easyhome stores are very much part of the community we serve. That’s why, when we chose a partner for our corporate giving, we chose the Boys and Girls Club of Canada. Boys and Girls Clubs offer programs that are accessible and affordable to all children. The clubs offer a safe place for children to channel their energies into positive, challenging activities.

Like easyhome, the Boys and Girls Club of Canada is a national organization that is rooted in communities. We share similar core values, such as respect and empowerment. David Ingram, easyhome’s President and Chief Executive Officer, has served on the Board of Trustees of the Boys and Girls Clubs Foundation since 2008 and was made Vice Chair in 2010. From 2005 until 2008, easyhome raised money through our “Backpack Challenge”, donating 8,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to clubs across the country.

In 2010, easyhome established the easyhome Ltd. scholarship program, awarding ten scholarships of $4,000 each to youth across Canada. Our annual golf tournament will help raise funds for these scholarships. Each year we invite more than 120 vendor partners to participate in a fun day of golf as we increase awareness of Boys and Girls Clubs and contribute to their very worthwhile activities.

For a more personal connection, we host a Soccer Day at a local Toronto club, where we sponsor lunch and trophies, and even join in the game. We also launched the “Room to Learn” career workshop during the year, inviting 30 youths from local clubs in the Greater Toronto Area into our office to learn essential job search skills, including how to write a resume and interview techniques. In addition, each student had an opportunity to speak with individuals in key functional areas, including marketing, purchasing, finance, information technology, operations, and human resources.

Also in 2010, easyhome fulfilled its pledge to donate $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada Foundation’s Endowment Fund. The Endowment Fund supports the work of the national organization to provide direction and leadership to local clubs. We renewed our pledge, committing to donate an additional $250,000 over a five-year period. Since our partnership in late 2004, easyhome has contributed more than $450,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs.

Read more about our national partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Canada.