In an effort to give back to the community, Canadian AV integrator Advanced introduces its first ever annual donation and food drive initiative that aims to assist local organizations with corporate and employee contributions.
In the initiative’s first year, Advanced donated over 600 items of non-perishable food items to Eden Food for Change a food bank that provides healthy meal options to local families in need, and raised a total of $4,000 for the SickKids Hospital, the largest pediatric academic health sciences center in Canada.
“We are extremely proud to start this new chapter in our company’s history that helps local organizations that are near and dear to our hearts,” Advanced president David Weatherhead says.
“Our first donation and food drive was a complete success, and we look forward to donating even more in the years to come.”
To collect donations for Eden Food for Change, Advanced encouraged employees to bring in as many non-perishable food items as possible from November 1st to December 18th. Advanced matched all employee food donations, bringing the total number of items to 600. On the final day of the food drive, Advanced piled all donations into their vans and drove off to the food bank.
“It was an exciting sight to see,” Weatherhead added. “It marks the beginning of a truly rewarding tradition.”
Additionally, Advanced encouraged employees to make financial donations to the SickKids Hospital, a world-leading healthcare facility that improves the lives of children with illnesses. “The company donated a total of $4,000,” Weatherhead said. “We are so happy to help contribute to all that they do for Canadian children.”
In the future, Weatherhead plans to expand the charitable initiative beyond Advanced to include its AV partners.
“This initiative will no doubt become an integral part of Advanced’s company’s culture,” Weatherhead continued. “But beyond that, we’re hoping to bring our manufacturer partners into the initiative in the coming years to maximize donations. We in the AV community have the power to truly make a difference.”
