Five social equity organizations to benefit
from the funding over the next four years
BRAMPTON, ON, Jan. 30,
2024 As part of its commitment to advance social
equity, Loblaw Companies Limited (TSX: L; "Loblaw") is
announcing $1 million in funding for
five different organizations serving historically underrepresented
members in Canadian communities. The funding comes in the form of
Community Investment Grants, and will support the delivery
of a variety of unique programs:
- Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA): the grant
will support the annual RiseUp Women+ Pitch Competition and Program
designed to strengthen and support black women-led
businesses.
- Canadian Women's Foundation: the grant will support programs
addressing the stigma and silence around gender-based violence in
communities and workplaces.
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital: the grant
will support youth employment programs and programs aimed at ending
disability stigma in communities, schools, and workplaces.
- Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB): the grant will
support young Indigenous entrepreneurs under the age of 35
operating their businesses in Canada. Loblaw will also cover the cost of
CCAB membership for all grantees each year.
- Pride at Work Canada: the grant will support two specific
programs that encourage conversation, education and thought
leadership to develop the next generation of 2SLGBTQIA+ community
members.
In total, each organization will receive $50,000 a year for four years starting in 2024.
Grant recipients were selected with input from volunteers at each
of Loblaw's four DEI-related employee resource groups (ERGs),
namely ABLE, Embrace Your Roots, Go Further Women and
Proud.
"We're proud to support organizations that share our core values
as a business, bringing to life our desire to advance social equity
through the important work that they do," said Emma Race, Senior Director, Sustainability and
Social Impact at Loblaw.
Testimonials by grant partners
Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) "We've
had a strong and productive partnership with Loblaw since 2020 and
are grateful to receive this additional financial support. The
grant will go towards the annual RiseUp Women+ Pitch Competition
and Programs, supporting black-women-led businesses. The
competition's winners will be the direct beneficiaries of the grant
while a portion of the grant money will also be spent on organizing
the competition. I cannot stress how invaluable this grant is for
supporting the Black community in business and how much we value
our partnership with Loblaw" says Frances
Delsol, Vice-President, National Partnerships, Outreach
& Procurement.
Canadian Women's Foundation
"Our partnership
with Loblaw since 2022 has enabled us to focus on
critical challenges facing diverse women, girls, and Two
Spirit, trans and non-binary people all over
Canada. This grant will be
instrumental in helping us address stigma and silence around
gender-based violence in our society and workplaces. Thank
you, Loblaw, for your continued support." says
Anuradha Dugal, Vice
President, Community Initiatives at the Canadian Women's
Foundation.
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation
Hospital
"Holland Bloorview Foundation is
proud of our partnership with Loblaw. Together, we
will continue our organizations anti-stigma work and our ongoing
mission to make disability inclusion a priority everywhere. Our
funding from Loblaw will also support our youth
employment pathways programs which help give youth with disability
jobs skills training, work experience and will help set them up for
success into adulthood. We are grateful for the opportunity to do
this important work for kids and youth with disability together."-
Molly McKeown- Vice President, Partnerships at the
Holland Bloorview
Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
(CCAB)
"We are very appreciative of
Loblaw's support in helping us strengthen the role of
Indigenous businesses to advance economic reconciliation in
Canada. The $200,000 received over four years will help us
launch the Young Indigenous Business Entrepreneurship grant, in
which 15 Indigenous leaders under the age of 35 will receive
$2,500 each. Loblaw is
also generously covering the cost of CCAB membership
for all grantees each year. I look forward to seeing the impact
this important investment in Indigenous entrepreneurs will have for
the recipients, as well as for their communities and
families." Paul-Emile
McNab, Vice President, Business Development and
Membership Experience at Canadian Council for Aboriginal
Business.
Pride at Work Canada.
"We are excited to
partner with Loblaw and are grateful for their
investment into our cause. Our work empowers employers to build
workplaces that celebrate all employees regardless of gender
expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
Loblaw's grant will support two programs: 1) THRIVE, which is
designed to develop the next generation of Two-Spirit, queer
and trans people managers and leaders, and 2)
FLOURISH, which develops the skills required for 2SLGBTQIA+
Employee Resource Group (ERG) leaders to be effective and
successful in their roles. We appreciate this inspiring grant
and are excited to see its impact on alleviating specific
challenges that 2SLGBTQIA+ community members face in Canadian
workplaces." Jose Patino-Gomez, Director of External
Relations at Pride at Work Canada.
About Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw is Canada's food and
pharmacy leader, and the nation's largest retailer. Loblaw provides
Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel,
general merchandise, financial services and wireless mobile
products and services. With more than 2,400 corporate franchised
and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees and
Associate-owners employ more than 221,000 full- and part-time
employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.
Loblaw's purpose – Live Life Well® – puts first the needs and
well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions annually
in the company's stores. Loblaw is positioned to meet and exceed
those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more than 1,050
grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to
specialty; full-service pharmacies at nearly 1,400 Shoppers Drug
Mart® and Pharmaprix® locations and close to 500 Loblaw locations;
PC Financial® services; Joe Fresh® fashion and family apparel; and
four of Canada's top-consumer
brands in Life Brand®, Farmer's MarketTM, no
name® and President's Choice®.
SOURCE Loblaw Companies Limited