From now until May
26, Staples will match all
donations up to $500,000
in support of MAP
RICHMOND
HILL, ON, May 6, 2024 /CNW/ - Staples Canada is
amplifying its support for MAP, Canada's largest health equity research
centre, to 'Close the Gap' on inequity in Canada. This campaign marks the fourth year of
its Even The Odds partnership with the world-renowned
organization. 'Close the Gap' is a campaign that exposes real
health challenges faced by disadvantaged communities across
Canada and aims to eliminate
critical gaps in health equity. Funds raised will continue to
support vital programming for underserved communities, working to
help end childhood health inequities, break down barriers to care
and disease prevention, and create pathways out of chronic
homelessness.
"This is an important milestone for our fundraising efforts in
support of MAP and we're immensely proud of the contributions the
Even the Odds partnership has made in promoting health
equity in communities throughout Canada," said Rachel
Huckle, CEO, Staples
Canada. "We look forward to continuing to drive the momentum
of awareness of Even the Odds through our Close the Gap
campaign and provide vital funding to programs we value deeply,
including APPLE Schools, Navigator and Our Healthbox."
Until May 26, Staples customers can donate to Even the
Odds at any one of Staples
Canada's 300+ stores or online at Staples.ca/EvenTheOdds.
Staples will match all donations
up to $500,000. Donations will help
fund the life-saving research and solutions that MAP and its
scientists are doing to help build more equitable communities.
Staples' Even the Odds campaign surpasses
$5-million fundraising
milestone
Since its launch in 2021, the Even the Odds campaign has
raised more than $5 million –
surpassing its campaign goal thanks to the support of Staples' customers, associates,
vendor-partners, and corporate match donations.
With this funding, Staples and
MAP have expanded their equity-building initiatives throughout
Canada to create meaningful and
lasting impact in underserved communities, which include:
- Supporting a healthy start for almost 5,000 children in
underserved communities: In 2023, Even the Odds expanded
its support of award-winning health promotion initiative APPLE
Schools, bringing it to new elementary schools in Ontario and continuing to support schools in
Alberta. APPLE Schools helps
children in underserved communities to eat better, move more and
feel happier – learning healthy habits that last a lifetime.
- Helping to create the largest cross-Canada conversation about the future of
primary care: In 2022-2023, MAP's OurCare research group
surveyed and engaged nearly 10 thousand Canadians to determine the
public's expectations, how they define good primary care, and what
policy changes they recommend to shape a stronger, more equitable
system. Read about the results and next steps here.
- Launching the first Our Healthbox's in
Canada: In 2023, Even The
Odds helped launch Canada's
first Our Healthbox "smart" vending machines, dispensing hundreds
of free HIV self-tests, naloxone kits and other health supplies on
demand to improve access to care and disease prevention in the
maritime provinces.
- Expanding MAP's innovative Navigator program,
designed to help break the cycle of homelessness and poor
health. In 2023, MAP brought Navigator to British Columbia. The hospital-based outreach
program helps unhoused patients recover after injury or illness and
connects them to vital community services.
"Thanks to Even the Odds fundraising, we have been able
to develop and implement innovative tools and programs to
communities across Canada, and –
most importantly – create lasting impacts," said Dr. Stephen Hwang, Director, MAP. "The past three
years of our partnership with Staples has set the bar high, and we look
forward to continue our work in building communities that Close the
Gap on inequities."
Starting today, Staples is
increasing support for Even the Odds through the launch of
the Close the Gap marketing campaign – the largest fundraising
campaign in the partnership's history. The mass media marketing
campaign aims to raise awareness of the need to end health
inequities and close Canada's
health gap. Funds raised will continue to support vital
programming for underserved communities across Canada, working to help end childhood health
inequities, break down barriers to care and disease prevention, and
create pathways out of chronic homelessness. The integrated
campaign will be featured in television, digital, and outdoor
signage assets, and across all Staples stores in Canada.
About MAP
MAP is Canada's largest
research centre focused on health equity and the social
determinants of health. Internationally recognized for
groundbreaking science and innovation, MAP develops and implements
real-world, evidence-driven program and policy solutions that
disrupt cycles of socioeconomic exclusion and poor health. For more
than 25 years, MAP has partnered with communities and policy makers
across the country to take on complex issues such as homelessness,
intimate partner violence, inequitable access to healthcare and the
prevention of opioid-related harms. MAP's impacts span from local
to national and beyond. MAP's vision is a healthier future for all.
MAP is based at St. Michael's
Hospital, a fully affiliated University of
Toronto teaching and research-intensive hospital and hub for
care in downtown Toronto.
St. Michael's Hospital is a site
of Unity Health Toronto, a hospital network serving patients,
residents and clients across the full spectrum of care. Learn more
at maphealth.ca
About Staples Canada
Staples Canada is The Working
and Learning Company. We are a privately-owned company committed to
helping parents, teachers, businesses, and entrepreneurs work
smarter, learn more and grow every day. Our network includes 300+
stores across Canada and
staples.ca, printing and shipping services at Staples Print, and
Staples Studio co-working spaces. To service the unique needs of
businesses, we also have a number of dedicated B2B brands that
support business customers of all sizes, which include Staples
Preferred, Staples Professional, Supreme Office Supplies and
Furniture, Denis Office Supplies, Monarch Office Supply Inc. and
Beatties. Headquartered in Richmond Hill,
Ontario, we are committed to the communities we serve across
Canada, and are a proud partner of
MAP through our Even The Odds fundraising and
awareness initiative that aims to eliminate critical gaps in health
equity. Visit staples.ca for more information or engage with
@StaplesCanada on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or
TikTok.
SOURCE Staples Canada ULC