rutherford, VP Financial Services; Steve Vanstone, Vice President, Financial Services; and Dragica Grbavac—Senior Executive Consultant, Financial Services.
Organizers Lisa Thompson and Jay Thakore take part in CGI’s Red Tie Event with Jamie Holland.
Employees at CGI have started a fundraising tradition that is proving to be a big success—the Red Tie Event for United Way. In its second year, this fun day lets employees and the senior leadership team work together to raise money while sharing good humour and a few laughs at the same time. For $25 a cut, employees can take an inch out of participating executives’ ties or scarves. The idea is to see executives with very short accessories by the end of the day.
The event has enjoyed a great level of engagement from everyone at CGI, explains Jay Thakore, campaign organizer. “Our Executives put their necks on the line by donning a red tie or pashmina, and our members have the pleasure of cutting off a piece of their apparel, all in support of a good cause,” he explains.
“The reactions have been very positive. There’s a lot of enthusiasm from both our senior leadership team and our members.”
The Red Tie Event is only one of several events that the fundraising committee has planned this year to help CGI meet its fundraising goal of $275,000. Along with participating as a team at the Enbridge CN Tower Climb for United Way, CGI employees will take part in silent auctions, bake sales, raffles, and a CGI favourite, Coin Wars.
As Jay explains, CGI believes in supporting our community, which is why employees are working hard to help us achieve our 2011 fundraising goal of $116-million.
“For CGI it is a core part of our culture and operating model—we are a global company comprised of a local proximity business model with deep roots in our communities—especially in the Greater Toronto Area. It is a key commitment of our corporate social responsibility—to support our communities through causes that improve their social, economic and environmental well-being,” he adds.
With over 2,000 generous employees across the Greater Toronto Area taking part in fundraising for United Way this year, CGI is sure to achieve its goal. We wish you luck and thank you for your support CGI.
