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Nexen joined forces with three other Calgary companies to fund and build four homes for Habitat's latest project.
April 15, 2005
Nexen joined forces with three other Calgary companies to fund and build four homes for Habitat's latest project: the Sun Court townhouse development. Realizing their combined involvement would have a greater impact than a single donation, Nexen teamed up with Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, CIBC World Markets Inc., and EnerplusResources Fund.
“For Nexen, the partnership came about when I went to our corporate donations committee and asked if we would be interested in sponsoring a Habitat for Humanity residence”, says Senior Executive Assistant Wendy Daws. “I was told if the employees were behind it, the company was behind it. I immediately sent an e-mail to our employees and within three hours we had over 100 responses.”
When the time came to frame the first two homes on July 25, 2004, 100 volunteers from all four companies came out, including Rick Beingnessner, Nexen's Vice President and General Counsel Corporate. “It’s a wonderful cause,” he says. “It was a beautiful day and we had lots of fun. Most of all, I was very impressed with how well organized the event was.”
The volunteers worked hand-in-hand with the families who would later own the homes. “Framing day started at 7:00 a.m. and many of us worked right through until 6:30 pm. It was amazing to see these homes at the end of the day—completely framed with both roofs up!” says Daws. But volunteer involvement didn’t end there. In total,the four companies set aside over 35 days with more than 300 employees volunteering to do everything from siding and roofing to drywalling and laying carpet. “We had terrific feedback from our volunteers, with many of our employees asking to work more than one shift,” says Daws.
Daws says a few volunteers were worried about braving the jungle of 2x4s, “But before they knew it, they were in there grabbing hammers and saws with the best of them.” The companies have committed to sponsor the construction of two more townhomes at Sun Court this year, with work scheduled to begin in May. Many employees are looking forward to this fun and gratifying opportunity to make a difference.
"Getting a chance to dig in and create a home, and to meet the families who will benefit from living there, was far more rewarding than just writing a cheque," says Ken Mills, a partner with Blakes. “Community spirit is not about just making a financial contribution, it is about getting employees out there and pitching in,” he says.
The partnership of Blakes, CIBC World Markets, Enerplus and Nexen is a model of how corporations can work together for charity. “This was a groundbreaking experience for all of us,” says Daws. “As the first partnership of its kind, it will hopefully encourage other companies to do the same.”
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