TORONTO, ONTARIO--Enbridge today announced its support of youth
volunteerism and leadership at The Hospital for Sick Children in
Toronto. The Hospital for Sick Children hopes to grow its Summer
Student Program by as much as 50 per cent within the next three
years thanks to the support of Enbridge.
Currently more than 750 youth between the ages of 16 and 21
volunteer with the hospital each year, including 400 summer
students. However, there is a waiting list with the names of
hundreds of youth interested in volunteering.
"While the Summer Student Program has been very successful, it has
been challenged by a lack of resources," said Anne Breakey Hart,
Assistant Director, Leadership for Tomorrow, Volunteer Resources,
The Hospital for Sick Children. "The support from Enbridge allows
us to hire a full-time summer co-ordinator to provide the
necessary support and direction required to increase the number of
volunteers while also ensuring that the students continue to
flourish while on placement."
"By promoting volunteerism among our youth, we're contributing to
the growth of a new generation of leaders," said Jim Schultz,
President of Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. "We're very pleased to
support the efforts of the youth in our community. We believe that
the young volunteers will benefit as much from the opportunity as
the hospital and our community will benefit from their support."
"My position challenged my endurance and my creativity, and taught
me many important lessons about leadership, life and myself," said
Rachel Pang, a 2001 summer student volunteer. "Giving is truly a
very satisfying feeling. The lessons that I have learned, the
people whom I have met, as well as the wonderful experience that I
have had, will remain with me for the rest of my life."
"Volunteering is about giving back to the community as well as a
learning experience," said Ms. Breakey Hart. "With Enbridge's
support we'll be better positioned to provide opportunities for
all our volunteers to develop their leadership skills."
The youth volunteers at The Hospital for Sick Children provide
valuable services in more than 70 areas of the hospital including
playing with patients, visiting with families, providing
administrative support, and delivering information to hospital
visitors.
Volunteer resources contribute significantly to the success of
not-for-profit organizations and to the health and vibrancy of
communities across our country.
This initiative demonstrates Enbridge's commitment to support the
growth of the voluntary sector and to promote and encourage
citizens to become engaged in the affairs of their communities.
Enbridge Inc. is a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation
and distribution. Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary, is Canada's largest natural gas distribution company,
serving more than 1.5 million customers in Ontario, Quebec and New
York State. For more information visit the Enbridge website at
The Hospital for Sick Children, affiliated with the University of
Toronto, is the largest paediatric academic health science centre
in Canada and one of the largest in the world. Its mission is to
provide the best in family-centred, compassionate care, to lead in
scientific and clinical advancement, and to prepare the next
generation of leaders in child health.
-30-