Big Brown issues big challenge

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Next week is National Volunteer Week and UPS Canada is challenging you to do something about it.

UPS boasts that its own people put in more than 28,000 volunteer hours to more than 280 charitable organizations across Canada in 2009.

UPS President Mike Tierney is also a prime example. Tierney chairs Volunteer Canada’s Corporate Council on Volunteering, which is comprised of 22 other Canadian companies.

“UPS Canada recognizes the significance of giving back to the communities where we live and work. It’s a responsibility we take seriously,” noted Tierney. “And I challenge all businesses, not-for-profits and individuals across the country to join us in committing the most precious commodity — our time – – to give something back in 2010.”

October is designated internally as UPS Global Volunteer Month, explained Neufeld.

Since the first Global Volunteer Month, the number of UPS employee volunteers has grown from 1,000 (in 2003), to 15,000 expected to participate worldwide in 2010.

Three employees are drawn from the database that captures UPS’s volunteer hours and each receives a $10,000 donation to give to the charity of their choice.

On March 22, the 2009 UPS Canada recipient gave the $10,000 donation to L’Amitient (Unity for Autism) in Montreal.