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Nestlé Canada employees bring the Good Food, Good Life philosophy to life

Create A Smile participantsMany Nestlé Canada employees extend our Good Food, Good Life philosophy into their lives and to their communities. From those who raise thousands of dollars each year for charity to those who donate their time to organizations like food banks, sports teams and schools, Nestlé Canada staff work hard to give back to Canadians.

To recognize employees who are committed to improving their communities, Nestlé Canada launched the Nestlé Cares Employee Volunteer Program in 2004. This program provides a financial grant in the name of an employee who volunteers a minimum of 50 hours with a registered charity. This financial donation allows Nestlé Canada to support employees and the organizations that matter most to them.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the many ways Nestlé Canada employees are making a difference across the country.
 

Raising awareness, funds and hope

Mustafa Khaliq, Brand and Category Solutions Manager, generously donates his time to a number of non-profit organizations. “One of the groups I volunteer with is The Parkinson Society of Canada,” says Khaliq. “My father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1997 and volunteering with this group has given me a much better understanding of the disease. Meeting people who have the disease who are not letting it beat them mentally and spiritually has provided a lot of hope and encouragement.”

“Being involved in raising awareness and funds for The Parkinson Society of Canada has been such a rewarding experience for me and my family, so it’s great to be able to give the organization this extra donation” says Khaliq. “I know the financial contribution from the Nestlé Cares program goes a long way with this group.”
 

Opening doors through education

Julie Camilleri, Performance Development Champion, Marketing, has been part of the Nestlé Cares Employee Volunteer Program since it began. “I give my time to a school in my neighbourhood. I help out in many areas – including the library, fundraising events and more – to create a better learning experience for the children. For example, when I catalogue new books in the library it allows the teacher more time to work directly with students one on one in the classroom,” says Camilleri.

“As a volunteer, I’ve been able to direct the financial support provided through the Nestlé Cares Program to an in need school in my area. Over the years, these contributions have allowed the school to improve the quality of books available to students, which has a direct impact on the learning opportunities they can provide. It makes me so proud to work for a company that supports its employees and community in this way.”
 

Building community through Create A Smile

Other Nestlé Canada employees, like Mirco Rossetti, Marketing Manager, Frozen, have stepped in to help when they see a need in their community. “My wife and I started Create A Smile over seven years ago,” says Rossetti. “It grew out of our desire to help Carrie-Anne, my wife’s sister, and has now become an annual community event that’s the largest fundraiser for Community Living St. Marys and Area, a local organization supporting over 45 people with physical and intellectual disabilities.”

“Each fall about 250 people from the community come together for a 5k walk, where we also hold a silent auction, give away prizes and just have a great day all together. Not only does Create A Smile raise money for a great organization but it also helps build the community and bring everyone closer,” says Rossetti.

“We’re really thankful for all the support we’ve received over the years – from local businesses, the community, our coworkers and through the Nestlé Cares program. Every amount we raise adds up, and in total, Create A Smile has now raised over $100,000 for Community Living St. Marys and Area.”