MONTREAL – Telus has become the first organization to be named Philanthropic Company of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Quebec Chapter (AFP-QC).
François Gratton, president of Telus Quebec, Telus Atlantic and vice-chair of the Telus Montreal Community Board, will accept the honour on Telus' behalf. The award will be presented on National Philanthropy Day today, when AFP-QC pays tribute to individuals and companies whose community engagement has a significant impact on Quebec society. Telus was nominated by The Lighthouse Children and Families.
"Telus plays an invaluable role in the development of a culture of philanthropy in Quebec. The company serves as an international benchmark in community investment, and we are delighted to honour this unwavering commitment by bestowing on Telus our very first annual Award for Philanthropic Company of the Year," said AFP-QC President Susan Reitz, in the press release. "We hope this recognition will inspire new and innovative philanthropic projects."
Since 2000, the Telus team has donated more than $300 million to numerous charitable and not-for-profit organizations across the country and has volunteered in excess of 4.7 million hours of service to local communities. Last year, in Quebec alone, the company donated more than $5 million to dozens of organizations, including Opération Enfant Soleil, the Association du cancer de l'Est du Québec, The Lighthouse Children and Families and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. These efforts were previously recognized in 2010 when the Association of Fundraising Professionals presented Telus with the international Freeman Philanthropic Services Award for Outstanding Corporation.
A key aspect of Telus's philanthropic initiatives is the collaborative involvement of its employees and retirees, says the company. Telus engages its team members and encourages volunteerism through a variety of programs, specifically by matching employee donations to registered charities. Moreover, current and retired team members who contribute a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer service may request a $200 corporate donation to the charitable organization of their choice. Each year, the company organizes the Telus Day of Giving, on which more than 12,000 individuals across the country roll up their sleeves and actively support a wide range of local community initiatives. The annual Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes is also the signature fundraising event for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). This year, more than 4,200 Telus team members, family and friends participated with thousands of other Canadians.
The company has also created 11 Community Boards across Canada—including three in Quebec—and three internationally that have contributed in excess of $30 million to more than 2,800 community projects since 2005. Community Board members assess funding requests by prioritizing projects in the areas of health and wellness in our environment, education and sports, and arts and culture. More specifically, preference is given to projects that support young people, and demonstrate tangible technological or social innovation, says the company’s release.
