At Allstate Canada we are committed to fostering an environment of inclusion, involvement and empowerment for those experiencing barriers to participation. We define these barriers as anything that prevents individuals from fully participating in society – whether it be issues facing financial insecurities, housing, food scarcities, mental health, etc.

Our corporate social responsibility mandate can also be divided into two pillars – investing in our community through grants and in-kind contributions, and empowering employees to get involved by giving back.

The Good Hands Advice team wanted to reflect on some of Allstate Canada’s community initiatives in 2022, and hopefully inspire you all to give back to your community and support a local charity that matters to you.

Investing in our Communities

Combating Ableism with Inclusion Canada

February 2022

Inclusion Canada is a national federation of 13 provincial and territorial member organizations and over 300 local associations working to advance the full inclusion and human rights of people with an intellectual disability and their families.

As one of our national charitable partners, we’re proud to be able to use our platform to help elevate their message of inclusivity to a larger audience. An example would be in support of their #ThisisAbleism campaign – meant to help Canadians define ableism and understand its impact, as well as provide a platform for people with disabilities to share their stories and advocate for a more inclusive society.

We were able to lend support to this education campaign by using our social media platforms, blog and relationships with key stakeholders to help share this important message. The Allstate Foundation of Canada donated $50,000 over a two-year period (2020 and2021) to help support the research, development and launch of this public education campaign in February 2022.

Supporting a Vision to End Chronic Homelessness

April 2022

Allstate Canada has been a proud supporter of the Old Brewery Mission (OBM) since 2014. If you’re unfamiliar with the organization, OBM works with those experiencing homelessness or other financial insecurities in the Montreal area by helping to provide essential needs while also finding practical and sustainable solutions to end chronic homelessness.

Throughout our eight-year partnership with the organization, Allstate Canada created a variety of fundraising opportunities to help support OBM. Last year, we ran a donation matching campaign in which we helped purchase fully outfitted beds for the clients of the OBM’s Social Housing Program. We surpassed our goal and raised almost $25,000 to purchase bed frames, mattresses, pillows and linens to be housed in 33 studio apartments.

Helping Families Build Strength, Stability and Independence Through Affordable Homeownership

September 2022

One of our newest national charitable partners, Habitat for Humanity Canada brings communities together to help families build strength, stability and independence through affordable homeownership.

For one week in September, we committed to donating $5 for every completed insurance quote, which resulted in $50,000 spilt amongst five Habitat Affiliates for home builds in provinces where Allstate Canada operates. Our company also organized volunteer opportunities for employees with local Habitat for Humanity Affiliates in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, where our team lent their good hands to supporting new construction, renovation and ReStore projects focusing on home furnishings.

Supporting Disaster Relief Domestically and Internationally

March and September 2022

In March, to support those affected by the crisis in Ukraine, we offered our employees the opportunity to give back. Through combined employee donations and a contribution from Allstate Canada, $40,000 was donated to the Canadian Red Cross’s Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal to provide support to displaced populations in Ukraine and surrounding countries.

In September, Post-Tropical Storm Fiona ravished parts of Atlantic Canada. Similar to the support we provided to Ukraine, a combination of employee and corporate donations amounted to over $59,000 donated to the Canadian Red Cross’s Hurricane Fiona in Canada Appeal to provide assistance to Canadians affected by the storm.

Supporting Youth through Sport with Their Opportunity at The Allstate Soccer Show

October 2022

The Allstate Soccer Show (TASS) brings together soccer fans to have an interactive experience with some of their favourite professional players. At these events, we like to provide additional support to a local charity that encourages active living. This year, the show’s charitable partner was Their Opportunity, a Canadian organization that educates, uplifts and supports youth through sport.

Approximately 530 TASS participants took part in a soccer activation where the number of goals scored in a net resulted in a donation from Allstate Canada to Their Opportunity. The company donated a total of $10,000, with each $325 helping enroll one child into a local sports and recreation program.

Spreading Empathy, Kindness and Compassion with Local Women Impacted by Homelessness

November – December 2022

The Shoebox Project for Women aims to share empathy, kindness and compassion with local women impacted by homelessness through the collection and distribution of gift-filled shoeboxes and messages of support.

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, select Allstate agencies opened their doors to act as drop-off locations on behalf of The Shoebox Project in advance of the holiday season. The agencies collected gift-filled shoeboxes from the general public, which were then delivered to shelters and other organizations supporting women impacted by homelessness. Our Markham head office also joined in on the celebration by hosting their own shoebox stuffing party, where employees packed a total of 206 shoeboxes.

This year, we’re proud to have collected over 2,000 gift-filled shoeboxes at 29 Allstate Insurance Agencies across the five provinces we serve and donated a total of $36,957 to the organization through corporate and employee donations!

Empowering our Employees 

Volunteering Is Empathy In Action

April 2022

National Volunteer Week is an annual observation that celebrates Canadians who are active in giving back to their community. Taking place between April 24 – 30, last year’s theme was Volunteering Is Empathy In Action, which affirms the strong connection between volunteerism and empathy.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our employees were unable to volunteer in the same capacity that they’re used to, however many were able to find unique ways to give back during the pandemic. We used our social media platforms to recognize the great work that they were doing and to inspire others to give back.

During this week, employees tracked over 600 virtual volunteer hours. Through a combination of donation rewards and prizes, Allstate Canada provided over $29,000 to employees who were involved in charitable activities to give back to organizations they care about.

Creating a Difference in Our Community

August 2022

The Allstate Community Hero Award (CHA) provides recognition to employees who are invested in supporting their communities through volunteering, fundraising and other actions that contribute to making a difference.  The CHA is divided into two categories for Allstate Agency employees – one that recognizes a national recipient and eight regional recipients – and one that recognizes employees who work outside of our agencies. The winners received a grant to donate to a charity of their choice, resulting in $12,000 going back into their communities.

For a full list of our 2022 recipients, be sure to check out our article here.

Celebrating our Month of Goodness

November-December 2022

At the end of the year, the company organizes our annual employee giving initiative known as Month of Goodness. During this period, we provide employees with the opportunity to maximize their impact on the communities and causes they care about. During this month-long campaign, the Allstate Foundation of Canada double-matched all employee donations, offered a prize draw for employees who made a donation with their own funds, and created a lottery where credits ranging from $30 – $1,000 were deposited into every employee’s personal giving account to donate to a charity of their choice.

Throughout the month, employees tracked a total of 788 hours of volunteer time and through employee and corporate giving, $260,147 was donated to over 600 different charities in Canada.

Providing Support Within Our Communities  

Year-Round

Allstate Canada is committed to providing employees with opportunities to support their communities, and one of the ways we do so is through the Good Hands Grant. This program is designed to increase the impact of employee volunteerism in the communities where they live and work by matching volunteer time with money to donate.

In 2022, individuals and agency teams were eligible to receive Good Hands Grants through three different streams. A total of 386 employees volunteered at least 3,459 hours resulting in over $150,000 donated to Canadian charities.