GFL’s community-driven charitable giving program, the Full Circle Project (FCP), has been hard at work in the last few months.
The program officially launched across GFL’s entire operations in May 2020.
FCP is an alternative approach to traditional corporate giving that engages GFL customers in the process of deciding where the program’s funds are directed. Customers vote for one of seven charity categories or ‘classes’ that they wish to support and GFL allocates donations to local charities based on the total percentage of votes received for each class.
This direct input ensures that GFL is supporting the local causes that matter most to customers.
It’s a great opportunity for the company to invest in the communities it serves on a whole new level.
“The Full Circle Project is truly unique as it allows our local branches to give back to the communities we live and work in by creating partnerships with high-impact charities,” said Brianne Mahon, Community Lead. “As members of “Team Green,” our employees not only make a difference by providing donations to the charity they choose to partner with, but through volunteering, when it is safe to do so, which creates an increased amount of impact.”
With the COVID-19 pandemic impacting every aspect of life as we know it, charities across North America have suffered unprecedented challenges.
For most, simply delivering their services has presented unparalleled problems, with cancellation of public events hampering traditional fundraising efforts.
“In these particularly challenging times, some charities are seeing an upwards of 75% increase on demands for their services,” said Mahon. “Our support is now more important than ever.”
As part of the launch, GFL pledged $1 million in annual funding to FCP. So far this year, the program has donated more than $575,000 CAD to charities in over 35 communities in Canada and the United States.
Some of the organizations that have benefitted recently include K-9 New Life, a south Virginia-based dog rescue and rehabilitation charity that received $2,500 to support their mission of giving abandoned dogs a new life. The charity rescues sick and injured dogs from local shelters and provides them with health care, rehabilitation, training and a loving foster home until they are adopted.
In Toronto, Canada, The Stop Community Food Centre has continued to serve west end communities’ food security needs, despite having to adapt its services for COVID-19. Resources from in-house community programming are now primarily focused on emergency food access, including the food bank and a healthy takeout meal service, to ensure local people continue to get the nutrition they need. FCP was proud to donate $10,000 to The Stop to help them care for their communities in challenging times.
Neighbor to Neighbor outreach center in Raleigh, NC, received a $12,500 FCP donation to support their youth mentorship and enrichment programs. The center provides learning and growth opportunities for local children, which in turn helps to foster family wellness.
FCP also works to support charities that are no longer able to hold regular fundraising events. In the past four years, GFL proudly partnered with the South Carolina Youth Advocate Program for a ‘Back to School Bash’ which celebrates local foster families. While the event was not able to take place this year, through FCP, GFL was still able to donate 110 backpacks of essential school supplies to kids as they returned to class.
Although in-person activities are somewhat restricted at the moment, Mahon highlights the continuing positive impact of FCP’s partnerships.
“From performing a virtual run across the country to raise awareness, to providing 100,000 meals to those in need, and much more, I am incredibly proud of the work our local teams are contributing to their communities,” she said.
