Re: “Something we can all do to help the Food Bank,” LTE Jan. 14
Dear editor,
We at Telus find it somewhat odd Mr. O’Neil would write, “…Telus should not get even secondhand credit for our money going to charity.”
We would like to assure Mr. O’Neil that we are not looking for secondhand credit for the inventiveness of the citizens of Airdrie to help a cause close to their hearts. Telus has a philosophy to give where we live and we applaud any citizen of a community who does the same. Our own team members who live and work in Airdrie support the food bank on an ongoing basis. Just last year, our team members, through our Employee Charitable Giving initiative, donated nearly $4,000 directly to the Airdrie Food Bank. Funds for the food bank are again being raised this year by our team members and their families who make Airdrie their home.
The rebate cheques Mr. O’Neil referred to are from funds the CRTC ordered the telecommunications companies to collect and set aside over the years in what had become known as deferral accounts. Telus is not taking credit for these rebates either.
However, we are most definitely proud to be the only telecommunications company in Canada to offer our customers the option of applying their rebate to charity. Customers can have the $31.25 donated to the Alberta Children’s Hospital; receive a cheque for $31.25; or get a $100 credit towards new wireless products and services or toward Telus Optik TV. Your readers will remember Telus recently donated $121,600 for Genesis Place on behalf of every new customer who signed up for Internet-based Optik TV and Telus Satellite TV.
We admire the community’s passion to give where they live. They have set a great example for all Canadians to follow.
Chris Gerritsen, Telus
