HSBC employees voted, and the result is a new $500,000 charitable investment in children’s health

HSBC

Also celebrates 25th year of HSBC’s annual community breakfast in support of BC Children’s Hospital

Four children’s hospitals across Canada – BC Children’s Hospital Foundation (BCCH), Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation (ACHF), the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, and the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation (MCHF) – will share in a new $500,000 donation from HSBC Bank Canada, following a vote by employees which identified children’s health as their top priority for charitable giving.

“Healthy kids help build healthy communities, and so we’re honoured to be able to renew our support of life-saving research as well as for patients and their families.”
— Sandra Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Bank Canada

“Healthy kids help build healthy communities, and so we’re honoured to be able to renew our support of life-saving research as well as for patients and their families,” said Sandra Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Bank Canada. “From taking a paid volunteer work day or raising funds for one of the many grassroots efforts organized throughout the year, our employees have a long history of giving back and getting involved in their communities.”

Today’s announcement follows three years of significant charitable funding for BCCH, ACHF, SickKids and MCHF made possible via HSBC’s global US$150m community fund (2015-17). Commenting on HSBC’s renewed support for children’s health:

• Teri Nicholas, President and CEO of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation said: “HSBC’s latest donation will have a tremendous impact on BC’s kids. This gift helps us treat kids as kids through specialized equipment and essential hospital programs. The donation will also support initiatives dedicated to introducing hundreds of youth and students to the worlds of pediatric research and medicine.”
• Saifa Koonar, President and CEO of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation said: “By supporting patient and family-centred care at the hospital, and treatment advancements for young people with concussion, HSBC is helping both the hearts and minds of young people in our community.”
• Ted Garrard, CEO, SickKids Foundation said: “The HSBC Catalyst Grant Competition is helping advance a wide-range of cutting-edge research and forging new ground in paediatric medicine as our scientists look to solve some of the most severe childhood illnesses. What’s more, HSBC’s new investment in our unique Epilepsy Classroom allows us to provide specialized education and treatment for children with severe epilepsy, helping them to make gains and empowering them for lifelong success.”
• Renée Vézina, President of the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation said: “With HSBC’s support, our objective is to revolutionize treatment for diabetic children and adolescents. HSBC is an important part of the effort to crack the code into diabetes and help children to benefit from innovative treatments.

HSBC volunteers will also participate in programs and initiatives at the four hospitals, including preparing craft kits for patients, helping out with seasonal duties like giftwrapping and card-making, and raising funds year-round via grassroots efforts in their offices and communities.

2018 also marks the 25th year of HSBC’s annual, employee-led community fundraising breakfast for BC Children’s Hospital. This year more than 500 employees and members of the business community came out to show their support. Since 1986, more than $7.7 million has been raised for the hospital.

HSBC Bank Canada’s community investment activities are part of HSBC Group’s comprehensive commitment to sustainability. We support programs that have a measurable impact in the areas of sustainable finance, sustainable networks and entrepreneurship, and future skills. In 2017, HSBC invested more than $7 million in registered Canadian charities, and its employees spent more than 6,000 paid work hours volunteering with charities of their choice in Canada. Read HSBC Bank Canada’s 2017 Public Accountability Statement to learn more.

Media enquiries to:

HSBC Bank Canada:

Aurora Bonin 604-641-1905 aurora.f.bonin@hsbc.ca
Sharon Wilks 416-868-3878 sharon_wilks@hsbc.ca

BCCHF:

Zdenka Buric 604-875-3635 zburic@bcchf.ca

ACHF:

Justine Clay 403-955-8824 jclay@achf.com

SickKids:

Lynn Bessoudo 416-572-1625 lynn.bessoudo@sickkidsfoundation.com

MCHF:

Séverine Defoun 514 934-4846 #29238 sdef@fhme.com

Notes to editors:

1) About HSBC Bank Canada: HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, is the leading international bank in the country. We help companies and individuals across Canada to do business and manage their finances internationally through three global business lines: Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets, and Retail Banking and Wealth Management. Canada is a priority market for the HSBC Group – one of the world’s largest banking and financial services groups with assets of US$2,652bn at 31 March 2018. Linked by advanced technology, HSBC serves customers worldwide through an international network of around 3,900 offices in 67 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. For more information visit www.hsbc.ca or follow us on Twitter: @hsbc_ca or Facebook: @HSBCCanada

2) About BCCHF: BC Children’s Hospital is the only hospital in the province devoted exclusively to the care of children. As one of the few pediatric medical centres in North America with a world-class acute care centre, research institute, mental health facility and soon, rehabilitation centre, all on a single campus, we provide expert care for the sickest and most seriously injured kids. At BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, we have a vision that every child is healthy and able to fulfill their hopes and dreams. The generosity of donors fuels our ability to conquer childhood diseases, prevent illness and injury, and prioritize the unique needs of kids in every aspect of their care. Please follow us at @bcchf or visit bcchf.ca for more information.

3) About ACHF: The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation inspires our community to invest in excellence in child health, research and family centred care. Through the generosity of donors, the Foundation provides funding for innovative programs, state-of-the-art equipment, advanced medical training and internationally-recognized pediatric research. The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation is a founding partner of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, as well as the primary funder. www.childrenshospital.ab.ca

4) About SickKids: Established in 1972, SickKids Foundation raises funds on behalf of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and is the largest charitable funder of child health research, learning and care in Canada. Philanthropy is a critical source of funding for SickKids – one of the world’s foremost pediatric health-care institutions. Thanks to the generosity of the community, and as a result of a record-breaking year in fundraising, SickKids Foundation generated an unprecedented $140 million for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017. For more information, please visit sickkidsfoundation.com.

5) About MCHF: The mission of the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation is to inspire and mobilize the community to support relentless innovation in research, teaching and care at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, the pediatric teaching hospital for McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine. Since its inception in 1973, the Foundation has raised over $428.5 million, which has transformed the lives of sick children through innovative research and teaching projects, and cutting-edge care. For more information, please visit childrenfoundation.com.