The Ultimate Employee and Partner Appreciation Bash
A Thompson Creek Tradition
Fish-A-Palooza started in April 2003 as a way to say thank you. After a stretch of hard work and shared wins, CEO Rick Wuest hosted a backyard fishing competition between the installation and sales teams. He created the event to celebrate the team’s success, offer a break from daily routines, and spark some friendly competition.
That first year, eleven employees cast lines and swapped stories in Rick’s backyard. The event quickly gained momentum and grew into a beloved company tradition.
Today, Fish-A-Palooza gives us a chance to step away from the everyday and celebrate the people who make Thompson Creek what it is. Each year on the Chesapeake Bay, it brings together hundreds of employees, friends, and partners for a full day of connection, fishing, and fun.
Charter boats launch at sunrise, and the day wraps up with a lively after-party featuring food, music, and the legendary weigh-in ceremony—where we find out who landed the biggest catch, who takes home the trophy, and who earns bragging rights for the year.
Celebrating With Purpose
This year, for our 45th anniversary, we’re deepening this tradition’s meaning by recognizing and donating to two nonprofits nominated by Creekers with strong, personal connections. This celebration reflects our core values of community and recognition, and the shared impact we can have when we come together with purpose.
HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response Nominated by Jason White
When Jason White and his wife, Michelle, welcomed an injured mini poodle-mix puppy named Pip into their lives, they couldn’t have imagined the profound impact he would have—not just on their family, but on countless communities facing crisis.
Michelle, a veterinarian, first met Pip as an injured puppy surrendered at her clinic. From the beginning, Pip had an extraordinary ability to sense when someone needed comfort and emotional support. Whether comforting grieving students after a tragedy or offering quiet companionship to exhausted first responders, Pip instinctively knew how to provide support when people needed it most.
Michelle’s volunteer journey began in Massachusetts, taking Pip to nursing homes and hospitals. They quickly moved into crisis response, providing emotional support to first responders facing challenging and traumatic situations. When life brought Jason and Michelle to Maryland, Michelle sought new opportunities to continue this meaningful work and soon discovered HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response (HOPE AACR), finding their mission closely aligned with her passion for helping others. Michelle now volunteers with HOPE’s Northeast Region, which has overlapping regions with Thompson Creek service areas.
Michelle and Pip became an official HOPE AACR team in 2019, traveling together to support communities devastated by a mass shooting in Virginia Beach, a building collapse in Florida, and numerous school tragedies. Pip’s gentle presence provided critical emotional support, bringing comfort and encouragement to survivors, first responders, and grieving families.
After losing Pip, Michelle remained committed to HOPE AACR and stepped into the role of team leader, where she now provides support to other handler/canine teams during deployments. Jason and Michelle approach this commitment as a family, dedicating their time, resources, and emotional support to HOPE AACR’s meaningful canine crisis response mission.
Why Jason Nominated HOPE AACR
Jason and Michelle have been valued members of the Thompson Creek family for nine years, ever since Jason joined the team in 2016. Jason nominated HOPE AACR out of deep pride in Michelle’s and Pip’s compassion and tireless dedication. “I’ve seen firsthand the difference Michelle and Pip made, and I wanted Thompson Creek to be a part of continuing that legacy,” Jason shared.
About HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response
HOPE AACR provides comfort in times of crisis by bringing emotional support through specially trained canines and handler teams. HOPE AACR has been serving those affected by disasters and traumatic events, across the US and Canada, free of charge, since 1999. Regionally, HOPE AACR has recently assisted communities impacted by tragedies including student losses at schools in Pennsylvania and DC, and the ice skating, Coast Guard and DC Coroner’s Office communities affected by the Reagan Airport Plane crash. Thompson Creek’s donation will directly support training and certification of new canine teams and help ease financial burdens for deploying volunteers, enabling HOPE AACR to continue its invaluable work.
The Jacob Sloan Foundation Nominated by Rebecca Donovan
Rebecca Donovan first met Mary Sloan, co-founder of The Jacob Sloan Foundation, at a Grief Share support group specifically for parents who have experienced the loss of a child. Rebecca’s son, Noah, passed away in May 2024, and by November, Rebecca felt ready to seek support from others who had walked a similar path.
During her first session, Mary happened to sit next to Rebecca, wearing a sweatshirt printed with Jacob’s initials and the logo of the foundation created in his memory after he passed away at the age of 12, in 2018, following a car accident. When it was Rebecca’s turn to speak, she shared about the loss of her son and her hopes to honor his memory by building a playground and starting a foundation (Noah’s Perfect Playground) to raise awareness and fund research. What began as a chance seating arrangement quickly led to a meaningful connection, rooted not only in shared grief but also a shared passion to carry forward their children’s legacies.
In the weeks and months that followed, Rebecca and Mary built a friendship grounded in mutual understanding and support. Mary became someone Rebecca could turn to for advice, guidance, and comfort—both within and beyond the group meetings. Mary offered Rebecca thoughtful counsel about the logistics of starting a foundation, helping her navigate practical details, sharing contacts, advice and encouragement.
Rebecca was especially moved by Mary’s willingness to support others even while navigating her own grief. Mary regularly reaches out to new members of the group, offering personal gestures of support, such as attending classes or activities that are important to them, or simply being present as someone who understands deeply.
Mary, her husband, Pete, and their two older sons, Danny and Christopher, founded The Jacob Sloan Foundation in 2019 to honor Jake’s compassionate spirit, providing financial support to families and community groups across Maryland.
Rebecca and her husband, Dan Donovan, have both been part of the Thompson Creek family for nearly 15 years. Dan joined Thompson Creek in 2011 and Rebecca in 2022. Inspired by Mary’s dedication and the positive impact of the Foundation, Rebecca nominated the organization for Thompson Creek’s Community Impact Initiative.
Why Rebecca Nominated The Jacob Sloan Foundation
For Rebecca, nominating The Jacob Sloan Foundation was a meaningful way to recognize Mary’s genuine kindness and the thoughtful, impactful work done in Jacob’s memory. “Mary has been a steady source of support and mentorship during one of the hardest periods of my life,” Rebecca said. “Her strength and the meaningful ways the Foundation uplifts families and communities made the decision to nominate her an easy one.”
About The Jacob Sloan Foundation
The mission of the Jacob Sloan Foundation is to make a difference by providing financial support to children and families in need, the arts, athletics, and communities and organizations that need assistance. Based on Kent Island, the foundation has awarded over 225 grants totaling more than $530,000 since 2019.
The foundation operates two distinct funds. The Family Emergency Fund assists families experiencing temporary emergency hardships by helping with essential expenses such as rent and utilities. The second fund supports other 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations whose missions align similarly with aiding children and families in need.
Recent grants have included partnering with Haven Ministries to help fund the opening of a family resource and day shelter for the homeless in Queenstown. Additionally, funding has been provided for after-school performing arts programs in Queen Anne’s County middle schools through a collaboration with After-School Program Partnering for Youth.
Thompson Creek’s donation will help the Jacob Sloan Foundation continue its mission of supporting children and families in need across our community.
Special Thanks to Our 2025 Sponsors
We deeply value the partnership of our sponsors, whose support makes this event possible and helps carry this tradition forward year after year.
