Siemens donates $30,000 to Canadian charities in recognition of employee community involvement

Four deserving organizations chosen by winners of employee contest

OAKVILLE, ON, Dec. 19, 2013 /CNW/ - This holiday season, Siemens Canada is recognizing employees who "walk the talk" when it comes to Corporate Social Responsibility. The company is donating a total of $30,000 to four Canadian non-profit organizations in recognition of the winners of an internal employee contest called the Greatest Community Supporter Contest.

Through their inspiring applications, contestants demonstrated their dedication to supporting their communities through volunteering and fundraising activities; in total they raised more than $46,000 for non-profit organizations and volunteered more than 11,500 hours, or the equivalent of 480 days of their spare time.

To enter the Greatest Community Supporter Contest, Siemens employees from across the country shared their stories of community involvement. Applications were shortlisted by Siemens employees through online voting and winners were selected by a committee made up of members of the Executive Management team that oversee Siemens' corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.

Two top winners were selected to receive $10,000 donations to their charities of choice, with two runner-up winners receiving $5,000 donations to their charities.

The winner of the fundraising category, Steve Mainguy of Oakville, ON, chose to support the Coast To Coast Against Cancer Foundation with Siemens' donation. Mainguy fundraised more than $13,000 for the organization by cycling 1,349 kms over eight days at two annual cycling events. His team raised more than $385,000 for the cause. Learn more: www.coasttocoastagainstcancer.org

The winner of the volunteering category, Scott Nameth of Cambridge, ON, chose to grant the donation to the Scorpions Youth Volleyball Club. Nameth organized a developmental volleyball program for boys in Grades 7 and 8 for the club, engaging local youths to participate in sports. Learn more: www.scorpionsvolleyball.ca

The runner-up in the volunteering category, Katie Cobb of Montreal, QC, supported the West Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped in her hometown with Siemens' $5,000 donation. Cobb has volunteered for many years by spending time with teens and adults supported by the association and most recently supported their annual fundraising walk. Learn more: www.wiaih.qc.ca

The runner-up in the fundraising category, John Marett of Peterborough, ON, donated the $5,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Kawartha Lakes. Marett is a member of a cycling team that fundraised $23,000 for the charity through the Team Steffie Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on raising funds for youth organizations. Learn more: www.bgckl.ca 

The Greatest Community Supporter Contest is a bi-annual competition organized by Siemens Canada's Caring Hands Employee Committee, a volunteer group dedicated to championing CSR activities at Siemens.

QUOTES:

• "Our employees have made a remarkable impact in their communities through fundraising and volunteering activities and it is inspiring to see them setting the example for all of us by incorporating social responsibility to their lives. Giving back and walking the talk is paramount at Siemens Canada, as is having a platform to recognize our employees' CSR activities. Congratulations to our exceptional contest winners."  
  -  Robert Hardt, President and CEO, Siemens Canada Limited

About Siemens Canada
For more than 100 years the innovative ideas from Siemens have helped make Canada a better place. From the Atlantic to Pacific oceans, more than 4,500 employees in Canada work together to provide answers that last in the fields of industry, energy, healthcare and infrastructure solutions for cities. Since it was federally chartered in 1912, Siemens has stood for technical achievements, innovation, quality and reliability. Sales for Siemens in Canada in fiscal 2013 (ended September 30), were $2.0 billion CAD. The company has 46 offices and 13 manufacturing/assembly facilities across Canada. Further information is available at www.siemens.ca.

About Siemens Caring Hands and the Caring Hands Employee Committee 
The Siemens Caring Hands program was established in 2005 to coordinate and bundle corporate social responsibility activities, including donations, volunteerism, disaster relief and sponsorships. In 2010 Siemens Canada formed the Caring Hands Employee Committee to further unite the efforts of Siemens employees from coast-to-coast and to champion Caring Hands programs throughout the year including benefitting Siemens' charity of record, Cystic Fibrosis Canada.  Siemens Caring Hands represents a culture of giving that is cultivated by Siemens Canada and focuses on support for humanitarian and environmental non-profit organizations. Over years, Siemens Canada has made a significant impact in enhancing lives through its charitable activities. 

SOURCE: Siemens Canada Limited