Introducing Gregg Hanson - United Way's 2010 Campaign Chair

February 12, 2010 | Community News | Archive 2010

Gregg Hanson is one "Proud Manitoban" and he wants everyone to know it - he even uses it as a title, right beneath his signature. For more than 15 years, that signature also included "President and CEO, Wawanesa Mutual" - a role he held until he retired in 2007, after almost 28 years with the company.

Gregg Hanson, 2010 Campaign Chair, prepares to hit the ground running as he pulls on a pair of United Way logo sneakers.

"I love this city," he says. "Winnipeg has such a great reputation for philanthropy and giving and caring."

Even San Diego - "America's Best City" as Gregg's research suggested - couldn't compete, and after three years with Wawanesa's California operation, Gregg returned home. That was early in his career; less than a decade after he graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in commerce and went on to earn a chartered accountancy designation.

"I knew I wanted to be in the financial services industry and I knew I wanted to stay in Winnipeg," Gregg says. "I didn't want to go to Ontario, Toronto or Montreal. I wanted to work for either Wawanesa, Richardson, Great West Life, or Investors."

That goal realized, Gregg has turned his attention to the business of our community and the task of leading Winnipeggers in our continuing journey toward lasting change and better lives through United Way.

"I'm excited about being part of one of the most important solution-driven social service organizations in our city, and I'm really excited about working with Winnipeggers to ensure a network of essential programs and services is available throughout our city when the people we know and love need it most."

Among the people Gregg knows and loves is his wife Mary, son and daughter-in-law Adam and Jessica, and daughter Janine, who competed as a rower in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. It's Mary's arthritis and the family's involvement with the Arthritis Society (a United Way agency partner) that makes their own connection with United Way very personal and special.

Having finally accepted the role as United Way's 2010 Campaign Chair, Gregg concludes one of the longest recruitment drives in the organization's history, beginning in 1992 when he was first approached.

At the time, he'd just been named president of Wawanesa and was adjusting to his new role. Then came the 1999 Pan Am Games, for which Gregg served as Chair of Finance, followed by 10 years on the board of the Winnipeg Foundation - five as Chair. All this, along with a wealth of other non-profit and board experience, makes Gregg a proven leader.

But he's quick to point out he won't be doing it alone. "One person can make a difference, but we can accomplish so much more when other people are providing support. Fortunately, I have great support in terms of the broader leadership provided by our 2010 Campaign Cabinet (comprised of nearly 40 senior volunteers) and United Way's dynamic staff."

And of course, Winnipeggers, whose extraordinary generosity has been changing lives through United Way for more than 45 years.

Over the coming year, Gregg plans to take the same approach he always endorsed for his children: give it all you've got.

"At the end of this campaign, I'd like to say we felt like we were a team and pulled together; I'd like to say we reached our goal, but more importantly, I'd like to say we had an awful lot of fun getting there."

A message to Winnipeg about United Way's campaign Janury 5, 2012