Vibrant Communities

Other support for health and wellness
In addition to our commitment to children’s mental
health, we support a broad range of health and wellness
organizations around the world. In 2012, we supported
organizations such as:
Canada
n Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada: RBC donated
$400,000 to help create a prevention-focused initiative
to educate South Asian women — one of the most at-risk
groups for heart disease in Canada — about the risks
and symptoms of heart disease. The program includes
early detection screening clinics, tests and the creation
and distribution of culturally adapted health information.
n Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation, Ontario: RBC
has donated more than $1 million to Wellspring since
1993, an organization at the forefront of the communitybased
support and care sector for people with cancer. In
2012, RBC helped support the Money Matters Resource
Centre, a specialized program that gives patients the
tools they need to use their financial resources most
effectively when dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
United States
n RBC Race for the Kids, New York: Big Brothers Big Sisters
of New York City RBC Race for the Kids helps generate
awareness of the mentoring movement and promote
healthy lifestyles. This year nearly 1,000 RBC employees,
friends and family raised US$380,000 in support of the
agency’s mentoring programs.
“Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually
Impaired empowers people who are blind and
visually impaired to be active participants in their
communities. I volunteer with Clovernook because
it’s rewarding to know that I’m part of an organization
that helps people achieve independence, find
gainful employment and ultimately increase their
ability to live life to the fullest.”
andrew laskey
Associate, Municipal Finance
Cincinnati, Ohio
13 2012 Vibrant Communities Report
Europe
Employee Volunteer Spotlight
n League of Friends, United Kingdom: RBC donated
£1,000 to the League of Friends in Guernsey so the
charity could buy materials for a new hospital garden
for patients and visitors. A team of RBC staff also
volunteered to help build the garden over two weekends.
n Guernsey Cheshire Home, United Kingdom: The
Guernsey Cheshire Home provides individual care and
support for adults living with severe physical disabilities.
RBC donated £3,000 to the Home for new cleaning
equipment, allowing the carers to dedicate more time to
the residents.
Caribbean
n Princess Margaret Hospital, Barbados: RBC donated
$50,000 to help the Princess Margaret Hospital purchase
breast cancer screening equipment. We also supported
the Ride for Hope with a $10,000 donation to help fund
cancer research, early detection, care and treatment for
cancer patients.
Asia Pacific
n Operation Smile, Singapore: RBC donated more than
$12,000 to Operation Smile, a global organization
that helps children born with cleft lips and palates
get reconstructive surgery to help improve their lives,
appearance and self-esteem. Employees raised funds
by participating in the JPMorgan Corporate Challenge,
providing an RBC corporate donation under the Team
Action Grant program and hosting an auction and sale of
office furniture from an old RBC office.
“Samaritans Jersey provides a listening ear to
people suffering from depression, going through
a difficult period in their lives or experiencing
suicidal feelings. I’ve been volunteering with them
for three years because I’m a strong believer in the
power of conversation to help people move past
life’s difficulties. We’re not trained therapists or
counsellors, but we are trained in active listening,
which can make all the difference to someone.”
John Fitzpatrick
Assistant Manager, Legal &
Technical, Set Up & Closures Team
Channel Islands, Jersey
HealtH & Wellness