Thompson Creek Window Company's Employee Appreciation Event Recognizes and Donates to Nonprofits
Thompson Creek Window Company hosted its annual employee appreciation event, Fish-A-Palooza, on the Chesapeake Bay, bringing together employees, partners, and friends for a day of camaraderie and friendly competition.
To mark its 45th anniversary, the company expanded the event’s impact by donating to two nonprofit organizations with strong personal connections to Thompson Creek employees. Each organization received a $5,000 contribution to support their work in the community. The 2025 honorees, HOPE: Animal-Assisted Crisis Response and The Jacob Sloan Foundation, were selected for both their meaningful community impact and the personal stories shared by the employees who nominated them.
About the nonprofits
HOPE: Animal-Assisted Crisis Response (HOPE AACR), nominated by employee Jason White, provides emotional support through specially trained canine teams during times of crisis. White nominated HOPE AACR in honor of his wife Michelle, a volunteer leader with the organization, and their late dog Pip, whose calm presence brought comfort to countless individuals facing tragedy across Maryland and beyond. "I’ve seen the difference Michelle and Pip have made, and I wanted Thompson Creek to be a part of continuing that legacy," says White.
The second honoree, The Jacob Sloan Foundation, was nominated by employee Rebecca Donovan in recognition of her close connection with the foundation’s co-founder, Mary Sloan. The foundation’s mission is “to make a difference in the lives of children and families by providing financial assistance to those in need, supporting the arts and athletics, and helping communities that require support.”
Donovan met Mary Sloan, Jacob’s mother and the foundation’s co-founder, in a grief support group for parents who had experienced the loss of a child. Following the loss of her own son, Noah, Donovan found strength in Mary’s kindness, mentorship, and the foundation’s work in Jacob’s memory. She nominated the organization to help further its mission and recognize its ongoing impact. "Mary has been a steady source of support and mentorship during one of the hardest periods of my life," says Donovan. "Her strength and the meaningful ways the foundation uplifts families and communities made the decision to nominate her an easy one.”
About Fish-A-Palooza
Fish-A-Palooza began in 2003 as a backyard fishing competition hosted by CEO and owner Rick Wuest to thank Thompson Creek employees. What started with just a handful of participants has grown into one of the company’s most anticipated annual traditions.Held each spring on the Chesapeake Bay, the event brings together employees, friends, and partners for a full day of connection, competition, and celebration.
The 2025 event kicked off at 5:30 a.m. with 10 charter fishing boats departing from the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club, where more than 100 employees and partners participated in the fishing tournament. Later in the day, close to 250 guests—including employees, families, friends, and partners—gathered at the Club for an after-party featuring food, music and the weigh-in ceremony to crown the day’s biggest catch.
"Fish-A-Palooza has always been about stepping outside of the day-to-day to show appreciation for the people who make this company what it is," says Wuest. "Adding the nonprofit piece for our 45th anniversary made it even more special. It was a meaningful reflection of two of our core values: community and recognition, and a great reminder of the difference our employees are making, both within and beyond our walls."