GUELPH, ON, July 28, 2011 /CNW/ - The Co-operators today announced staff-directed donations of $44,250 to 12 Guelph-area organizations. The contributions are part of the organization's Directed Donations program, in which staff members may each direct $75 of corporate funds to the organization of their choice. This year, a total of $236,150 was provided to 156 groups across Canada selected by Co-operators staff members, directors and delegates.

"This popular program allows employees to be directly involved from start to finish as they nominate organizations and then choose which will receive their portion of the corporate donation," said Kathy Bardswick, President and CEO of The Co-operators. "These charities are very close to our employees' hearts, ones they feel make enormous impacts in the communities they serve."

The following local charities were chosen to receive donations by Co-operators staff:

• Action Read, Guelph       $1,800
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph     $2,400
• Canadian Cancer Society - Guelph Branch    $6,900
• The Children's Foundation of Guelph and Wellington  $2,100
• Community Living Guelph Wellington - ARC Industries  $1,350
• Groves Memorial Hospital Foundation, Fergus   $4,650
• The Guelph Food Bank      $4,950
• Hospice Wellington       $6,375
• Kids Ability - Centre for Child Development, Guelph  $3,075
• Sunrise Therapeutic Riding and Learning Centre, Guelph  $3,000
• Women in Crisis Guelph-Wellington    $5,475
• Wyndham House, Guelph      $2,175

"Our organization relies on donations from the local community for some forty per cent of our operating costs," said Rosslyn Bentley, Executive Director of Hospice Wellington. "The financial support as well as the in-kind contributions we receive regularly from Co-operators staff members mean a great deal to us, as it helps us better serve individuals and families during very difficult times."

The funding is provided through The Co-operators Foundation, which supports social economy enterprises and other commendable causes throughout Canada. In total, 2,977 staff members directed $223,275 to 82 employee-nominated organizations, while 103 directors and delegates steered $12,875 to 74 organizations of their choice. In many cases, Co-operators staff members will be presenting the donations to organizations with which they are personally involved.

About The Co-operators:
The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $40 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is ranked #1 among the 50 Best Corporate Citizens in Canada by Corporate Knights, and listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada. For more information visit www.cooperators.ca.