Some partnerships don’t just support the work — they become part of its foundation.

SABIC has been part of United Way Northumberland’s story since the very beginning. Since 1969, through each evolution of our organization and each shift in community need, their workplace has continued to show up with a shared belief in collective care.

We are deeply grateful to SABIC for their 2025–2026 workplace campaign donation of $30,863, and for the people behind that commitment who continue to choose community year after year.

That kind of consistency matters. It reflects leadership, but also the everyday choices of employees who give together in support of their neighbours.

“𝑊𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑊𝑎𝑦. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑑𝑜 𝑎 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑗𝑜𝑏 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠 𝑖𝑡 𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡.” – Paul van Laren, Plant Manager, SABIC

What Paul names speaks to why workplace campaigns exist.

If every employer tried to respond to each charitable request on their own, the work of understanding need, evaluating impact, and deciding where support will make the most difference would quickly become overwhelming. United Way’s role is to carry that responsibility on behalf of workplaces, staying connected to the issues shaping daily life in Northumberland County and helping direct support where it can do the most good.

This work happens through presence and relationship:
– Participation in the Northumberland Food Policy Council
– Engagement with Prosper Northumberland
– Collaboration with Northumberland County Early Years Working Group
– Ongoing connection with food banks and service providers through our Northumberland Eats funding strategy
– Listening to families in need of support
– Through our relationships with our Program Investment Partners, we track where pressures are rising

It allows us to fund not just programs, but progress, to invest in solutions that strengthen systems and help move the needle forward.

What Workplace Giving Can Look Like

A workplace campaign does not have to look one way.

For some organizations, it includes payroll deductions. For others, it is built through moments of creativity and shared spirit:
– A dollar jar on Fridays
– Pajama Day
– Hockey jersey day
– Barbecues or lunch events
– Friendly competitions
– Team challenges

Each version is different. Each reflects the culture of that workplace.
But they all lead to the same place, people coming together to care for their community.

Workplace giving turns generosity into something collective. It builds awareness, invites participation, and creates a sense of shared purpose that lives beyond a single donation.

From the Workplace to the Community

Workplace campaigns also gave rise to something many in our community now recognize: Day of Caring.

Originally created as a way for workplaces without payroll campaigns to take part in giving back, Day of Caring became an annual expression of volunteerism and service. It begins with a shared breakfast and sends teams out across Northumberland County to support seniors, group homes, and local organizations through hands-on projects.

It is a reminder that community care is not only financial — it is relational.

It is people showing up with time, effort, and heart.

Looking Ahead

We are proud to continue this partnership with SABIC and look forward to welcoming their team back for Day of Caring 2026.

It will be another opportunity to celebrate volunteerism, acts of service, and the belief that when workplaces come together with purpose, real change follows.

Thank you SABIC for trusting United Way Northumberland to carry your generosity forward, for your continued support in building a legacy of caring that continues to grow.