Boost morale and build team spirit. Create a workplace that is healthier and ultimately more productive. Take pride in having made a meaningful contribution to a worthy cause in the community.
There are plenty of reasons why a corporate team might decide to step up and support a signature Ottawa event like Canada Army Run. It’s just a matter of finding a “why” that is relevant to a majority of employees and will inspire them to take part and get active.
For the Ottawa offices of multinational professional services firm Deloitte, that “why” began with a handful of colleagues having a chat during a break one day. A participant in that conversation was Manager in Consulting Amanda Hillock. She had recently relocated from Deloitte’s operations in her native New Zealand.
Down there, the Deloitte team is active in all sorts of team and community activities outside of work. When Hillock heard about Canada Army Run, she asked why there wasn’t a local Deloitte team taking part.
“Since 2008, Canada Army Run has donated more than $3.1 million to Soldier On and Support our Troops, two charitable funds of the Canadian Armed Forces that provide assistance to ill and injured soldiers and military families in need. We are extremely grateful for the efforts of all those who have participated in the Canada Army Run over the years. It is by far, our most important signature event of the year!”
Hillock’s colleagues and superiors quickly rallied around the idea and Operation Green Dot was born. For the 2018 edition of Army Run, Deloitte’s team members challenged themselves to raise $10,000 for the charities supported by Army Run – Support Our Troops and Soldier On.
They smashed that target and are back for more in 2019 with 40 runners now on the team.
“It surprised me how much it snowballed,” Hillock said. “It signals to our people that whatever you want to do to stay healthy, we support that.”
For Army Run Race Director Maj. Dave Tischhauser, that kind of unsolicited corporate support is huge.
“Our berets are off to this great bunch of people,” he said. “We applaud and salute Deloitte for all their great efforts to support a great cause. We would love to see more companies and corporate teams jump on board.”
Since its inception 11 years ago, Canada Army Run has grown into a world-class event with more than 20,000 participants, thousands more spectators and hundreds of dedicated volunteers. More than $3.1 million has been raised to date for Support our Troops and Soldier On.
Through Army Run, Canadians can show their support for the men and women of Canada’s Armed Forces, challenge themselves, and share in the camaraderie and esprit de corps of serving in uniform, Maj. Tischhauser said.
“We are a small military, we are sons and daughters, mums and dads, brothers and sisters. We are a cross-section of the wonderful people of Canada.”
Get involved
To learn how your team can get involved and give those folks from Deloitte a run for their money, please visit www.armyrun.ca or contact info@armyrun.ca.
Who Benefits from Canada Army Run?
Last year, 2,600 military personnel and their families where aided by the funds raised by Army Run, through Support our Troops and Soldier On.
Support Our Troops, managed by Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services, delivers programs meant to help ill and injured soldiers and military families in need. Soldier On, one of these programs, helps veterans and serving members adapt and overcome permanent physical or mental health injury or illness through physical activity and sport.
Nancy Oakley, Associate VP of Support Our Troops, applauds the initiative shown by corporate supporters like Deloitte, as well as the community at large.
“To have Canadians recognize and appreciate the role of CAF personnel and their families is really invaluable,” she said. “It really gives them a lift when they know Canadians are standing behind them and recognizing the important job they do to keep our country secure and our people safe.”
