Source: The Abbotsford News
The Abbotsford Community Foundation (ACF) has announced that the winner of the 2016 Business Philanthropy Award is Valley Carriers Ltd.
This newly created award is sponsored by the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber president Josh Bach presented the award to Valley Carriers co-owners (MEI Class of 1996 alumnus) Erin Parkes and Travis Klassen at the recent National Philanthropy Day luncheon in Abbotsford.
Parkes noted that her grandfather had taught her and Klassen years ago that it was important for a business to give back to the community.
Valley Carriers’ contributions to the community include collecting food and cash donations for the Abbotsford Food Bank; raising $3,000 for the food bank’s Starfish Pack program; and donating gifts-in-kind of soil and bark mulch for school and community gardens.
Valley Carriers also donates a house rent-free to the Cyrus Centre in Abbotsford to house youths who would otherwise be homeless.
And the company is a gold sponsor of the Run for Water and a matching donor for the elementary schools that participate in the run.
This year, 10 of their employees volunteered their time cheering and handing out water and sports drinks to the runners while 25 employees participated in the run itself.
