By Steven Ranson
Just over a month ago, I published an open letter to our community outlining the crucial and necessary steps HomeEquity Bank was taking to protect the health and safety of our employees and our customers.
These measures, including our employees working from home and a halt on virtually all in-person meetings until further notice, are still in place today. We also continue to follow the advice of public health officials as we self-isolate to limit the spread of COVID-19.
As we hunker down at home, we are witnessing history that is reshaping life as we know it.
Most of us never thought we’d experience a global pandemic on this scale. These are difficult times and the prospect of returning to some sense of normality may seem like a distant dream. But it also is an opportunity to come together and make a difference.
And that’s why we launched our national media campaign, Our homes are everything and made meaningful donations to charitable organizations that are helping those most vulnerable to the coronavirus.
For us, actions speak louder than words, and seeing millions of Canadians stay at home to contain the spread of the virus is nothing short of inspirational.
As a bank with a core focus to help Canadians 55+ stay in the home they love, we know just how important a role our homes play in our lives. This health crisis has illustrated that more than ever. Whether it’s working from your home office, exercising in the gym set up in the garage or homeschooling your children in a classroom in the basement, we’ve seen just how creative Canadians can be when faced with adversity. And that is what this campaign seeks to do: Honour everyone doing their part at home, and to say thanks.
Acknowledging the selfless efforts made by Canadians is important, but we also wanted to do more by making sizable financial contributions to organizations we believe are doing incredible work. Our donations of $50,000 to each the Canadian Red Cross and the YMCA of Greater Toronto are an example of our steadfast commitment to supporting organizations that go above and beyond for those most vulnerable in our communities.
We also felt there was great synergy between all three of our organizations, particularly surrounding proactive outreach efforts. As you know, HomeEquity Bank launched Operation Warm Hug, an initiative in which we personally call our customers to check in on them and let them know they’re not alone. So, when I heard both the Canadian Red Cross and YMCA of Greater Toronto had similar programs in place, it felt right to donate to them.
We’ve also donated $5,000 to Care BC, a wonderful organization which supports older Canadians living comfortably at home, aligning perfectly with our values. We’re also going to make contributions to organizations that are important to our employees.
When we say we’re here to support our communities, we mean it, and we will continue to do so — even after we beat COVID-19.
