VANCOUVER — Telus Communications announced today in 2021 the company, its team members and retirees gave $90 million — representing about 5% of its pre-tax profits — in cash, in-kind contributions, time and programs to support more than 4,000 charitable and community organizations, and volunteered more than 1.3 million hours.
Telus says in a press release this is more charitable giving than any other company in Canada last year.
“Our long-standing We Give Where We Live philosophy continues to inspire our global community. Once again throughout 2021, our culture of caring was displayed around the world, as our highly engaged team offered our support to those who needed us most,” said Telus president and CEO Darren Entwistle in the press release.
“By giving back approximately five per cent of our pre-tax profits and volunteering over 1.3 million hours, Telus and our 130,000 team members and retirees, globally, are continuing to put the well-being of our customers, communities and planet first because we believe that good business and doing good are mutually inclusive.
“From improving the quality, safety and security of our global food supply, and revolutionizing access to healthcare, to enabling human connections through our world-leading fibre and wireless networks, we have seen firsthand what is possible when we take accountability for the social, health and economic well-being of communities and leverage our global-leading technology for good. Together, let’s make the future friendly,” Entwistle said.
Some of the highlights of initiatives supported by Telus in 2021 include:
- Expanding its Connecting for Good programs providing access to technology for low-income families, students, seniors, people with disabilities, youth leaving foster care and Indigenous women at risk of or experiencing violence. “Since its inception, Telus’ Connecting for Good programs have supported 250,000 marginalized individuals with free or subsidized Internet and/or mobility services,” the release says.
- Deploying four new mobile health clinics in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, Victoria, Toronto and Niagara region as part of Telus Health for Good. This program, operating in 22 communities across Canada, “has supported over 100,000 patient visits since inception, including the delivery of over 30,000 Covid-19 assessments, tests and vaccinations.”
- Launching an Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan including the launch of the Telus Indigenous Communities Fund, which offers grants up to $50,000 to support Indigenous-led organizations focused on well-being, cultural revitalization and access to education.
- As part of its commitment to sustainability, providing $1.8 million in cash, in-kind contributions, time and programs to charities and community organizations that support the environment, including Nature Conservancy of Canada and Tree Canada.
- Committing $1.5 million, including $500,000 of in-kind support in health, network and community services to support British Columbia “following the unprecedented flooding that sent the province into a state of emergency.”
Telus and its team also recently contributed almost $4 million to support the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, in collaboration with Telus Friendly Future Foundation, the press release says.
“To continue the momentum, throughout the month of May, Telus is celebrating its 17th annual Telus Days of Giving, where more than 60,000 Telus team members and retirees around the world will mobilize to give back in their local communities,” says the release.
“From cleaning local shorelines, donating blood, supporting neighbourhood food banks, or planting a tree, Telus employees, retirees, and their families, are committed to helping create positive change in communities big and small.”
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