Corporate philanthropy

A note of thanks

As a followup to “A New Dimension” in the August issue, we would like to thank CMJ readers and members of the mining community for the tremendous support they gave to the Women in Mining network team, in the early September Weekend to End Breast Cancer walk in Toronto. The team raised a total of $200,708 from 399 donations including from many mining corporations and consultants/ service companies. This amount made it the largest fund-raising team in the walk, in which over 5,300 walkers raised $17.3 million for the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, to support breast cancer research and care.

Xstrata ups community spending

Xstrata Copper Canada announced in early October that it is more than doubling its financial commitments to organizations in communities where it has mining and/or metallurgical operations. Donations in 2007 will reach approximately Cdn$800,000. The increased donations in Canada are part of Xstrata Copper’s enhanced community commitment, recently formalized through a Corporate Social Involvement Policy that Xstrata Copper has applied worldwide. The policy was introduced into Canadian operations in 2007.

In Timmins, Ont., home of the Kidd Creek mine and metallurgical operations, donations will total close to $300,000. The Northern College Foundation will receive $150,000 over three years towards the purchase of lab equipment. The Porcupine Ski Runners will receive $50,000 towards the construction of a new chalet building. And once again, Xstrata will match dollar-for-dollar the United Way contributions of its employees.

In Rouyn-Noranda, Que., Xstrata plans donations of $125,000. The seasonal local produce market can expect to get $25,000, while a project to convert a house into a respite centre to help families supporting people with various handicaps will receive $100,000.

In Eastern Montreal, Xstrata Copper has promised $105,000 toward reducing the serious school dropout rate. Another $15,000 will be given to organizations that offer weekly or day camps for youth in institutional foster care; and a further $30,000 will support life skills training for teens 12 to 17 years old.

For further information contact Louis-Philippe Gariepy, Xstrata Copper’s manager of corporate affairs, at 514-645-2311, ext. 2162.