The Red Cross and Desjardins announce a new partnership to help those affected by disasters

Topics: Quebec, Emergencies and Disasters in Canada, Philanthropy News
September 12, 2013

Montreal, September 12, 2013 – The Quebec Zone of the Canadian Red Cross and Desjardins Insurance announce the creation of a joint program. This program will allow them to pool their resources to help meet the essential needs of as many affected families as possible following a disaster.

“This unique initiative shows how important it is for the Red Cross to be able to rely on a partner like Desjardins,” says Michel Léveillé, director general of the Red Cross in Quebec.  “Thanks to this collaboration, the most vulnerable will be able to return to normal life sooner in the aftermath of disasters such as fires. On behalf of everyone who will benefit from this assistance, the Red Cross would like to thank Desjardins for its humanitarian commitment.”

“We are very proud of this partnership with the Red Cross–an organization with whom we share the same values,” says Sylvie Paquette, president and chief operating officer of Desjardins General Insurance Group and senior vice-president and general manager of the Property and Casualty Insurance of Desjardins Group. “Each year, hundreds of people suddenly become homeless following a disaster. Thanks to the agreement Desjardins Insurance signed with the Red Cross, several people affected by disasters will have access to the Desjardins Support Fund. This fund provides financial assistance enabling those who are affected to get off to a good start.”

The three components of the new program

Component 1– Recovery assistance for those affected by residential fires and personal disasters
Depending on the situation, the Red Cross emergency assistance could be followed by recovery assistance through the Desjardins Support Fund, which assists those in difficult financial circumstances.

Component 2–Recovery assistance for those affected by small-scale and medium-scale disasters
The new program will provide recovery assistance to those affected by small-scale and medium-scale disasters. Such disasters affect communities, but do not cause major damages for a large number of families. The Red Cross does not organize specific fundraising campaigns for disasters of this scale.

Component 3–Recovery assistance for those affected by large-scale disasters
Through the Desjardins Support Fund, Desjardins will contribute to the fundraising campaign organized by the Red Cross to assist those affected in the event of a large-scale disaster.

The new partnership between the Red Cross and Desjardins‒who has been a key partner for several years‒was made official yesterday when the agreement was signed.

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