The first Novartis Community Partnership Day was held in 1997. This year, more than two decades later, close to 500 Novartis Canada associates in Quebec and Ontario representing the three Novartis divisions in Canada: Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Sandoz and Alcon volunteered their time with different community organizations. They joined more than 23,900 Novartis associates worldwide in giving back to their communities by volunteering their time for various activities and projects.
Community Partnership Day is a symbol of the company’s commitment to make a difference in the communities where associates live and work. Novartis is proud that such a large number of associates take part in the event each year. Many create a bond with some of the local organizations and take it upon themselves to volunteer their time throughout the year.
This year’s volunteer activities included, among other things, cleaning, gardening, cooking, organizing, painting and packing food donations at 12 organizations.
Canada’s largest food bank, Moisson Montreal has been working closely with Novartis to coordinate volunteer activities for associates for a number of years. It was the location with the largest number of volunteers. More than 60 associates joined Janice Murray, President of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. and overall head of all Novartis operations in Canada to help make a significant difference in the lives of the 137,000 Montrealers who face hunger.
Moisson Montreal has come to count on Novartis associates for their support and is grateful for the extra hands to help sort food that is distributed to people in need on the Island of Montreal through local community organizations.
The entrance and dining room at the WIAIH Angelman Respite Centre were given a fresh coat of paint with the help of several Novartis volunteers. The organization strives to enhance the lives of people with an intellectual disability or autism and provides families who drop into the day centre a well-deserved break. Last year, through its many services, WIAIH provided over 200,000 hours of respite to family members.
The Montreal Oral School for the Deaf was a new addition this year to the organizations Novartis associates donated their time to. The school teaches children with hearing loss to listen and speak to develop the necessary skills to attend local schools. It recognizes the importance of letting children be children and Novartis associates welcomed the opportunity to wash toys and clean cupboards in the school’s pre-school classrooms.
The Welcome Hall Mission has been providing support and care to Montrealers in need for more than 125 years. Winselow Tucker, General Manager of Novartis Oncology and a number of associates bundled up to sort and package meat and other items in the freezer.
Overall, Novartis associates across six continents and 58 countries volunteered their time to give back to worthwhile causes. The combined effort represents more than 191, 200 hours of community service. Community Partnership Day allows associates to be directly involved in the community beyond the work that is done daily to support patients. Joining forces around the world to volunteer is not only uplifting, it is truly appreciated by the organizations associates support. Community Partnership Day exemplifies how giving back really does go a long way.