VANCOUVER, September 13, 2022 - PI Financial (PI) is building on its legacy of building prosperity and being a force for good in local communities by pledging $250,000 over five years to not-for-profit organizations supporting youth.
PI “Pays it Forward” started as a community giving event in 2018 and has evolved from an initiative built around charitable innovation to one focused on youth and building communities. PI is supporting organizations that are addressing a wide range of issues facing youth, including: Aunt Leah’s Place, Backpack Buddies, Canada SCORES, Take a Hike Foundation, QMUNITY, and Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA). PI is also supporting the next generation of business leaders through its contribution to the SFU Beedie School of Business.
“PI has a long history of philanthropy and supporting the communities in which we live and work,” said Jean-Paul Bachellerie, PI’s Chairman and CEO. “Youth are the future of our communities, and by supporting organizations that serve youth in different capacities – whether it be food security, recreation, higher education – we are investing in the future of BC.”
This pledge and focus on youth demonstrate PI’s long-term commitment to supporting BC communities and their continued growth and prosperity. PI will be offering opportunities for continued employee engagement and participation in initiatives and events hosted by PI’s not-for-profit partners.
About PI’s Partners
Aunt Leah’s Place provides guidance, supported housing, job training and coaching on essential life skills. It creates an environment where all children connected to the foster care system have equal opportunities akin to those of parented youth. Aunt Leah’s Place is building brighter futures for foster children and mothers in need. Learn more: https://www.auntleahs.org.
Backpack Buddies is a charity that tackles the weekend hunger gap for children of families in need. They provide a backpack of food on Friday afternoon full of meals and snacks for the weekend, ensuring that the children return to school on Monday fed and ready to learn. Learn more: https://www.backpackbuddies.ca.
Canada SCORES provides children with free after-school programming combining soccer, poetry and community projects. It inspires urban youth to lead healthy lives, be engaged students, and have the confidence and character to make a difference in the world. It provides a safe and motivating space for youth to gain the confidence to make a change in not only themselves, but their communities. Learn more: https://www.canadascores.org.
SFU Beedie School of Business is one of Canada’s leading business schools and a dynamic teaching and learning setting with a reputation for producing global-class research for the knowledge economy. Learn more: https://beedie.sfu.ca.
Take a Hike Foundation empowers youth experiencing vulnerability with intentional, continuous clinical counselling, outdoor experiential learning, and community. Take a Hike works with school district partners to provide high quality education, and together, empower youth with the skills and resilience they need to graduate high school, build healthy relationships, and achieve success – however they define it. Learn more: https://www.takeahikefoundation.org.
QMUNITY is a 2SLGBTQIA+ non-profit organization that works to improve queer, trans, and Two-Spirit lives across BC. We provide safer spaces for all members of the community and their allies to fully self-express themselves, while feeling welcome and included. The organization delivers a variety of programs and services tailored to support youth, seniors, and everyone in-between through counselling, peer-support, volunteering, and events. Learn more: https://qmunity.ca.
Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA) provides meaningful opportunities for Indigenous youth (Aboriginal, Metis, Inuit, First Nations, Status, Non-Status) in the urban setting. UNYA strives to support Indigenous youth by providing a diverse continuum of advocacy, preventative and support services that respond to their immediate and long-term needs. Today, UNYA delivers 20+ programs, with 175+ volunteers, 100 staff, and more than 300 community partners. Learn more: https://unya.bc.ca.
For more information about PI and "Pays it Forward," please contact:
Jean-Paul Bachellerie
Chairman and CEO