VANCOUVER, February 18, 2020 - PI Financial (PI) is committed to building prosperity and contributing to the well-being of local communities by awarding $15,000 to three local charities at the third annual “PI Pays it Forward” community giving event on Thursday, March 5, 2020. This event was created in 2018 to support small, local and growing community not-for-profit organizations focused on supporting BC or on improving the lives of those who are marginalized or under-served by the public sector.
PI has invited three local non-for-profits to present their organizations to PI employees for the opportunity to win the first-place prize of $10,000. The two runner-up organizations will be awarded $2,500 each. Each organization will have five minutes to present a compelling case on their mission and need for funds. PI employees will vote for the charity they believe most deserving of the first-place prize.
The organizations chosen to present at the Pays it Forward 2020 event are: Backpack Buddies, Kidney Foundation, BC & Yukon Branch and SAINTS Rescue. PI selected the organizations using a similar approach it employs when identifying emerging companies seeking financing:
1. Innovative startups with dedicated grass root teams
2. Proven to deliver value; and
3. Demonstrating the ability to grow their impact with additional funding.
“Supporting local organizations who are dedicated to helping vulnerable people in our communities is important to us here at PI Financial. Contributions like ours help these organizations to continue to make a lasting impact on the people they serve” said Jeremiah Katz, PI Financial’s Director of Institutional Sales and the driver behind PI Pays It Forward. “Our employees are engaged and value the opportunity to shape how PI supports local community initiatives.”
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.
Kidney Foundation, BC & Yukon Branch raises awareness and financial support to help those affected by kidney disease with advancing world-class research and promoting kidney health and organ donation. The BC Branch in particular provides short-term emergency financial assistance and access to Kidney Suites to kidney transplant patients who need to stay close to VGH or St. Paul’s Hospital during their treatment.
SAINTS Rescue is a charity that provides sanctuary for senior and special needs animals that have nowhere else to go. They offer a special place for the animals to be loved, cherished and receive proper medical care for the rest of their days.
Each year, new community organizations are invited to participate in PI Pays if Forward. Last year, the first-place recipient as voted on by the employees of PI was Volunteer Cancer Drivers who provide transportation to and from cancer related appointments and in 2018 the top prize went to Aunt Leah’s, an organization helping children in foster care and mothers-in-need to support their children.
For more information about PI and “Pays it Forward,” please contact:
Jeremiah Katz
Managing Director, SVP
Capital Markets
604 664 2916
jkatz@pifinancialcorp.com