Why I Give
Stephanie Wilkes of Kraft Canada makes a point of giving, in and outside the workplace
Stephanie Wilkes’ generosity extends beyond the aisles of Kraft Canada.
United Way is a big part of life at Kraft Canada. “We’re in the business of food, and United Way does a great deal of work fighting hunger in our community,” says Stephanie Wilkes, Vice-President of Marketing for the Snacks Division of Kraft Canada and executive sponsor of the Kraft Canada 2006 workplace campaign. “There’s a synchronicity there that everyone recognizes and respects.” From Jeans Tuesdays to a big social event held at the end of each campaign, Wilkes says that the annual United Way campaign nourishes the atmosphere of collaboration and teamwork at Kraft Canada. “It’s all about doing something that can be bigger than just one’s individual gain.”
Stephanie’s engagement with United Way goes beyond her workplace— she and her husband Stephen Schaller are generous donors, and they encourage their children to set aside a portion of their allowance each week for charity. “We believe in the community in which we live, and it’s really important to us that our kids see how they can be part of that, how we as individuals can make the city better,” she says. “We give to United Way because it touches on all aspects of need in our community. We find it to be a great one-stop shop, in terms of its reach and impact.”
But it’s not just about the money. Stephanie cites the United Way Days of Caring each summer as another important engagement Kraft Canada employees have with their larger community. “By volunteering with the individual agencies, we get the chance to see first-hand the challenges facing people in our city.” Recalling a co-worker’s day spent ballroom dancing at a seniors’ centre, Stephanie says, “Too often, we make giving complicated because we want to make a big impact. But it’s the little things we do that cumulatively make a real difference in our community.”