ING in the Community

Our Involvement

The ING Foundation offers continuous support to sustainable programs and activities that improve the quality of life and unlock the potential of Canadian youth. The Foundation also contributes financially to organizations that our employees support or in which they volunteer their time.

The ING Foundation funds a number of mentoring programs across the country. One of the most esteemed programs is Youth in Motion's Top 20 Under 20. Launched in 2004 with the help of ING Foundation, this program celebrates and rewards inspirational leadership and achievement of 20 individuals aged 10 to 19 every year. Our support of this program enhances the personal and professional development of these young people through a leadership summit and a unique mentoring program.

We also support innovative programs that seek to improve the quality of life for sick children. In 2003, the ING Foundation helped launch Dr. Clown, a paediatric program inspired by Patch Adams, at Montreal's Ste-Justine Hospital. Our continued support of this program has allowed the charity to provide the services of therapeutic artists twice a week at the Marie-Enfant Rehabilitation Centre. A similar program has been funded by ING Foundation since 2006 at the Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga. Our donations allow Lilly the Clown and her friends to visit approximately 1400 children per month.

The ING Foundation is also proud to fund many endeavours that aim to reduce youth-on-youth violence in Canada by encouraging independence and strength-of-mind among youth at-risk. We are proud to support programs for Covenant House in Toronto and Vancouver, and Raido House in Calgary. These shelters for homeless youth provide more than just a roof over their heads; they also offer counselling, educational and vocational support. We also support programs such as the Learn-to-Sail certification programs, organized by the Broad Reach Foundation for Youth Leaders, as well as many other after-school and summer programs that have helped at-risk youth develop skills such as teamwork, communication, collective problem solving and self-confidence.

Thanks to the generosity of our employees across the country, an incredible $500,000 was successfully raised for United Way last year, enabling ING and its employees to make a $1 million donation to their network of agencies and programs.

ING Chances for Children is an ING Group corporate program that aims, with the help of UNICEF, to give 115,000 children access to education in 2007; as well as improving education in the local communities in which ING businesses are active. We at ING Canada have partnered with UNICEF Canada, within this initiative, to help give children in developing countries greater access to primary education.