WINNER : PAT MCBRIDE
2023
Sponsored by Middlesbrough College Group
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
WINNER : PAT MCBRIDE
She may have passed her 80th birthday , but charity stalwart Pat McBride told the Tees Businesswomen Awards she has no intention of giving up on families in need .
In December 1987 , Pat started a campaign to distribute Christmas hampers in Teesside .
That initiative grew and grew – to the extent that three years ago , it was renamed CAUSE Foundation to reflect the sheer number of good causes it supports through various schemes .
And now , as well as the British Empire Medal she received in 2018 , founder Pat has the 2023 Tees Businesswomen Awards Jane Turner Award for Outstanding Contribution – sponsored by Middlesbrough College Group – to show for all her amazing work .
Typically , however , she was determined to share the credit with the CAUSE team – and the great Teesside public .
Retired teacher Pat , pictured above with Zoe Lewis of headline sponsor Middlesbrough College Group , said : “ It ’ s a team effort – it ’ s not just me , but l ’ m really honoured to receive this and absolutely shocked .
“ We get crisis calls every day . People are so busy with their lives but at the heart of that , once you make people aware of others ’ troubles , the response in this area is just magnificent – the generosity is overwhelming , and I never take it for granted .
“ We ’ ve expanded so much – we now have a team of seven trustees and a marvellous team of volunteers .
“ We ’ ve started supporting and setting up a Trussell Trust food bank in Middlesbrough , we ’ ve got plans to extend our holiday hunger campaign and
Outstanding - Charity champion Pat McBride , left , with Zoe Lewis of sponsor Middlesbrough College Group .
we have a bedding project .
“ It ’ s unbelievable the number of children who don ’ t have a bed and decent bedding – that ’ s a massive project for us going forward .”
Pat explained how CAUSE trustee Carol Cross was the inspiration behind that initial Christmas hamper campaign .
She said : “ I was at a conference and a young lady – Carol – spoke about her experience of unemployment and how she ’ d been lifted out of despair by gestures of love and kindness , and that really struck a chord with me .
“ We started with 25 hampers , then it spread through schools for a number of years . We then started to respond to crisis calls and became a registered charity three years ago .
“ We ’ re about so much more now – we take food out to schools for distribution at holiday times , we respond to crisis calls for food , we do supermarket vouchers , school uniforms , and we have a very big ‘ beds and bedding ’ campaign .
“ We had a child recently whose parents couldn ’ t afford a birthday cake – a simple donation to respond to that makes such a difference to that little girl ’ s life . Anything that ’ s a crisis , we respond to very quickly .”
But what keeps her going ? “ My passion for it – and the fact that I know there are so many people out there who are in need .
“ I hear the stories from social workers and schools and if we can help , even in a small way , we should do – and we can encourage others to as well .
“ The generosity in this area is just incredible – if there ’ s a need , there ’ s always a response .
“ We need to get the business community more involved too . We do have some – we ’ re the nominated charity for one – but hopefully , we ’ ll extend there .
“ But really , I just spend the money . Someone said to me last week , ‘ How much money has your charity got ?’ and I haven ’ t a clue . I could look , but ask our treasurer – I just spend it !”
SPONSOR ’ S MESSAGE
Middlesbrough College principal and CEO , Zoe Lewis , said : “ Middlesbrough College Group was delighted to be headline sponsor once again of the Tees Business Awards – having supported the awards since their inception . We have seen the awards go from strength to strength over the years , and the calibre of shortlisted candidates was simply incredible this year , with Pat McBride deservedly winning the Outstanding Contribution award for her lifetime of services to the people of Teesside . At 80 years young , Pat is as committed as ever , with her regularly inspiring our students alongside her unwavering commitment to minimising the impact of poverty through hampers , food banks and bedding , plus much more . Well done Pat and well done to all the winners of the awards this year .”