IKEA Canada welcomes requests from registered Canadian charitable organizations for donation of home furnishings products
BURLINGTON, ON, Dec. 10, 2015 /CNW/ - Beginning today, IKEA Canada is pleased to offer support for refugee families settling in Canada through donations of IKEA home furnishings. In response to the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis and Canada's commitment to welcome 25,000 refugees by the end of February 2016, the company will invite requests for support from Canadian registered charitable organizations that have a mandate to support newcomers to Canada. IKEA's total project budget of $180,000 CAD for product support has been allocated evenly to the surrounding communities of each of the 12 operating IKEA Canada stores and the six Pick-up and Order Points to fulfil requests for support.
IKEA Canada will accept applications from registered charitable organizations from December 10th through March 31st, 2016, or until the project budget has been exhausted, through an online application form. Due to the expected interest in this program, only successful applicants will be contacted.
"At IKEA Canada we know the home is the most important place in the world," said Stefan Sjöstrand, President, IKEA Canada. "By offering donations of home furnishings for refugees, we are not only providing the basic necessities for their new life in Canada, but more importantly offering the comforts of home in a time when they need it the most."
Families settling in the surrounding communities of one of the 12 IKEA store locations or six Pick Up and Order Points will be able to benefit through this initiative. Products donated to meet basic home furnishing needs may include: bed frames, mattresses, linens, cookware and tableware, appliances, lighting, dining room tables and chairs, children's toys and books and living room seating.
This program is being launched in the midst of IKEA's Brighter Lives for Refugees campaign, which runs from November 30th to December 19th. For every LED product sold in all IKEA stores and online during this period, the IKEA Foundation will donate €1 ($1.47CDN) to help UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Funds raised by the campaign will help to provide solar street lights, solar powered lanterns, and solar energy systems in refugee camps in various regions. In addition, the campaign also funds improved access to primary education in refugee camps.
Last year, the Brighter Lives for Refugees campaign raised over $14.6 Million Canadian globally, in support of refugees from across the globe.
"UNHCR continues to be grateful to IKEA for all its initiatives to aid and improve the lives of many refugees," said Furio De Angelis, UNHCR Representative in Canada. "We are particularly happy for the role IKEA will be playing assisting in the establishment of Syrian refugees to Canada."
The IKEA Foundation, UNHCR's largest private sector partner, believes that every child deserves a safe place to call home. Since 2010, it has partnered with UNHCR, helping to provide shelter, care and education to families and children in refugee camps and surrounding communities in parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
ABOUT UNHCR:
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. It also has a mandate to help stateless people. In more than six decades, the agency has helped tens of millions of people restart their lives. Today, a staff of some 9,300 people in more than 127 countries continues to help in excess of 50 million people. Learn more at www.unhcr.org and www.facebook.com/UNHCR
ABOUT IKEA FOUNDATION:
The IKEA Foundation (Stichting IKEA Foundation) is the philanthropic arm of INGKA Foundation, the owner of the IKEA Group of companies. We aim to improve opportunities for children and youth in some of the world's poorest communities by funding holistic, long-term programs that can create substantial, lasting change. The IKEA Foundation works with strong strategic partners applying innovative approaches to achieve large-scale results in four fundamental areas of a child's life: a place to call home; a healthy start in life; a quality education; and a sustainable family income. Learn more at www.ikeafoundation.org and www.facebook.com/IKEAfoundation
ABOUT IKEA CANADA:
IKEA is a leading home furnishing retailer with 361 stores in more than 50 countries worldwide, which are visited by 821 million people every year. IKEA Canada has 12 stores, an eCommerce virtual store, Pick-Up and Order Points in Quebec City and London, Ontario with four additional Pick-Up and Order Points opening spring 2016. Last year, IKEA Canada welcomed 25 million visitors to its stores and 75 million visitors to the IKEA.ca website. Founded in 1943, IKEA's business philosophy is to offer a wide range of products of good design and function at prices so low, the majority of people can afford them. For more information on IKEA, please visit: www.IKEA.ca.
SOURCE IKEA Canada
IKEA CANADA: Stephanie Kerr, Corporate Press Officer, 905-637-9440 ext. 6378, [email protected]
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