Giving Frequently – our donation to Emma House
Giving. Donating. Sharing. Caring. There are as many ways to describe the impetus to give as there are ways to give.
Since day one, giving has been one of the 18 ways in which we are, quite simply, different. This is because helping people will always be at the heart of what we do. And it’s the reason why giving generously, frequently and consistently is an essential part of the ALIGNED employee experience.
As a result, our social responsibility program was created at the same time ALIGNED Insurance was founded. It is, quite literally, a foundational part of our organization and a way in which we work hard to lead by example. In our communities, in our industry as well as across Canada.
Our people helping Canadian charities
Assistant Advocate
We know that improving lives and advancing causes is what drives Canadian charities and non-profits. Connecting people to community, educational, environmental, food, healthcare and social programs is at the heart of what the not-for-profit sector does.
We also understand how deeply charities and non-profits resonate with people. In addition, we understand how important financial gifts are to helping a charity or non-profit keep delivering on their mission. This is why, each month, one of us selects a charity or non-profit organization that we are passionate about. And then we, as an organization, donate to that organization.
This month, Assistant Advocate Amanda Gosse selected Emma House (Emma Maternity House Society) for an ALIGNED Insurance Giving Frequently donation.
“Emma House is a safe place that provides housing and support for pregnant women and youth experiencing homelessness. I think this charity is important because it’s a demographic that not many people think of when they think of homelessness. Often one of the most vulnerable times in a woman’s life is when she is pregnant, to have a safe and supportive place to go during that time is of the utmost importance.”
ALIGNED Insurance Assistant Advocate Amanda Gosse
In their own words: How Emma Maternity House Society helps people
As a result of our commitment to Giving Frequently, a donation is being made to Emma Maternity House Society.
In short, here is what this organization is doing to help support Canadians:
“Emma House is a safe and supportive transitional housing program for expectant mothers ages 12+ who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness within Calgary and surrounding area. We are dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness among pregnant women/youth and to equip our residents with the resources to build sustainable futures for themselves and their new babies.”1
With a vision of “healthy mothers and babies living in community”2, from a day-to-day perspective, Emma House is focussed on taking important steps to move the charity forward. Their mission “is to provide housing and support for pregnant women and youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness; empowering them to move out of vulnerability and into a healthy and sustainable life for them and their child.”3
The organization has a long history of supporting expectant mothers. “In 1992 Emma House welcomed its first resident in a rented church manse. It was founded by two police officers and a group of individuals concerned about the lack of support and shelters available for pregnant women and youth facing homelessness. At the time, Emma House was the only shelter dedicated to reaching out to women/youth who were vulnerable to homelessness while pregnant.
Today, Emma House is one of three organizations in Calgary working specifically with homeless women who are pregnant. Our safe house has provided shelter and support to over 150 expectant mothers from across Canada. Through our services, hundreds of women and youth had the opportunity to build new lives away from violence, poverty, or addiction.
In response to a growing waiting list for long-term housing, Emma House has lengthened the stay for women/youth and newborn babies. Mothers are able to stay until their baby is six months to one year of age, or until they are able to secure long term housing.”4
To learn more about Emma Maternity House Society and the work they do to bring hope and health to expectant mothers and their babies, visit emmahouse.ca
In conclusion – our commitment to giving
Social responsibility. It’s about more than just giving, it’s about people. We know it is our privilege to connect our clients with better business insurance. And we know that it is our social responsibility to help others in a number of ways.
Giving Frequently is one of those ways. We invite you to learn more about the organizations that ALIGNED team members have selected and we have supported over the years here.
How we are also Giving Generously…
In addition to Giving Frequently, each year, a portion of ALIGNED’s profits are donated to a registered Canadian charity. It is important to us that our clients are part of our social responsibility program. That’s why once each year, we invite each of our clients to propose a charity that is meaningful to them. And it’s why we also engage our clients in selecting the charity that receives our Giving Generously donation.
Curious about our story? Here’s what our founder Andrew Clark has to say about our accidental beginnings…
Our story started with an accident. Watch this 80-second video to see what inspired our President & CEO Andrew Clark to found ALIGNED Insurance here.
Source: 1-4 emmahouse.ca
