Local Initiatives: Canada

Committees of employees based in each of our locations are empowered to make decisions on the organizations that are the best fit for Accenture to partner with in their cities. They work with a local budget and solicit volunteer resources to make these local partnerships a reality.

Our 2006 local initiatives...

Niagara (Thorold, Ontario) office support:

Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation—Accenture Business Services for Utilities employees ran an innovative "Amazing Race" activity for Cystic Fibrosis, raising over $2,000 in just two weeks. The 36 employees who joined in the event raised money for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Association and its mission to fund cystic fibrosis research and care.

Edmonton Office Support:

Gateway Association for Community Living—Local office employees spent hundreds of hours building and providing training for a new website for this organization that supports individuals and families dealing with developmental disabilities.

Montreal office support:

Quebec Breakfast Club (QBC)—QBC is a non-profit organization working to promote the healthy growth of children by offering them breakfast, the most important meal of the day. CCC Montreal holds special celebration breakfasts (Eastern, Halloween, and Christmas) at the Champlain Primary School where Accenture volunteers help to prepare and serve breakfast, spend time to play with the kids, and bring them banquets full of presents.

Caring for Kids Radiothon―The Children's Annual Radiothon is an emotional and fun day hosted by three radio stations: Mix 96, CJAD 800 and CHOM 97.7 who are transmitting live from The Montreal's Children Hospital encouraging their audience to call and make a donation. CCC sent a team of 10 volunteers to help answer donation calls during a whole morning. This year's Radiothon raised over $2 million! – breaking records across Canada! We are proud of this event that definitely makes an important difference in the lives of many children.

World Swim for Malaria―Fifteen Accenture employees and their families gathered at the McGill pool in December 2005 and collectively swam a total of 20.25km in support of this global CCC initiative to raise money for mosquito netting. Collectively, enough money was raised for the purchase of 240 mosquito nets.

Holiday Bake Sale for St-Mary's Hospital―This was the third year Accenture held a Bake Sale at St-Mary's hospital during the Accenture Kids' Holiday Party. Guests at the party were welcomed to bring their home baked goods to be sold to those attending the party. This year marked the first year that the Montreal CCC decided to match all donations made by employees and guests during the bake sale. All funds raised were donated to the St-Mary's Foundation./p>

Super Cities Walk - Multiple Sclerosis Foundation―This Canadian-wide walk is an important fundraiser for the foundation. It has raised millions in the past years. This year, the participants from the Montreal office (over 20) were invited to raise their own sponsorship for the walk on top of the money given by CCC.

Step Up for Children Standard life―Foundation for research into children diseases―Over 20 Accenture employees, family members and friends woke up early on a Saturday morning to walk or run for this important cause. The event raised lots of money and generated lots of smiles as per the previous year's event!

Splash and Dash―Sarah Cook foundation for the Montreal Children Hospital―For the second year in a row, over ten Accenture employees helped out at this annual fundraiser for the Montreal Hospital. While some were busy playing with kids in the inflatables and building giant Lego sculptures, others were running in the inter-company famous relay race.

"Sports Day" 2006―Montreal's local employee committee organized the office's annual "Sports Day" in September 2006, where friendly competitions were sponsored allowing the participating teams to compete and win more than $8,600 combined for the four different local charities they were representing: Scouts Canada Nahani Scout Troop, Camp de Vacances Lac Simon, Les Amis de la Montagne, and AIDS Community Care Montreal.

Ferrari Dream Drive – Montreal Children Hospita―This was the third year Accenture participated in the Ferrari Dream Drive held to benefit terminally ill children at the Montreal Children's hospital. The goal was to give the children a day of pure joy and excitement – including the very special opportunity to ride in a Ferrari.

Meal on Wheels―Accenture participated and helped with fundraising for this Montreal-based non-profit organization's annual "Bazaar", helping it to bring high quality food to senior people living with a loss of autonomy. Earlier during the year a small group of employees also helped out preparing food for 80 people.

Ottawa Office Support:

Habitat for Humanity—A local employee team contributed to the construction of a two-story double house in the Ottawa area, which has since become the new home for two very happy families, each with four children.

Enbridge Christie Lake "Canoe for Kids"—$3,000 was donated to this annual event raising money to help send underprivileged kids to the camp.

Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone—Accenture staff raised $1,105.66 for the Kids Help Phone through fundraising efforts by team members and through personal donations and participation in a 50/50 draw and office Jeans Days.

Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life—An Accenture team stayed awake all night for the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life and raised over $2,800.

Make-A-Wish Foundation—Our local committee allocated the appropriate funding to send a 9-year old child with heart disease to Disney World with her family.

Alcatel HOPE Volleyball SummerFest—Accenture fielded an employee team once again in support of numerous local charities, and helped support ticket sales.

Nortel Ottawa Dragonboat Festival—The Accenture team entered a boat and raised over $2,000 for local charities.

Espial Corporate Hockey Challenge— An Accenture team's participation in this Ottawa hockey tournament and coordinated office fundraisers led to over $2,100 raised for CHEO Roger's House.

Toronto Office Support:

Second Harvest—Over 40 Accenture volunteers from the Toronto area came out to help organize and run Toronto Taste in support of Second Harvest [www.secondharvest.ca]. The event features Toronto's top chefs and vintners providing a sample menu to guests to raise the funds needed to get food to those in need in the Greater Toronto Area. Accenture's donation in 2006 will provide 30,000 meals to local families.

Invest in Kids Battle of the Brains—45 Accenture volunteers took part in Battle of the Brains, a fundraiser for Invest in Kids, an organization that helps ensure healthy social, emotional and intellectual development of children from birth to age 5.

Child Development Institute—A group of over 20 Accenture volunteers helped with an interior upgrade of the Institute's Cabbagetown Early Learning Centre in Toronto in August 2006. The Institute's mission is to help strengthen families and promote early child development.

National Service Dogs—Volunteers helped stuff 3,000 eggs with dog treats and stickers to raise funds for this organization providing service dog training for children with autism. The funding went directly toward delivery of a dog for an autistic child.

Hearing Foundation of Canada—Accenture Business Services for Utilities employees based in our Thornhill, Ontario office took part in the Wicked Wickets croquet tournament in June 2006 to raise funds for the Hearing Foundation of Canada.

Yonge Street Mission—A team of Accenture volunteers worked to organize a series of gift and food drives in support of the Yonge Street Mission Holiday Wishlist Initiative in December 2005. In conjunction with Accenture's generous donation of $7,500, volunteers collected 225 donated gifts, $450 in cash for gift certificates, 250 pounds of food and over 250 travel size toiletries.

Trees Across Toronto—This is the signature event of the City of Toronto's Tree Advocacy Planting Program. Accenture has sent volunteers to this event for the past two years who have planted in excess of 300 trees.

Vancouver office support:

BC Children's Hospital—In 2006, Accenture made an equipment donation to fund two Dinamap Units at a total of $10,000 ($5,000 each); Dinamap Units are automated blood pressure machines, created specifically for children, that can be programmed to take blood pressure and heart rate recordings at frequent intervals.

Additionally, Accenture volunteers took part in the 2006 BC Children's Hospital's Paddle for Kids event, where they come together as a dragonboat team and each team member is responsible for raising pledges to help support the hospital. In September 2006 the team helped raise over $60,000.

Harbour Light Society—Accenture employees volunteered often throughout 2006 to support the Harbour Light Society's soup kitchens. Further, in June 2006 Accenture presented a cheque to the organization totaling $3,200 to support two Foodline Sponsorships, each supporting the costs of over 600 meals served. Accenture also donated $2,500 to the Harbour Light Society's Client Fund, which helps supported individuals cover costs incurred in regaining their health, obtaining shelter and participating in substance abuse recovery programs.

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation—Accenture employees participated in the 2006 CIBC Run for the Cure, a 5KM fundraising run that supports the foundation's efforts to promote research, awareness, early diagnosis and education programs regarding breast cancer.

Health and Home Care Society of BC—In 2006, Accenture donated $7,500 to the Health and Home Care Society of BC, an organization dedicated to providing home services to individuals with need. This donation provided 1500 Meals on Wheels sponsorships, which represents 1,500 meals delivered to individual households.

Canadian Blood Services "Partners for Life"—A terrific example of grassroots volunteerism in Vancouver, an individual employee organized a blood drive in 2006 that provided 16 units of much-needed blood to Canadian Blood Services. Due to this participation, Accenture has been recognized by Canadian Blood Services as a member in the Partners for Life program.