Recipients each receive a $7,000 prize pack and were identified as part of a nationwide call out to nominate youth who are creating long-lasting change in their communities
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, TELUS announced the recipients of the Friendly Future Makers Awards, recognizing and celebrating Canadian youth who are creating long-lasting change in their communities. The Friendly Future Makers Awards are inspired by TELUS’ long-standing brand promise, Let’s make the future friendly. This year’s recipients were identified as a result of a nationwide callout that invited Canadians to nominate a Friendly Future Maker in their life who is doing amazing things in their local community. Each recipient will each receive a prize pack worth $7,000, including $5,000 to help fund their initiatives or to invest in a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP), a $1,000 TELUS gift card, and a $1,000 donation to a registered charity of their choice.
Throughout August and September, TELUS received hundreds of nominations from across the country. A panel of TELUS judges selected seven Friendly Future Makers, each representing one of TELUS’ areas of social purpose and driving force behind the TELUS brand. Join TELUS in congratulating this year's recipients:
- Community Builder - Adara Hagman, ON: Adara Hagman is the co-creator of Chill Pill, a safe and supportive community for female and non-binary Gen Z to discuss mental health. Hagman is also building Gloclo – a clothes-sharing platform aimed at reducing waste by promoting circular fashion, creating a more circular tomorrow.
- Hunger Hero - Georgia Apostolopoulos, ON: Georgia is founder of Bank on Bellies, a non-profit organization that partners with schools, local businesses, and corporations to help support local food drives across the Greater Toronto Area. To date, she has collected 14,700 food items and $31,791 for local food banks.
- Health & Wellness Helper - Athena Woodford, NS: Athena raises awareness on the issue of sexual assault and sex trafficking, helping build healthier communities. With support from their peers, Woodford speaks on the issue at local schools and sells merchandise to raise money for Action Canada, a sexual rights and health organization.
- Planet Protector - Aryan Gautam, ON: Aryan is the youngest member of several councils including, Ontario Nature Youth Council and the Youth Director of Mississauga Climate Action, and has committed over 10,000 volunteer hours, to date, spreading awareness about climate change, philanthropy and environmentalism.
- Connection Enabler - Keeya Beausoleil, AB: Keeya is the founder of a non-profit organisation, Out of Sight, In Mind, an initiative designing a durable, practical storage cart for Edmontonians experiencing homelessness through inclusive design and risk-reduction.
- Future Friendly Maker - Austin Ma, BC: Austin is co-founder of the Coding Pals Foundation, a non-profit organisation that has taught coding to over 1600 kids since its founding in March 2020. Coding Pals continues to be the only non-profit organization in Vancouver that offers computer programming lessons at no cost. Today, Austin leads a team of over 20 high schoolers, running dozens of enriching year-round programs.
- Future Friendly Maker - Juliette Décarie, QC: Juliette is a committed ambassador for the CHU Sainte-Justine foundation which focuses on fostering an inclusive community that celebrates physical, psychological, cultural and sexual differences on social networks. On October 1, Juliette began her fundraising journey with a goal of raising $10,000 for the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation and embarked on a half marathon, travelling 22 km between Laval and Montreal.
“With the Friendly Future Makers Awards, we’re celebrating the inspiring young leaders who are making a meaningful impact today and helping shape the world we will live in tomorrow,” said Jill Schnarr, Chief Social Innovation and Communications Officer, TELUS. “This award demonstrates the power that imagination and innovation can unlock when youth are empowered to realise their full potential. From giving back to their communities, caring for the health and well-being of our planet, or helping feed those in need, it’s inspiring to see how many young Canadians are committed to helping make the future friendly. We want to thank everyone that entered and wish all the Friendly Future Makers Awards recipients a heartfelt congratulations.”
“Although change can be made by the influence of just one person, it takes a community to sustain that change and make a larger, continuous impact,” said Georgia Apostolopoulos, Friendly Future Maker, Hunger Hero. “TELUS recognizes this and empowers leadership, and initiatives like mine. I am grateful and honoured to have been thought about and selected as a Friendly Future Maker. This recognition not only supports my goals and achievements, but it celebrates the important message of my community, that kindness feeds bellies.”
To learn more about TELUS’ Friendly Future Makers and the difference they’re making, visit telus.com/YouthAwards.
ABOUT TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading communications technology company with $17 billion in annual revenue and 17 million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment, video, and security. Our social purpose is to leverage our global-leading technology and compassion to drive social change and enable remarkable human outcomes. Our longstanding commitment to putting our customers first fuels every aspect of our business, making us a distinct leader in customer service excellence and loyalty. The numerous, sustained accolades TELUS has earned over the years from independent, industry-leading network insight firms showcase the strength and speed of TELUS’ global-leading networks, reinforcing our commitment to provide Canadians with access to superior technology that connects us to the people, resources and information that make our lives better.
Operating in 28 countries around the world, TELUS International (TSX and NYSE: TIXT) is a leading digital customer experience innovator that designs, builds, and delivers next-generation solutions, including AI and content moderation, for global and disruptive brands across high-growth industry verticals, including tech and games, communications and media and eCommerce and fintech.
TELUS Health is a global healthcare company, which provides employee and family preventative healthcare and wellness solutions. Our TELUS team, along with our 100,000 health professionals, are leveraging the combination of TELUS’ strong digital and data analytics capabilities with our unsurpassed client service to dramatically improve remedial, preventative and mental health outcomes for over 50 million people, and growing, around the world. As the largest provider of digital solutions and digital insights of its kind, TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods enables efficient and sustainable production from seed to store, helping improve the safety and quality of food and other goods in a way that is traceable to end consumers.
Driven by our determination and vision to connect all citizens for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give where we live has inspired TELUS, our team members and retirees to contribute more than $900 million, in cash, in-kind contributions, time and programs, and 1.8 million days of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company in the world. Together, let’s make the future friendly.
For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com, follow us @TELUSNews on Twitter and @Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.
For media inquiries, please contact: Saara Rahikka TELUS Media Relations saara.rahikka@telus.com
