Sharing the Spirit
It’s a bright Saturday morning and, although most students would rather be lounging in the sun than sitting in a lecture hall, TWU’s Northwest Building auditorium is filled with people of all ages from the surrounding community. They have gathered for the lecture, “Through the Dark Cloud: Dealing with Depression.” As TWU professor Rick Bradshaw, Ph.D.—one of three speakers at the lecture—discusses new therapies, the audience listens intently. The topic has clearly struck a chord. Dozens line up afterward for the opportunity to question Bradshaw and the other lecturers; many more share their stories over coffee in the foyer.
The event is part of the Lifelong Learning Lecture series, sponsored by Great-West Life, which offers free public lectures on TWU’s campus twice yearly, featuring relevant topics from health issues to estate and financial planning. The success of this community outreach initiative, now in its fifth year, provided a springboard for other collaborative opportunities between TWU and Great-West Life.
In 2004, the company, which is also TWU’s benefits provider, established the Great-West Life Scholarship endowment and, in 2006, became the title sponsor of the Great-West Life Spirit of Christmas Celebration—a two-day, family-centered community event that draws approximately 7000 visitors to TWU’s campus each year.
In 2008, we donated more than $12.3 million to non-profit, charitable, and community organizations through The Key to Giving™, our national corporate citizenship program.
“TWU is an organization dedicated to making a difference in the community—a vision we share,” says Jan Belanger, assistant vice-president of Community Affairs for Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life. “We summarize our corporate giving philosophy in three simple words: Stronger Communities Together™. Our work with TWU is a good example of this approach put into action, and we are proud to help support the University financially and through the involvement of our staff and financial security advisors.”
One such advisor’s affinity with TWU led to the collaboration between the two organizations. David Nelson, then regional manager of Life Insurance, spearheaded both the scholarship and lecture series initiatives along with Craig Noren, regional director of The Resource Centre for Great-West Life in the Fraser Valley. Although Nelson is now in a different position with the organization, Noren continues to represent the company, volunteering alongside local team members at the Great-West Life Spirit of Christmas Celebration and other events. Noren once worked with former TWU professor, Robert N. Thompson, Ph.D., on a fundraising project, and came to know and respect TWU through that association.
TWU isn’t the only not-for-profit benefiting from Great-West Life’s philosophy of corporate social responsibility. “In any given year, we’re interacting with—and contributing to—many hundreds of community organizations across Canada,” says Belanger. “In 2008, we donated more than $12.3 million to non-profit, charitable and community organizations through The Key to Giving™, our national corporate citizenship program. The contributions support health and wellness, education, social services, arts and culture, and civic initiatives.”
Corporate collaborations are essential components of TWU’s future growth and sustainability. “The University is pleased to work with leading organizations that value excellence, achievement, and service,” says Inga Warnock, TWU’s executive director of planned giving, whose office coordinates the lecture series and administers TWU’s endowed scholarships. “Great-West Life has demonstrated strong corporate citizenship by making an investment in the leaders of tomorrow. Corporate sponsorships enable the University to provide much-needed funding for scholarships and programs.”
Great-West Life’s work with TWU has impacted the Fraser Valley and beyond. “Because of our organization’s presence in the area, we see that TWU is an outstanding institution with a strong record of published, internationally recognized research,” says Noren. “The University has turned out thousands of graduates ready to be leaders in their communities. It’s only natural for Great-West Life to work together with an exceptional organization like TWU to bring about positive, lasting change in the community we both serve.”
by Wendy Delamont Lees
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