GUELPH, ON, July 2 /CNW/ - The Co-operators today announced that 93
charitable organizations across Canada will benefit from a total of $237,000
as part of this year's Directed Donations program. Through the program, staff
members, directors and delegates choose charitable causes to support with
corporate funds.
    Each staff member had an opportunity to direct $75 of corporate money
toward the organization of their choice from among a list of charitable
organizations suggested by employees. In all, 2,961 staff directed a total of
$222,075 to 81 organizations, which represented 82 per cent of all
Co-operators employees. Members of the board of directors and delegates of
member-owners also participated in the program, investing a further $15,375 in
93 charities across the country.
    "The Directed Donations program engages our staff directly in the
donations process by enabling them to invest corporate money in very worthy
local organizations," said Bardswick. "By choosing to take the time first to
suggest an organization to support, and then actually make that donation,
nearly 3,000 of our staff are supporting organizations they believe in, which
offer life-altering programs and services."
    According to Food Banks Canada, the number of Canadians seeking food from
food banks has risen by about 20 per cent each month. To help meet this
growing demand, 13 food banks across Canada received more than $16,000 in
donations directed by Co-operators staff, directors and member-delegates.

    The five largest staff-directed donations went to:
    -   The Toronto Hospital for Sick Children ($23,775)
    -   the Canadian Cancer Society, Regina branch, ($13,725)
    -   The Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation, Calgary, ($8,775)
    -   Sofia House - Women's and Children's Shelter, Regina, ($8,025)
    -   The Canadian Cancer Society, Guelph branch, ($7,800)

    The funding was provided from The Co-operators Foundation, through which
the organization supports social economy enterprises and other worthy causes
in Canada.

    About The Co-operators:

    Based in Guelph, Ontario, The Co-operators is a group of Canadian
companies offering home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm
insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators Group Limited is a
100 per cent Canadian-owned co-operative with assets of more than $7 billion.
It is owned by a group of Canadian co-operatives, credit union centrals and
like-minded organizations. The Co-operators is well known for its community
involvement, and is listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada.

For further information: Leonard Sharman, The Co-operators,
1-877-795-7272, ext. 2707