Lombard Canada focuses on supporting national medical research programs that specifically concentrate on illnesses relating to children. Lombard also supports many children’s charities, such as, REACH for the Rainbow, and the DAREarts foundation. Although we are often called upon to support other various charitable organizations, and do so whenever possible, our primary focus is on children’s charities.
 
As each year passes, an increasing number of Lombard employees are becoming involved in charitable donations and volunteer work. These individual acts of selflessness are making a difference in the community and helping to change people’s lives for the better.
 

Lombard supports the efforts of its employees with a donation matching program, which matches the donations raised by employees to a maximum of $1,000 per person, per year.

Lombard has made a gift of $2-million to endow, in perpetuity, the Lombard Insurance Chair in Paediatric Research. This will help ensure ongoing research into the health of children and will also provide a platform to communicate the importance of long-term research funding to those who work outside the laboratory . The contribution will facilitate the department of Paediatrics, which consists of multifaceted programs of national and international significance. In addition, the department supports the mission and goals of The Hospital for Sick Children. The department is segmented into 16 divisions, which play an integral role in The Hospital for Sick Children's Paediatric Academic Multi-Organ Transplant (PAMOT) Program. The Department provides leadership in scholarly clinical care, basic, clinical and health outcomes research, the education of medical students, postgraduate and subspecialty trainees and continuing education participants.

For more information visit: www.sickkids.on.ca

DAREarts which stands for Discipline, Action, and Responsibility in Education, was founded to help Canadian children find positive alternatives to negative influences in their communities, through a five-year arts education program that complements Canadian elementary schools. They strive to empower all children to achieve their potential by using the arts to motivate a lifelong pursuit of personal excellence. Professionals and parents are calling for a renewed focus on discipline and learning. At a time when juvenile social problems have increased, school budget cuts have resulted in decreased arts education.  DAREarts Foundation helps fill this gap through an innovative five-year course of study to complement the school system from grades four through eight - the formative years. DAREarts addresses fundamental values, personal strength and responsible behavior within its arts program. This past year Lombard Insurance Company has been one of the organizations primary contributors funding two of their national programs, 1) DAREarts ‘All-The-Arts’ Education Program and 2) DAREarts ‘Children for Peace’ program. On top of our regular endowment, Lombard Insurance Company generously donates tickets and a coach bus for thirty grade seven and eight students DAREarts delegates to attend a special day at Niagara-on-the-Lake to view a performance at the Shaw Festival Theatre.

For more information visit: www.darearts.com

REACH for the Rainbow(RFTR) is a registered charity serving children and young adults with developmental and physical disabilities from across Ontario. REACH for the Rainbow develops integrated opportunities that enrich the lives of children and young adults with disabilities, their families and the communities in which they belong. They are committed to promoting an environment where children with disabilities can mature with their peers; one which encourages awareness and compassion and allows people with disabilities to discover their full potential. REACH works in partnership with organized children’s camps and recreational programs across Ontario to provide integrated opportunities. In June 2004, Lombard Insurance Company organized a three-day fundraising golf tournament at Delta Grandview Resort in Muskoka. The results of the tournament were an unprecedented amount of $194,000 net proceeds for REACH for the Rainbow. To date Lombard Canada Ltd. has been instrumental in raising over $700,000 net for the charity. As quoted by the organization “REACH for the Rainbow is forever beholden to Lombard Canada for having taken our organization under its corporate umbrella”.

For more information visit: www.reachfortherainbow.ca

The Stephen Leacock Club is a community services organization that was founded in Toronto in 1992.  It raises money for disadvantaged youth, offering hope to people who have little and to people who have everything, the chance to provide it. The Foundation has helped many children in Canada and around the world by implementing overall educational enrichment including; construction of new, fully functional school buildings, family resource centres, Saturday morning clubs, homework clubs, Royal Conservatory of Music’s Learning Through the Arts programs, recess buddies, peer mediators, school gardens, and 2004 tuition subsidies.  Membership revenues are directed to and disbursed by the Stephen Leacock Foundation for Children, a registered charity and public foundation established by the Club in the same year. Since its inception, the Stephen Leacock Foundation for Children has raised and disbursed more than $1.48 million to various established children’s causes in Canada and around the world. Lombard Insurance Company is one of the top seven sponsors for this foundation and the Leacock Club is grateful for our cooperation and our support in their 2004 Annual Golf Tournament, Silent Auction and Dinner.

For more information visit: www.leacockfoundation.org

WICC’s role is twofold: to help find a cure by raising funds for cancer research, and to raise awareness about this disease among family, friends, and colleagues. Since it’s inception in 1996, WICC has raised over $1,200,000 in the fight against cancer, and held many educational breakfasts on how cancer affects not only the individual, but also family and loved ones. In such a short time, WICC has grown significantly and is now represented by chapters across Canada. Lombard Insurance Company is a platinum sponsor for WICC. In order to qualify as a platinum sponsor a company must agree to a minimum of a $45,000 donation over three years. On top of our regular donation Lombard was an official sponsor for the ninth annual fundraising dinner that accumulated over $150,000.

