AIG in the Community

Since 2015, AIG Canada has supported Junior Achievement, the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. As part of this relationship, employees from AIG’s Toronto office taught “Our Business World” to a virtual audience of grade five and six students. The curriculum, developed by Junior Achievement, focused on the power of the Canadian entrepreneurial spirit in a free enterprise system. Students learned by doing through fun, relevant activities and can apply the lessons learned to help them succeed tomorrow. Supplementing this effort was a corporate donation to support its employees’ in-class teaching opportunities.

Since 2016, AIG Canada has been a national sponsor of WICC (Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade). Since WICC’s inception two decades ago, it has raised approximately $13 million towards eradicating cancer by supporting many of Canada’s most important research projects. Few organizations have galvanized the insurance industry more than WICC. This endowment demonstrates AIG Canada’s commitment to the health of Canadians by providing funding for cancer research. In addition, AIG provides further support by attending WICC events.

To support the efforts of the Red Cross Atlantic Canada campaign, AIG Canada donated funds to help those impacted by tropical storm Fiona. The Canadian Red Cross worked to help people in and around affected areas as quickly as possible and provided humanitarian assistance for new needs as they arose. Money raised enabled the Red Cross to carry out relief, recovery, resiliency and risk reduction activities in and beyond the region at the individual and community levels. The Canadian Red Cross has provided assistance to more than 88,000 households throughout Atlantic Canada who were impacted by the hurricane-force post-tropical storm Fiona. 

AIG Canada made a corporate donation to the Toronto Humane Society to promote their Giving Tuesday partnership via social media which exceeded their Giving Tuesday goal. It is the mission of THS to promote the humane care and protection of all animals and to prevent cruelty and suffering. Following no kill principles, the THS aspires to be a best-in-class animal shelter – working in partnership with the community to find creative solutions and improve outcomes for all animals. 

To benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC), AIG Canada staff participated in the Jim Abernethy Challenge. Additionally, AIG Canada acted as a gold sponsor in tribute to a former insurance-industry colleague who lost his battle against lymphoma in 2019. The Challenge saw staff members walking, running, cycling and by hours of movement. The LLSC funds researchers across Canada who are looking to develop less toxic, more accurate and innovative treatments and therapies. The LLSC also developed and invests in countless patient support programs helping people in treatment, caregivers and healthcare workers navigate the challenges associated with a cancer diagnosis.

AIG Canada has supported the CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish for over 40 years. Along with a corporate donation, employees purchased holiday gifts for needy children. The CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish program has become one of the largest distributors of toys to children in need in the Greater Toronto Area. The program also provides financial assistance to hundreds of agencies, ensuring that hundreds of thousands of children across the GTA enjoy a holiday experience.

In support of the circular economy, AIG Canada’s employees participated in an onsite volunteering effort that saw the group rebuilding and repairing furniture items destined for families in need throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Along with this volunteer effort, AIG Canada made a donation to help support the Furniture Bank. Founded in 1998, Furniture Bank is a registered charity and social enterprise which redistributes gently-used furniture and housewares from donors in the community to families and individuals experiencing furniture poverty. Revenues generated through the organization's furniture removal service, which is run as a social enterprise, funds their charitable activities as they work to end furniture poverty – one sofa and one family at a time. Their workshop trains participants in furniture repair, upholstery and woodworking and provides trade training, and sustainable careers in the refurbishing and reupholstering field. Since its inception in 2015, they have provided over 20 participants with opportunities to learn employable skills, and repaired and salvaged 9,000 items, ensuring furniture stays out of our landfills.

AIG Canada supported the Black Business Professional Association (BBPA) by providing a donation to assist in their program to provide tuition relief to black students. For the past 38 years, the BBPA has been advancing Black business communities, youths and professionals, to create equity and opportunity for all, so no one gets left behind. The BBPA National Scholarship Program (NSP) was established in 1986 and is dedicated to supporting and promoting the achievement of academic excellence by Black Canadian youth through an annual scholarship program. It was borne out of the need to reduce the rate at which Black students drop out of school despite their intellect, due to unavailability of funds.

In support of pediatric palliative care, AIG Canada donated funds to Canucks Place Children’s Hospice. Canuck Place Children’s Hospice first opened its doors in November 1995, to become North America’s first free-standing children’s hospice. The Canuck Place responded to the need for a hospice created specifically for children. The illness and death of a child is a life-altering experience for the families who love them. The facility offers a place of comfort and compassion where children could experience the simple joy of being a child, and families could cherish each moment together.

In support of Montreal-based youth and children, AIG Canada made a charitable contribution to the Fondation des jeunes de la DPJ. The Foundation provides urgent human services to children and youth and promotes a positive environment as their guests’ transition back to their families or in alternative housing. The organization offers children the opportunity to be children, including celebrations to mark significant events of their lives such as birthdays, Christmas, and proms.

AIG Canada contributed to the efforts of Autisme Montréal by making a financial donation. Autisme Montréal strives to improve the lives of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as their family members. Autisme Montréal acts as an advocate for the rights and interests of people with autism and their families. Their goal is to promote and to sensitize the health, education, research communities, and the general population to the needs of people with autism.