WestJet is known for soaring in the skies above but when it comes to supporting the Richmond Hospital Foundation, they are firmly grounded in their commitment.
The award-winning airline and its team of WestJetters have a long-standing tradition of giving back to the city where many of its employees live and work. “We rely on WestJetters at each of our bases across Canada to represent WestJet’s Community Investment in their communities and make those support decisions,” says Sarah Speedie, Coordinator, Community Investment, WestJet. “We asked our WestJet employees in Richmond which local charitable organizations they wanted to support. Based on their community's needs and priorities, they told us that Richmond Hospital was of great importance to them.”
WestJet has been a generous sponsor of Richmond Hospital Foundation for nearly 10 years and are proud that their charitable investments make an impact to support the health and wellbeing of the city’s citizens. Since 2006, WestJet has donated more than 50 Gift of Flight vouchers to Richmond Hospital Foundation to help raise funds to improve patient care. WestJet supports pediatric fundraising initiatives through their Airport Giving program. Last year, proceeds from the WestJet’s sponsorship helped raise funds for a new Short Stay Pediatric Unit to provide new facilities to care for children at Richmond Hospital.
“We know that through our contributions, Richmond families will have access to the critical medical equipment they need,” says Speedie. "In order to have a vibrant and healthy community, it's extremely important for organizations to be good corporate citizens.”
WestJet’s leadership makes a real difference in the lives of Richmond’s diverse and rapidly growing population. “We recognize the vital contributions Richmond Hospital makes in the community,” adds Speedie.
Ensuring doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals at Richmond Hospital have the state-of-the-art equipment to provide the very best local health care is something that WestJet is proud to see take flight. “We’re so pleased to support Richmond Hospital because of the wonderful and compassionate care offered to families,” says Speedie.
