Get Involved

There are lots of ways to get involved with our United Way Campaign, whether you’re faculty, staff or a student:

  • Join the United Way Committee (accepting members for 2026)
  • Become a department champion
  • Sign-up to volunteer for an event
  • Gather a group for a Days of Caring event

Whether it’s an hour or a few, we welcome your involvement in every aspect of the UBC Okanagan United Way Campaign. Together we will make a difference in our community!

Contact the united way team

Host a United Way Pit Stop under the new United Way Wellbeing Series—Nourish, Connect, Engage, Repeat 

Thanks to the UBC Wellbeing Strategic Initiative Fund, host units can receive up to $750 to run a UBCO Pit Stop in support of the UBC Okanagan United Way Campaign between September 2026 and April 2027.

The United Way Wellbeing Series—Nourish, Connect, Engage, Repeat—supports a healthy, connected, and engaged workplace culture at UBC Okanagan. Funding is intended primarily for quality, healthy food, refreshments and door prizes, allowing the host unit to focus on nourishing colleagues and creating a welcoming event experience.

Units and programs with smaller local budgets are especially encouraged to express interest.

How to express interest:

  1. Email unitedway.ok@ubc.ca to express interest in hosting a Pit Stop, including your unit, preferred month and other relevant details.
  2. You’ll receive further information, and once all is confirmed, review the steps on how to host a Pit Stop, start organizing and promoting your Pit Stop widely. Please note that you, as the host unit, are responsible for your own organization and promotion of the event.
  3. Host your Pit Stop and share a participant feedback survey with attendees.
  4. Forward receipts to the UBCO United Way team for reimbursement of eligible expenses, up to $750.
  5. Complete the post-survey and report your attendance numbers to unitedway.ok@ubc.ca.

 

Six host-unit opportunities are available through this fund, so early expressions of interest are encouraged.

 

Questions? Email unitedway.ok@ubc.ca.

 

What does a Pit Stop entail? What is it?

Each Pit Stop is a one-hour drop-in event hosted by a campus unit or program and open to all UBCO faculty and staff. Every event includes:

  • Healthy snacks, refreshments and door prizes
  • A short wellbeing or movement activity
  • Informal time to meet colleagues and learn about the host department, unit or program
  • Visible support for the UBCO United Way Campaign
  • A symbolic “torch passing” to the next host unit, where possible

More details can be found on the “How to Host a Pit Stop” page.

 

What would you need to take on as the “host unit?”

  • Confirming a date and location with the UBCO United Way team
  • Submitting the Campus Event form, IT request and Facilities request (if required)
  • Arranging a movement break with a campus wellbeing partner for the activity if available
  • Providing healthy catering or snacks and some door prizes
  • Sharing a short participant feedback survey at the event (aiming for min. 20 responses per Pit Stop)
  • Collect donations for the UBCO United Way campaign. Representatives from United Way are often available to attend your event as well, with electronic payment systems and information about the United Way campaign
  • Reporting attendance numbers and brief feedback back to the UBCO United Way team
  • Promoting the event through your unit’s channels

Host units are also encouraged to consider dietary inclusion, accessible locations and communications that reach a wide audience, such as the Exchange newsletter, digital signage and posting your event to the UBCO Events calendar.