Written by Wanda Minnings, Communications Lead
Every year, people assume the Federated Health Charities campaign begins in April and wraps up in June. And to be fair – it looks that way. Posters go up, lottery tickets go on sale, the auction launches, events run daily, payroll pledges flow in. It’s busy. It’s visible. It’s exciting.
But here’s the truth: our team starts the work on July 1st – and we don’t stop until launch day, nine months later.
Nine months of prep for three months of impact.
Coincidentally, also the length of time it takes to grow a human – and trust me, some days it feels like we’re collectively raising one. The planning, the emotional investment, those “wait, where did that document go?” moments… honestly, if campaigns came with baby showers, we’d deserve two.
And because I can’t help myself, this reminds me of food.
When you’re making something for a group – say, a dinner‑party dish you procrastinated planning and are now mildly panicking about – the real effort happens behind the scenes: choosing the recipe, buying ingredients, chopping, prepping, assembling, plating… all invisible until the final dish appears.
Federated Health? Same energy.
But the beauty of our team is that each of us has a different behind‑the‑scenes process – and every one of them is essential.
Here’s a quick peek.
If I’m in a kitchen, Sarah is on a construction site.
She’s designing the blueprint long before anything is “built”:
- What should the campaign look like?
- What needs reinforcing?
- How do all the parts fit together?
She sees the whole building before the rest of us even know where the door is. By the time April arrives, the structure is rock‑solid because she laid the foundation months ago.
Forget the kitchen & construction site metaphors – Tatyana is the quintessential banker.
You know that image of the calm financial professional who always knows where every dollar lives? That’s her.
Behind the scenes, she is:
- Balancing budgets
- Tracking every revenue stream
- Keeping us financially sound and compliant
While the rest of us are dreaming, drafting, or designing, Tatyana is the reason everything adds up – literally.
When we say, “Are we on track?” she can answer before we finish the question.
If the campaign were a theme park, Jana would design the attractions.
She creates the experiences people remember:
- High‑energy fundraising events
- Volunteer sessions and launch activities
- The logistics, schedules, supplies, and tiny details no one sees
You know when an event feels effortless – even though it definitely wasn’t? That’s because Jana built the ride, tested it, adjusted the tracks, and opened the gates with a smile.
If communication is my kitchen, Cristhian is the tech lab.
He’s the one:
- Keeping our website humming
- Making our auction pages sparkle
- Turning our ideas into visuals, videos, reels, and digital magic
He knows where every file, photo, font, and asset lives.
If the website were a stage, he’s the lighting designer, audio engineer, and backstage crew all in one.
Half the time, we don’t even see the problem before he’s already fixed it.
And then there’s me, in my metaphorical kitchen:
- Stirring ideas together until they become something digestible
- Seasoning every message so it’s engaging, accessible, and OPS‑friendly
- Finishing touches, garnishes, and rescuing things before they overcook
Communications is the slicing, mixing, plating, and styling that make the final campaign look polished. People see the finished dish – but not the creative chaos it took to get there.
On brand, honestly.
Different roles. Different metaphors. Same mission.
From July to March, our small but mighty team is planning, budgeting, creating, troubleshooting, designing, filming, writing, editing, organizing, digitizing, and laughing – all to support 21 essential health charities across Ontario.
When April arrives, it looks seamless.
