(OTTAWA, March 31, 2015) Aviva Canada has become the first insurance company to join as National Corporate Partner of the Canadian Red Cross’ Ready When the Time Comes program, committing over $500,000 to the partnership over the next three years.
Ready When the Time Comes recruits and trains corporate employees as disaster volunteers to provide assistance following natural disasters. Not only does this program provide the Red Cross with much needed volunteer capacity during large-scale disasters, it also allows organizations like Aviva Canada to build stronger relationships, leadership, and motivation among their own teams.
“We are extremely grateful for the generous involvement of Aviva Canada in our Ready When the Time Comes program. We look forward to the contribution and support of their employees as volunteers in times of disasters,” said Conrad Sauvé, Secretary General and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross.
Every day, Red Cross volunteers are mobilized to respond during disasters ranging from house fires to forest fires, tornadoes and flooding. Their priority is to help the people affected by offering comfort and meeting their basic needs including shelter, food, clothing and personal items.
“We are excited about partnering with the Red Cross to make a difference not just for our customers but for all Canadians who are affected by disasters,” said Greg Somerville, CEO Aviva Canada. “This is a tremendous opportunity to further invest in our communities and it aligns well with what we do every day at Aviva ̶ take care of individuals and families when they need it the most. We’re looking forward to having our employee volunteers trained and ready to assist, and extending Ready When the Time Comes to our broker partners, allowing the program even greater reach.”
Aviva Canada is one of the leading property and casualty insurance groups in Canada providing home, auto and business insurance to more than three million customers. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UK-based Aviva plc and has more than 3,000 employees, 25 locations and 1,700 independent broker partners. Aviva Canada invests in positive change through the Aviva Community Fund, Canada’s longest running online community funding competition. Since its inception in 2009, the Aviva Community Fund has awarded $5.5 million to over 100 communities nationwide.
The Canadian Red Cross is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and more than 189 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. Our mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world.
Media Contacts
Canadian Red Cross media line
(613) 740-1994
Aviva Canada Inc.
Glenn Cooper
Senior Manager, Public Relations and Social Media
Desk: (416) 288-2685
Mobile: (416) 523-3225
glenn_cooper@avivacanada.com