UPS Challenges Canadians to Get Involved During National Volunteer Week

Mississagua, April 12, 2010

UPS Canada is challenging companies and individuals to volunteer during Canada's upcoming National Volunteer Week (April 18-24) and throughout the year. The company's employees continue to lead by example and volunteered more than 28,000 volunteer hours - the equivalent of more than 75 hours a day - to more than 280 charitable organizations across Canada in 2009.

"Throughout the year, UPS Canada employees dedicate their time reaching out to communities in need," said UPS Canada employee and community relations manager Kelly Neufeld. "Volunteering and community support is at the core of UPS's values, and our employees are a true representation of our commitment to this philosophy."

The company's president, Mike Tierney, is also a prime example. Tierney is Chair of Volunteer Canada's Corporate Council on Volunteering, which is comprised of 22 other Canadian companies. The Council recently partnered with Getinvolved.ca on "The Power of the Hour" national volunteer campaign with a goal of generating two million volunteer hours from Canadian corporations and individuals in 2010. Three months after the launch in January, the campaign reached its goal with Corporate Council members contributing over 800,000 volunteer hours.

"UPS Canada recognizes the significance of giving back to the communities where we live and work. It's a responsibility we take seriously," notes Tierney, president of UPS Canada. "And I challenge all businesses, not-for-profits and individuals across the country to join us in committing the most precious commodity – our time – to give something back in 2010."

UPS encourages its employees to volunteer through various programs, including its grant programs which strike a balance between financial contribution and hands-on volunteer hours. In the first quarter of this year alone, UPS Canada made cheque presentations amounting to more than $257,000 to six deserving charitable organizations, which each benefited from at least 50 hands-on volunteer hours from UPS employees and their families.

The grant recipients included La Société de l'Autisme des Laurentides in Québec; YMCA Greater Moncton in New Brunswick; the New Brunswick branch of the Canadian Rehabilitation Council for the Disabled; Parkdale Project Read in Toronto; Welcome Hall Mission in Quebec; and St. Patrick's Family Centre in New Brunswick.

"In addition to our grant programs and ongoing volunteer efforts, the month of October is designated internally as UPS Global Volunteer Month," explains Neufeld.  "This is a month-long movement of UPS employees all over the world collaborating to strengthen communities."

Since the first Global Volunteer Month, the number of UPS employee volunteers has grown from 1,000 (in 2003), to 15,000 expected to participate worldwide in 2010.  Three employees are drawn from the database that captures UPS's volunteer hours and each receives a $10,000 donation to give to the charity of their choice. On March 22, the 2009 UPS Canada recipient gave the $10,000 donation to L'Amitient (Unity for Autism) in Montreal.

"L'Amitient provides a safe place for people with intellectual disabilities to live, who are otherwise not able to live on their own," explains the UPS volunteer, who wishes to remain anonymous. "L'Amitient is a place where individuals can live with dignity and respect. It was a great pleasure for me to work alongside my colleagues and friends to help those in need, and I will continue to return to L'Amitient as long as my assistance there is needed."