Unilever and Invest in KidsEleven years ago, Unilever Canada—the corporate face behind household names such as Sunlight, Lipton and Skippy—founded a registered charity, the Unilever Canada Foundation. Its intent was clear—not only to donate approximately 1 per cent of Unilever Canada’s pre-tax profits towards community initiatives, but to improve community vitality in two areas: helping the healthy development of children between the ages of 0-5, and helping the environment. In their own words, “We believe that one of the best ways to help the community is to work with partners in the community.” At the company level, Unilever has been, and continues to be, one of Invest in Kids’ most generous and significant supporters. Through it’s Lipton brand, Unilever has participated as sponsor of Get Set for Life. Get Set for Life is a successful joint venture between Invest in Kids, CBC television and Canadian Living magazine, which harnesses the power of mass media and marketing to get important messages about parenting and child development to parents across the country. We are grateful to Unilever for sponsoring the development of the original Welcome to Parenting Box, as well as for further distribution commitments to this program. Designed to help new parents improve their knowledge, skills and confidence, the Welcome to Parenting Box is full of practical materials and easy-to-understand information, based on Comfort, Play & Teach principles. In total, Unilever has contributed to the development and distribution of 50,000 boxes, benefiting first-time parents who are most in need across Canada.Invest in Kids is also the recipient of a generous research grant from the Unilever Canada Foundation to examine what parents of young children need to feel supported in their parenting role – in both tangible and intangible ways – in their communities. Our belief is that these supports and resource play an important part in what makes for healthy, vital communities. Unilever is an on-going supporter of our special events, participating yearly at our Invest in Kids’ Battle of the Brains and Celebrity Classic Golf Tournament. Additionally, Unilever Canada also sets the Canadian example of volunteering through its employees, who regularly donate funds, i ncluding those collected from its Holiday Card program, and volunteer their own time during Unilever’s community-service Vitality Days. On many occasions, we have delighted in the hard work and contribution Unilever’s employees have made by spending their Vitality Day helping Invest in Kids.
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