WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - Sep 24, 2016) - TELUS today announced the formation of its 17th Community Board, the TELUS Manitoba Community Board, which will officially launch in early 2017. The Board, run by local business and community leaders who know Manitoba best, will provide up to $350,000 in funding to local registered charities that support youth and families and focus on at least one of three key areas: health, education and the environment.
TELUS and its team members have been part of the Manitoba community since it launched national wireless services in 2000, and has proudly supported national organizations like WE (formerly Free The Children), World Wildlife Fund, and the David Foster Foundation that continue to make a meaningful impact in the province. Entrenching the company's support of the community by establishing a Community Board that will give back to grassroots communities is the next step in the evolution of TELUS' commitment to Manitobans.
"At TELUS, we believe that in order to do well in business, we must do 'good' in the communities where we live, work and serve," said Darren Entwistle, TELUS President and CEO. "Our Community Boards put funding decisions directly in the hands of local leaders who best know their communities and understand where our contributions will have the most significant and sustained social impact. We look forward to supporting important grassroots initiatives that make a meaningful difference in the lives of citizens across Manitoba for years to come."
The Board's inaugural gift is a $50,000 donation that will be made to the David Foster Foundation at tonight's gala event in Winnipeg. The contribution will provide non-medical support to five Manitoban families with children awaiting life-saving organ transplants. The Chair of the TELUS Manitoba Community Board is Dave Johnston, newly retired President and COO of Great West Life Canadian Division, and the Board will be comprised of distinguished Manitoba community leaders and TELUS team members.
"It's an honour to bring such an important, innovative, grassroots community initiative that has been making a measurable impact across Canada and around the world home to Manitoba," said Dave Johnston, "I look forward to assembling a passionate, committed Board that will enable charities throughout the province to continue and expand their important work supporting youth and families."
To be eligible for funding from the TELUS Manitoba Community Board, organizations must be a registered Canadian charity and put forward a project that demonstrates a focus on youth while maintaining a focus on social or technological innovation to address an issue of importance for the community. Projects seeking funding can be submitted for consideration using a dedicated online platform available via http://community.telus.com/. This platform is set to launch soon. The Board will review all applications and select those which they feel will have the most impact for funding.