Veridian golf tournament raises $19,500 for community agencies

Utility's corporate social responsibility continues to strengthen communities it serves

AJAX, ON, Aug. 24, 2012 /CNW/ - At its annual charity golf tournament held yesterday at Deer Creek Golf & Banquet Facility in Ajax, Veridian Chair Doug Dickerson, together with company President and CEO Michael Angemeer and members of the utility's Board of Directors, presented cheques to Special Olympics Ontario, and Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Ajax-Pickering, Clarington, Hastings & Prince Edward Counties, and Muskoka. In total the tournament raised $19,500 for the agencies.

"Veridian employees have a long-standing history of giving generously and without hesitation to many worthwhile causes and community agencies like Special Olympics and Big Brother Big Sisters," said Dickerson. "I'm very proud of the financial assistance that we continue to provide to the communities we serve. Veridian is making a real difference to the lives of the individuals and their families who rely on Special Olympics and Big Brothers Big Sisters."

"Most of what we do today would not be possible without the generous donations from companies like Veridian," noted Glenn MacDonell, President & CEO, Special Olympics Ontario. "Veridian's decision to support Special Olympics Ontario through the Special Supporter Golf Series will allow us to grow and expand our programs such as Active Start - a school program aimed at getting intellectually challenged children active in various sports, and building a gateway for them to migrate into other programs once they finish their schooling."

Corporate social responsibility is taken very seriously at Veridian, with an annual budget for community giving approved by its Board of Directors on an annual basis. In 2011, Veridian's sponsorship budget of over $214,000 in corporate donations was distributed to charities throughout the company's service territories. Just under 12 per cent of Veridian's donations supported local hospital foundations and hospices. As an engineering and technology-driven company, Veridian acknowledged the importance of higher education by distributing bursaries to each of the 33 high schools across its service territories. The company also supported a large number of community events, including local festivals, celebrations and environmental causes.

"There is an increased demand for mentorship programs that give children the support they need to become successful," explained Melanie Stewart, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ajax-Pickering. "Veridian's financial support will enable us to screen and train more mentors, and match children on the waiting list with a new Big Brother or Big Sister. Veridian has embraced the Big Brothers Big Sisters community, and its mission in providing positive volunteer adult role models to young people - initiating opportunities for friendship and personal development."

"Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clarington is making a difference in our community by providing children in need with a variety of mentoring services that have been proven to help kids stay in school, avoid risky behaviour and grow-up to be civic-minded adults," said Kaitlyn Black, Communications & Community Development Coordinator, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clarington. "Veridian has been a tremendous supporter of our agency for many years, and their contributions provide the funding needed for our professionally trained staff to carefully screen and support our volunteers. We are incredibly grateful to have created a partnership with such a generous company, and thrilled to be a recipient of funds raised at their annual charity golf tournament."

"Our agency's mission is to foster, facilitate and support diverse mentoring programs for children and youth in need within our communities," said Cheryl Whiteman, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hastings & Prince Edward Counties. "Veridian's generous donation will be used to help fund our programs and purchase the sustainable materials required to run these programs, which allow for children to participate in activities they may otherwise not be able to."

Photo requests: Contact Chris Mace at 905-427-9870, ext. 2218 or email [email protected].

About Veridian Connections Inc.
Veridian Connections Inc. safely and reliably delivers electricity to more than 115,000 customers in the Cities of Pickering and Belleville, the Towns of Ajax, Port Hope and Gravenhurst, and the communities of Uxbridge, Bowmanville, Newcastle, Orono, Port Perry, Beaverton, Sunderland and Cannington. Veridian Connections Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Veridian Corporation. The City of Pickering, the Town of Ajax, the Municipality of Clarington and the City of Belleville jointly own Veridian Corporation.

About Special Olympics Ontario
For over 40 years, Special Olympics Ontario has been enriching the lives of those who have an intellectual disability through sports. Over that time, Special Olympics has grown from a modest program serving local athletes to become the world's largest movement dedicated to using the power of sports to promote respect, acceptance, inclusion and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters
For almost 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been making a positive difference in the lives of Canada's youth by developing and implementing a wide-range of mentoring programs. Serving as role models, mentors teach by example the importance of giving back, staying in school, and having respect for family, peers and community. Each time Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs a child with a mentor or introduces a group of students to an in-school program, a life-changing relationship built on friendship, trust and empowerment begins.

SOURCE: Veridian

Chris Mace
Sales & PR Representative - Corporate Communications
Veridian Connections Inc.
905-427-9870, extension 2218