Record donation
VANCOUVER – Telus is donating $120 million to kick start a new independent charitable organization mandated to address the social and economic challenges facing Canada’s disadvantaged youth.
According to president and CEO Darren Entwistle, the Telus Friendly Future Foundation will provide funding grants to “often overlooked” grassroots charities that help young Canadians build digital literacy skills, provide basic healthcare and mental health support to the homeless, and open up essential educational opportunities.
“At Telus, we believe that the challenges faced by vulnerable Canadian youth are unacceptable, which is why we are increasing our support of this important group,” said Entwistle, in the news release. “Working with the Telus Community Boards, the Foundation will help to remove barriers and connect our most vulnerable citizens to the resources they need. The potential of these young people is boundless, and it is our responsibility to support and nurture them.”
The Telus Community Boards operate in 18 communities where Telus employees live and work, both in Canada and abroad through Telus International. Since 2005, the Community Boards have given $72 million to grassroots registered charities in support of 7,000 programs.
Telus said that the inaugural $120 million endowment in support of the Friendly Future Foundation is the largest donation made by a publicly traded Canadian company, and one of the largest ever in North America.
The support provided by the Foundation complements the company’s existing social-purpose initiatives such as Internet for Good, offering low cost high speed internet to low income families; Mobility for Good, which provides fully subsidized smartphones and data plans to youth transitioning out of foster care; and Health for Good, which uses mobile health clinics to provides healthcare to vulnerable and underserved Canadians.
In photo: Telus president and CEO Darren Entwistle (left) and B.C. premier John Horgan (right) at Friday’s announcement
