Team-led initiative has resulted in a cumulative impact of over 2 million days of volunteerism over the past two decades
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TELUS today announced the kick off of its 18th annual TELUS Days of Giving, a month-long initiative that mobilizes TELUS team members, retirees and partners around the world to volunteer and give back in their local communities. According to the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer, Canadians are increasingly looking to businesses to do more to help solve pressing social issues. Almost 60 per cent of Canadians believe businesses are not doing enough to address climate change and 81 per cent agree companies should be doing more to give back. Championed by team members almost two decades ago, the annual TELUS Days of Giving movement continues to grow, now bringing together a record-breaking 75,000 TELUS team members and retirees across the globe. From cleaning local shorelines and parks, donating blood, planting trees, recycling old mobile devices, or volunteering at neighbourhood food banks, the TELUS team is committed to creating long-lasting impacts and helping address some of today’s most pressing challenges in their local communities. Since 2000, the TELUS team members, retirees and their families have contributed 2 million days of global volunteerism and donated C$1.5 billion to local charities and not-for-profit organizations.
“Our TELUS team remains deeply committed to driving positive social change and creating remarkable human outcomes in the global communities where we operate,” said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO, TELUS. “With a tremendous legacy of giving that spans over two decades, and that includes two million days of volunteerism, TELUS team members consistently demonstrate their capacity to make the world a better place, selflessly giving of their time, talents and resources to improve the lives of our fellow citizens. Our annual TELUS Days of Giving, which began as a domestic initiative, has grown into a powerful global movement with over 75,000 team members coming together to make a meaningful difference. Thanks to our team’s passionate support – underpinned by our inimitable culture of caring – I am confident that we will make this our most giving year ever, as we work towards a friendlier future for generations to come.”
In addition to the TELUS Days of Giving program, TELUS leads by example, stepping up and providing support every day of the year. Last year alone, TELUS:
- Gave back five per cent of its pre-tax profits in 2022, including devoting $125 million and 1.44 million volunteer hours
- Enabled $6.6 million in 2022 for humanitarian and emergency relief around the world, directly helping those impacted by the conflict in Ukraine, Hurricane Fiona and Hurricane Ian, the flooding in Pakistan, and the unrest in Iran
- Provided over $1 million worth of food and meals to communities in need nationwide
- Filled and distributed 17,000 backpacks, filled with back-to-school essentials for Canadian youth, as part of TELUS’ Kits for Kids program
- Planted 265,000 trees in 2022, helping reach a 2023 milestone of 1 million trees planted to date, and removing 10,000 bags of garbage from shorelines across the country
- Donated over 145,000 handmade and collected care items, such as hand sewn baby clothes, heart pillows, knitted knockers and comfort kits, for organizations supporting the health and wellness of Canadians from coast to coast
“When I started with TELUS more than 12 years ago, I never would have imagined my career would grow into something so meaningful and impactful,” said Allison Fary, TELUS Days of Giving Program Manager, TELUS. “Giving back has always been important to me and having an employer with a strong volunteering culture, who not only encourages me to do more, but has allowed me to turn that passion into a career is incredibly fulfilling.”
To learn more about how TELUS is helping create a friendlier future for all, visit telus.com/purpose.
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading communications technology company with $18 billion in annual revenue and 18 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 30 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 leader, 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 covering 68 million lives, 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 and our team to contribute $1.5 billion, including 2 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 at @TELUSNews on Twitter and @Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.
For more information, please contact:
Saara Rahikka
TELUS Media Relations
saara.rahikka@telus.com
A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/745be0de-c30d-4a37-b16c-41898cf6654b
