Centraide campaigns are above all a tapestry of human stories about co-workers who get involved for their peers, ambassadors who take the time to explain Centraide\u2019s mission, and conversations that spark empathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur campaign is only successful because of the people who put their energy into it,\u201d said Catherine Rabret-Laporte, Campaign Director at the Caisse de d\u00e9p\u00f4t et placement du Qu\u00e9bec (La Caisse). \u201cBy getting involved, our ambassadors and co-chairs know they are impacting people\u2019s lives in different ways, which creates a strong sense of collective pride.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Benoit Deguire, Co-Chair of the Centraide campaign at Bombardier, discovered a whole team of committed ambassadors when he took on his role: \u201cThe team\u2019s enthusiasm is contagious, so we really wanted to make them visible at the company\u2019s different sites. They wear red polo shirts and can answer questions about Centraide. This personal contact is what makes the difference. Employees even ask, \u2018How do I get a red polo shirt?\u2019 It\u2019s simple: just get involved!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
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For Yves Durivage, a retired staff member who headed up the Centraide campaign at Canada Life from 2020 to 2024, the campaign season is about much more than collecting money: \u201cThe experience changes your perspective. Three years ago, we launched our Leadership campaign with a virtual meeting at 9:00 a.m. and sent out a solicitation email before the event. Around 500 to 700 people were on the call. We told them they could start donating right away, and we announced the results over the course of the meeting. Half an hour later, we had raised $800,000! I couldn\u2019t believe it! It was exhilarating. We saw how every one of our small donations adds up to something really big.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Photo: Yves Durivage from Canada Life (left), with fellow Leader Donors, during a visit to Square Cabot in 2022.<\/em><\/sub><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Automatic payroll deductions are the cornerstone of workplace campaigns, as this type of giving is a low-key, effortless way to make an extraordinary impact. With every pay, thousands of employees lay down a stable and powerful chain of generosity.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Payroll giving is a low-key, effortless way to make an extraordinary impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis year, our campaign targeted Centraide\u2019s new giving level called Everyday Heroes. These are people who give $1 a day, or the equivalent of a coffee a week,\u201d explained Benoit Deguire. \u201cWhen you multiply $365 by dozens of donors, an agency can do so many things for the vulnerable. We have seen a huge number of people increase their donation from $208 ($8 per pay) to $365 ($1 per day).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Special events such as bake sales, team challenges, and 50\/50 draws are a great boost to payroll giving. They also put a friendly face on these initiatives and help co-workers feel connected all while putting the \u201cfun\u201d in fundraising. \u201cWe invited our employees to dress up for Halloween,\u201d said Chiara Covone, a member of the campaign team at Abbott. \u201cWe rented a photo booth, sold the photos, and gave the proceeds to Centraide. During our bake sale, the social committee even had a barista go around the office with free coffee. This created such a great atmosphere that made everyone feel part of something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The campaign launch and closeout are also key events that let companies bring their targets and results to life. \u201cThis year, we decided to do a separate launch at each of our five sites,\u201d said Benoit Deguire. \u201cWe moved from site to site, with the first launch at 6:30 a.m. and the last at 11:15 a.m. This was definitely harder for us, but we were able to connect with so many more people. The impact was clear, as one of our sites exceeded their participation rate for the entire previous year after just one week.\u201d Centraide campaigns are often a light-bulb moment when people truly grasp how close to home needs are. Through awareness events, agency tours, and days of caring, teams can fully understand the impact of their commitment. These experiences show the true needs of families, seniors, and workers who may live in the same neighbourhood, on the same street, or even right next door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Centraide campaigns are often a light-bulb moment when people truly grasp how close to home needs are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur volunteer activities have been major highlights of our campaign,\u201d explained Catherine Rabret-Laporte. \u201cWhen you get out into the field, you see how poverty is all around us and how it affects different people: students, single-parent families, seniors, newcomers… and even workers. These experiences educate us about the cause and inspire us to get fully involved in the Centraide movement.\u201d This year, in a show of solidarity for their community, over 300 employees at La Caisse took part in volunteer activities at MultiCaf in small groups. \u201cWe walked around Square Cabot with a Centraide representative,\u201d said Yves Durivage. \u201cWhen we got to the old Forum, where I had attended dozens of shows as a teen, I was struck by how much everything had changed. In front of these condo towers was a whole neighbourhood of vulnerable people with essential agencies that support them. Knowing that\u2014just across the street\u2014young moms could find shelter and support moved me a great deal.\u201d Understanding what Centraide does makes people want to get involved and give back.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have good lives: jobs, cars, houses, and the ability to eat out. Yet right around the corner are people who don\u2019t even know what they\u2019ll eat tonight,\u201d said Chiara Covone. \u201cWhat really moves me is seeing how our money is put to use in real life. We visited the Mountain Sights Community Centre in C\u00f4te-des-Neiges and saw their gardens, kitchens, youth activities, and more.\u201d Centraide is often referred to as a \u201cphilanthropic portfolio manager.\u201d In fact, many donors find it reassuring to know that every donation is invested where it can do the most good in the Greater Montreal community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know that Centraide has the expertise to invest funds in the right place,\u201d said Yves Durivage. \u201cWhen I want to invest money, I give it to a manager to maximize my returns. Centraide does the same thing: it knows where needs are greatest and which agencies are already making a real difference. I\u2019m not interested in just giving a bit here and there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For many organizations, the Centraide campaign is a highly anticipated season on the corporate calendar when they recognize they are part of a community and when they take action to support vulnerable people. Getting involved for a common cause also adds new meaning to everyone\u2019s daily work routines. Employees feel connected by something beyond their usual duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt La Caisse, generosity isn\u2019t just a word,\u201d said Catherine Rabret-Laporte. \u201cIt\u2019s a value that resonates deeply with our staff and shows up in concrete acts every year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat really stands out at Bombardier is our pride in supporting our communities,\u201d said Benoit Deguire. \u201cThis campaign puts our values into action and shows how proud our organization is to get involved for the people around us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt Abbott, we really try to create a culture of giving,\u201d said Chiara Covone. \u201cAnd not just during the campaign: this is a mindset that we want to cultivate among all employees, regardless of their site or division.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Centraide workplace campaigns go beyond simple fundraising. They engage teams and foster sharing while highlighting the real impact of collective generosity. Staff get involved, take action, and realize that they can achieve great things when they work together. This is the true measure of a campaign\u2019s impact: when it brings people together, gives meaning to commitment, supports vulnerable people, and strengthens the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPayroll giving: A simple way to build long-term impact<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Photo: Benoit Deguire during the launch of the 2025 Centraide campaign at one of Bombardier\u2019s five sites. \u00a9Studio Cookie<\/em><\/sub><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nNeeds that are both seen and felt<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Photo: La Caisse employees, including Catherine Rabret-Laporte (centre), during a volunteer activity at MultiCaf, a food security agency in C\u00f4te-des-Neiges.<\/em><\/sub><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Photo: Members of Abbott\u2019s campaign team, including Chiara Covone (second from right), during a visit to the Mountain Sights Community Centre. They were joined by Gracia Desforges (first from left), an intake officer at the agency, and Catherine Francken (second from left), Resource Development Officer at Centraide of Greater Montreal.<\/em><\/sub><\/p>\n<\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.centraide-mtl.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cente-communautaire-Mountain-Sights.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nCentraide\u2019s philanthropic expertise<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A corporate culture built on commitment<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What the \u201cCentraide effect\u201d really means<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n1 out of 5 people receives our help.
5 out of 5 people benefit from it.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n Let’s all lend a hand<\/font><\/b><\/span>\n <\/h3>\n\n\n\n