SaskTel today announced that its employees donated more than $197,000 to over 75 non-profit organizations across Saskatchewan in 2017.

The funds were raised by employee members of SaskTel TelCare, SaskTel’s employee benevolent fund. SaskTel has since gone on to match 50 per cent of employee donations resulting in a total gift of over $296,000 to the community.

“SaskTel employees are really the driving force behind TelCare,” said the Honourable Joe Hargrave, Minister Responsible for SaskTel. “I wish to applaud all employees taking part in this program that helps a number of outstanding charities and non-profit organizations create meaningful change in the lives of Saskatchewan people.”

Every year, TelCare members vote on which registered charities in their community they would like to support. This means that all money raised in a community stays close to home where members can see how their support is making a difference. In 2017, over 900 SaskTel employees contributed to TelCare.

“There is a strong culture of giving here at SaskTel and we are proud to support our employees’ passion for making a difference in the community,” said Doug Burnett, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer. “Thanks to our employees, caring organizations in communities across the province will have an easier time carrying on with the great work they do.”

SaskTel TelCare supports a wide range of causes including the Arthritis Society, the United Way, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and various hospitals across Saskatchewan. In the past five years alone, TelCare has awarded over $1.4 million to local non-profits that enrich our communities.

Numerous local initiatives and neighborhood programs will also benefit from TelCare donations this year, including: •

• Carmichael Outreach Inc. which provides programs and supports for vulnerable and homeless individuals in the Regina area.
• Prairie Branches Enterprises Inc. which provides individualized services and community programs for people with special needs in the Wilkie, Unity and Biggar area.
• Southwest Crisis Services Inc. which provides crisis supports and shelter services to domestic violence survivors and their families in southwest Saskatchewan.
• Children’s Haven in Prince Albert which maintains 24/7 emergency child care services, as well as one-on-one confidential support for parents dealing with sudden illness, housing, poverty or other crisis situations.

Founded in 1950, SaskTel TelCare is a voluntary program that allows SaskTel employees to support a variety of community organizations throughout Saskatchewan. Employees who become members enroll in a payroll deduction plan that takes a designated amount every month to be put towards the fund. TelCare is operated by employee volunteers in nine districts: Estevan, Weyburn, Moose Jaw, Yorkton, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Swift Current, Regina, and Saskatoon.

To see a full listing of this year’s TelCare recipient organizations by district, please see the appendix below.

About SaskTel

SaskTel is the leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) provider in Saskatchewan, with over $1.2 billion in annual revenue and approximately 1.4 million customer connections including 608,000 wireless accesses, 367,000 wireline network accesses, 278,000 Internet accesses and 110,000 maxTV™ subscribers. SaskTel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries offer a wide range of ICT products and services including competitive voice, data and Internet services, wireless data services, maxTV services, data centre services, cloud-based services, security monitoring services, advertising services, and international software and consulting services. SaskTel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have a workforce of approximately 4,000 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs). Visit SaskTel at www.sasktel.com.

About SaskTel TelCare

SaskTel’s TelCare was founded in 1950 by a group of employees who shared the belief that together they could help to improve the lives of those in need. Today, the employee benevolent fund supports over 75 registered charities in Saskatchewan through the generous support of employees.

Any registered non-profit agency wanting assistance from TelCare can apply in writing through the website. To find out more please visit SaskTel TelCare.

For more information, please contact:
Tim Jones SaskTel Manager of External Communications
Phone: 306.777.4548
E-mail: timothy.jones@sasktel.com

APPENDIX

2017 TELCARE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATIONS BY DISTRICT

Regina & District
SaskTel and TelCare members in Regina & District donated a total of $155,959 to 23 charities in 2017.

The non-profit organizations selected to receive support by the local TelCare membership are:

Saskatoon & District
SaskTel and TelCare members in Saskatoon & District donated a total of $74,700 to 22 charities in 2017.

The non-profit organizations selected to receive support by the local TelCare membership are:

Estevan & District
SaskTel and TelCare members in Estevan & District donated a total of $6,975 to 5 charities in 2017.

The non-profit organizations selected to receive support by the local TelCare membership are:

Moose Jaw & District
SaskTel and TelCare members in Moose Jaw & District donated a total of $13,000 to 6 charities in 2017.

The non-profit organizations selected to receive support by the local TelCare membership are:

North Battleford & District
SaskTel and TelCare members in North Battleford & District donated a total of $13,050 to 8 charities in 2017.

The non-profit organizations selected to receive support by the local TelCare membership are:

Prince Albert & District
SaskTel and TelCare members in Prince Albert & District donated a total of $14,515 to 17 charities in 2017.

The non-profit organizations selected to receive support by the local TelCare membership are:

Swift Current & District
SaskTel and TelCare members in Swift Current & District donated a total of $7,785 to 9 charities in 2017.

The non-profit organizations selected to receive support by the local TelCare membership are:

Weyburn & District
SaskTel and TelCare members in Weyburn & District donated a total of $3,600 to 5 charities in 2017.

The non-profit organizations selected to receive support by the local TelCare membership are:

Yorkton & District
SaskTel and TelCare members in Yorkton & District donated a total of $6,750 to 5 charities in 2017.

The non-profit organizations selected to receive support by the local TelCare membership are: