Bell Aliant and the Bell Aliant Pioneer Volunteers donate more than $50,000 to 42 local charities
Dec 20, 2011
ST. JOHN'S, NL, Dec. 20, 2011 /CNW/ - Today, Bell Aliant and the Bell Aliant Pioneer Volunteers kicked off the holiday season by donating more than $50,000 to 42 organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador.(see complete list below). The donations are part of Bell Aliant's community program that focuses on mental health initiatives and other grassroots programs across the Province.
Each year, employees and retirees gather with community partners to celebrate the season and provide support for a variety of programs that help make a difference in the lives for many families in our communities.
"The Christmas season is the ideal time for Bell Aliant employees and our Pioneers to give back to the community and share the efforts of a year's worth of fundraising", said Elizabeth Clift, Director, Customer Care, Bell Aliant. "Our people take tremendous pride in meeting with our community partners and seeing the difference that these contributions make in our community."
In these challenging economic times, many community groups are grateful for the consistent support they receive from Bell Aliant and the Pioneers. "It's amazing, really," said Sheldon Pollett, Executive Director, Choices for Youth. "These donations go a long way in helping us maintain our current programs and develop new ones, which ultimately makes life a bit easier for youth with mental health issues."
Since 1985, Bell Aliant and the Bell Aliant Pioneers have been assisting organizations in the province carry out their work at Christmas with cash contributions, volunteer efforts and donations of Christmas stockings. This year the Pioneers have collected over 310 stockings filled with gifts from Bell Aliant employees. These stockings are distributed by community based organizations to families in need across the Province.
Donations were made to the following programs and organizations:
| The REAL Program | $3,500 |
| Choices for Youth | $5,000 |
| Community Food Sharing | $2,000 |
| Wanbana Boys and Girls Club | $2,000 |
| Mary Queen of the World | $2,000 |
| Corner Brook Food Bank | $1,000 |
| Dorset Collegiate | $300 |
| Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Centre | $3,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House | $3,000 |
| Pioneers Christmas Stocking Program | $13,950 |
| Chapter 105 | |
| Ronald Macdonald | $500 |
| Candlelighters Association | $1,000 |
| Brother T. I. Murphy Center | $500 |
| Community Food Sharing | $2,500 |
| Clarenville Club | |
| Clarenville Food Bank | $200 |
| Bonavista Food Bank | $200 |
| Heart & Stroke Foundation | $200 |
| GB Cross Memorial Hospital | $200 |
| ALS Society | $200 |
| Tricon Club | |
| KIXX Country Happy Tree | $250 |
| Salvation Army Bay Roberts | $250 |
| St. Vincent de Paul | $250 |
| Victoria Food Bank | $250 |
| Exploits Club | |
| Central NL Health Center | $250 |
| Grand-Falls Windsor Food Bank | $250 |
| Corduroy Brook Association | $250 |
| Salvation Army Windsor - Exploits Club | $250 |
| Copperbelt Club | |
| Salvation Army Happy Tree | $250 |
| Green Bay Food Bank | $250 |
| Indian Rr Academy Breakfast Program | $250 |
| Baie Verte Ministerial Association | $250 |
| St. Peter's Academy | $250 |
| Avalon Club | |
| Community Food Sharing Association | $500 |
| Jimmy Pratt Memorial Soup Kitchen | $500 |
| Northwest Club | |
| Corner Brook Firefighters Toy Drive | $300 |
| Transition House | $300 |
| Xavier House | $300 |
| Salvation Army Kettle | $100 |
| Centara Club | |
| Cara House | $250 |
| Gander Academy Breakfast Program | $250 |
| Gander Food Bank | $250 |
| Military Family Resource Centre | $250 |
| Fort Pepperrell Club | |
| Big Brothers & Sisters | $300 |
| Boys and Girls Club | $300 |
| Choices for Youth | $400 |
About Bell Aliant
Bell Aliant Inc. (TSX: BA) is one of North America's largest regional
communications providers and the first company in Canada to cover an
entire city with fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) technology with its FibreOP™
services. Through its operating entities, Bell Aliant serves customers
in six Canadian provinces with innovative information, communication
and technology services, including voice, data, Internet, video and
value-added business solutions. Bell Aliant's employees deliver the
highest quality of customer service, choice and convenience. For more
information, visit www.bellaliant.ca.
About the Bell Aliant Pioneer Volunteers
The Bell Aliant Pioneer Volunteers is the largest corporate-based
volunteer organization in Atlantic Canada. The Pioneers work to move
those in need from adversity to achievement. The membership is
comprised of close to 9,000 current and former Bell Aliant employees
and its predecessor companies. The Bell Aliant Pioneer Volunteers focus
on education and technology related projects within their communities.
The Bell Aliant Pioneers have been working together for a hundred years
now. The positive impact they have had on the lives of the people they
serve is immeasurable.
In 2010 alone, the Bell Aliant Pioneers donated more than $200,000 and performed close to 160,000 volunteer hours to a number of community projects.
The work of the Bell Aliant Pioneer Volunteers contributes to Bell Aliant's overall community investment program.
The Bell Aliant Pioneer Volunteers are part of TelecomPioneers, the largest industry-based volunteer organization in the world. The TelecomPioneers boast nearly 620,000 men and women throughout Canada and the United States who work together to make their communities better places in which to live and work.