We are proud of our commitment to making a difference in the communities where our employees, customers and distribution partners live and work.
Each year, we support these communities through charitable donations, employee volunteer hours, in-kind contributions and community sponsorships.
2024 funding requests
We are no longer accepting applications for 2024 charitable donations and sponsorships.
Please check back regularly for updates and more information about our community investment support and volunteer activities.
For other types of enquiries, please email us at community@empire.ca. You can expect to hear from us within 24 – 48 business hours.
Exclusions
One of our longest standing partnerships is with United Way. In 2020, we raised $278,000 for United Way and Centraide organizations across the country. Dedicated teams of employees volunteered their time to plan events, and inspire coworkers and retirees to make a difference. We happily matched their donations up to $125,000.
Our 10-year pledge to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation Campaign helped support the construction of the new Providence Care Hospital which opened its doors in 2017. Tremendous care and thought has gone into creating an environment that inspires and instills hope, and enhances treatment, rehabilitation and recovery for patients of the new facility. With 270 private rooms, plenty of natural light, outdoor courtyards and rooftop terraces, the hospital is a warm and comfortable patient-centred approach to health and mental wellness.
The pandemic has been hard on many of us, but especially hard on vulnerable members of our communities, those who have lost their jobs and who are finding it more difficult than ever to make ends meet. Recognizing this, our sales teams redirected monies they would normally spend on holiday events and activities for distribution partners to our annual holiday donations program. As a result, we were able to provide much-needed donations to 15 food banks and community support programs across the country. We truly appreciate the work they all do to support our friends and neighbours.
Empire Life has supported Pathways to Education Canada since 2010 and Girls eMentorship (GEM) since 2016. Both organizations are focused on changing the lives of young Canadians, helping them to overcome socioeconomic and educational barriers and reach their full potential. We are extraordinarily proud of the achievements and enthusiasm of the participants and of the small part we play in helping them to build bright futures for themselves.
“Thank you for being a part of Community Rocks and for celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities with us. Know that your support goes far beyond the value of the sponsorship. With the help of people like you, Community Living Toronto is able to reach out and provide support to many individuals in need.”
Brad Saunders, CEO, Community Living Toronto
Credit: Louis Thomas Photography
“There has never been a more critical time to help students living in low-income communities overcome barriers to their education. At Pathways to Education, our front-line staff are there to ensure each student has access to the support they need to effectively cope with the impacts of the pandemic and disruptions to their learning. Because of you, Pathways students will continue to receive the essential resources they need to succeed in high school, no matter what. Thank you for standing with us.”
Sue Gillespie, President & CEO, Pathways to Education Canada
“We are very privileged to have been able to benefit from your support. On behalf of all the families, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Thanks to your three-year pledge to our organization, we are able to increase the value of parental support and the number of families enrolled by 2023. We are so grateful for your support.”
Julie Desautels, Executive Director, Fondation Marie-Ève Saulnier