UPS United Parcel Service

Hands-on Volunteerism by UPS Employees Leads UPS Giving Strategy

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 10, 2016 /CNW/ - UPS Canada continues its on-going commitment to support communities where it operates with its UPS Giving Strategy. UPS combines its employees' skill, passion and time, with their transportation assets and charitable donations to make a measurable difference in society. In 2015, UPS invested over 84,000 volunteer hours and more than $290,000 in The UPS Foundation grants into Canadian communities.  

The UPS Foundation was established by UPS founder Jim Casey in 1951 with a mission to help build stronger and more resilient communities. The Foundation's current philanthropic approach focuses on four areas that reflect UPS's corporate values and expertise: Diversity, Community Safety, Environmental Sustainability and Volunteerism. The Foundation supports these efforts by creating and funding programs focused on building better communities.

Last year, The Foundation supported organizations nominated by UPS employees who benefited from 50 or more hours of hands-on volunteering from those employees.

"Year after year, it is the volunteer spirit of our people that allow for positive impacts in the communities we serve across the country," said Dan Shea, vice-president of human resources, UPS Canada. To recognize this engagement the company awards employees who deliver significant impact in their local communities with The Jim Casey Community Service Award. "We have many employees who tirelessly devote their time to make a difference in their communities and we feel it is important to recognize their efforts. This encourages employees all over the world to assess community needs, recommend grants and engage with effective local organizations." Shea added.

Last year, UPS Canada employee Whilna Stewart-Franklin was the Canadian nominee for The Jim Casey Community Service Award for her contribution of more than 2,000 hours of hands-on volunteering with the help of family and friends.

In 2015, The Darling Home was one of 10 organizations that benefitted from UPS's volunteering and philanthropic activities.

"The Darling Home for Kids was thrilled to receive a capital grant from The UPS Foundation that is making a positive difference for our children and families. Our organization provides quality care to children who are medically complex, giving their parents a much needed break. Thanks to the generosity of The UPS Foundation, this year we purchased a specialized piece of therapeutic equipment that projects interactive images that bring smiles to our children's faces. We also purchased a new telephone system that enables us to communicate with our families, and a tractor that supports the maintenance of our state-of-the-art facility," said Kristin Horrell, executive director, The Darling Home for Kids. "But UPS' support goes beyond just financial, as UPS employees volunteer their time each year, helping maintain our gardens and our special Home which is a beautiful oasis for our families. We thank UPS for their strong commitment to give back to the community, and appreciate their incredible support over the past 3 years."

Globally, UPS has a goal to achieve 20 million hours of volunteering by the end of 2020.

To view UPS's global CSR report, including global performance metrics and goals, please visit the website here.

About The UPS Foundation:

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global communities. In 2015, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $ 110 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/Foundation.  To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.

SOURCE UPS Canada Ltd.