Since 2014, FirstOntario Credit Union and Blue Wave employees have supported over 10,000 children and youth weekly to participate in Universal Student Nutrition Programs within Brantford and Brant elementary and secondary schools. And this year is no exception.
Pictured above (L to R): Tom Irvine, FirstOntario Credit Union; Christine Susa, FirstOntario Credit Union; Leah Van Sickle, Assistant Branch Manager FirstOntario Credit Union; Sherron Birkett, Board President Brant Food For Thought and Gisèle Budgell, Program Director, Brant Food For Thought.
The team at FirstOntario Credit Union are investing $20,000 this year to support Brant Food For Thought nutrition programs, and in particular, this year’s School Nutrition Initiatives Project. This brings their total contributions in Brant to over $107,000 to support the purchase of nutritious foods for students before and during the school day, with a small portion dedicated to volunteer engagement, recognition and training.
Community Impact Specialist, Christine Susa and Tom Irvine, Director of Community Impact at FirstOntario corporate office were both on hand for yesterday’s official launch of the School Nutrition Initiatives.
“At FirstOntario, we show our commitment to strengthening our communities by reinvesting our profits locally and through the ‘power’ of our Blue Wave employee volunteers,” says Irvine. “Youth health and wellness, specifically student nutrition and the importance that locally grown, healthy food plays in the success of students at school, are top priorities for us. Our community partnership with Brant Food For Thought supports our ‘home grown’ approach to Student Nutrition Programs – connecting the resources of our local credit union in support of local farmers, to provide locally grown food to children in our community.”
The corporate philosophy at FirstOntario Credit Union aligns with our mission at Brant Food For Thought: ensuring that children and youth in our school communities, regardless of their socioeconomic background, have access to the most nutritious foods possible during the school day, especially whole fruits and vegetables and white milk. Together, we are investing in the healthy development of our children and youth today for a vibrant and healthy community tomorrow. Thank you FirstOntario Credit Union for continuing to make an impact and for sharing in our vision.