For more information visit: www.wicc.ca

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a registered, voluntary, non-competitive charity program of activities for anyone aged 14-25. It offers an individual challenge and encourages young people to undertake exciting, constructive, demanding and enjoyable activities in their free time. The Award is a four Section Program with three progressive levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The Sections involve Service (helping the community), Skills (a hobby, skill or interest); Physical Recreation (sports, dance, fitness); Expeditions (on foot, cycle, horseback, or water), Residential Project - Gold only (an enterprise with people not known to the participant). Each year, Award Participants provide over one million hours of service to the community whilst, in the expeditions Section, they collectively cover over one million miles. Approximately 70,000 volunteers share their skills, enthusiasm and time to help guide the participants through their Awards, learning new skills and making friends themselves along the way. Lombard is a Founding Partner of their Charter for Business

For more information visit: www.dukeofed.org

United Way is an incorporated non-profit charity focused on improving the long-term health of our community. They run Canada's largest annual fundraising campaign in support of 200 social and health service agencies, providing a vital network of support. Each year Lombard engages in fund raising events held by its employees and Lombard matches all funds raised from the events dollar for dollar. Employees continue to increase their already substantial support of this organization through the annual campaign. Last year the campaign, together with the Lombard Canada’s matching donation, raised $89,000.

For more information visit: www.unitedwaytoronto.com

The Starlight Children's Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to brightening the lives of seriously ill children and their families by providing a broad array of both in-hospital and out patient programs designed to enhance their ability to cope with the stress of illness. On Wednesday April 21, 2004 a representative of Lombard Canada Ltd. did the honours of presenting The Scarborough Hospital’s Pediatrics department, on behalf of the Starlight Children’s foundation, a donation of a Nintendo unit complete with television, DVD player and a Nintendo game console. This is just an example of the many contributions that Lombard partakes in with The Starlight Foundation alongside with our annual donations.

For more information visit: www.starlightcanada.org

For over 50 years Community Living has been a source of support for thousands of individuals searching for accessible and meaningful ways to live a more normal life in the community. Community Living provides support and services to over 5,000 people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Lombard is a major sponsor for the organization, in addition to our donations we sponsored their annual fundraising golf tournament at Shadow Lake. Moreover, Lombard was quick to respond when Community Living needed their help with damages from the Peterborough flood.

For more information visit: www.communitylivingtoronto.ca

The George Hull Centre (GHC) is one of Ontario's leading, multidisciplinary, full service children's mental health centres. GHC has been established to provide assistance with mental health services for children from birth to age 18, and their families. Services include prevention and early intervention, outpatient treatment for school-aged children, residential treatment and specialized school programs. The centre is affiliated with the department of Health Sciences, University of Toronto, and trains students from all disciplines. Lombard Insurance is a primary sponsor and offers general support for all of the centre’s services.

For more information visit: www.georgehullcentre.on.ca

Our financial commitment to the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario has allowed this internationally recognized theatre to maintain professional development through The Academy and special programs like School Outreach, which introduces thousands of young people to the theatre annually. It has been our tradition to donate our corporate tickets to DAREarts, a local arts education group for children. The Shaw Festival is home to three theatres: Festival Theatre (856 seats), Court House Theatre (328 seats), and The Royal George Theatre (327 seats). We are proud to say that as a corporate member we’ve contributed to The Shaw’s success for many years. In 2007, Lombard Insurance is thrilled to sponsor two exciting plays: Mack and Mabel, a musical about the love story between two icons of the early days of cinema and The Kiltartan Comedies, two one-act plays that reveal the foibles of the quirky denizens of a fictional Irish village. We hope you will join us in support of this magnificent theatre!

For more information visit: www.shawfest.com

Second Harvest is a not-for-profit perishable food recovery program, the largest in Canada. Second Harvest makes an enormous difference in the lives of hundreds of people who might otherwise go hungry. Every day Second Harvest picks up excess fresh food and delivers it to Toronto social service agencies. Their vision is that no one need ever go hungry in the communities we serve. On top of Second Harvest’s daily deliveries, there are many volunteer food drive events conducted. Lombard Canada is a corporate sponsor for Second Harvest and regularly has Lombard representatives attend their many fundraising and food drive events.

For more information visit: www.secondharvest.ca

Beginning in 2002, Drive Wise is a free OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) delivered seminar that introduces a number of succinct tips, suggestions and driving strategies, which are preventative measures against the most likely causes of collisions and mishaps faced by mature Canadians on the road. This program is primarily direct toward mature members of society as drivers 50 years of age and over has become the fastest growing demographic on the roads. Lombard Canada has been working with the OPP over the past few years to roll out this initiative throughout Ontario. Lombard has also assisted in getting the presentation translated into three languages and have donated various equipment to aid OPP officers in their presentations.

For more information visit: www.drivewise.ca

Here is a sample of other Charities that Lombard Supports:

	Canadian Cancer Society		Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada
	Junior Achievement of Canada		Kidney Foundation of Canada
	Lung Association		Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
	Rick Hanson Man in Motion Foundation		ProAction. Cops & Kids
	Tim Horton Children’s Foundation, Inc.		Riverview Health Centre Foundation
	North American Missing Children Association