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It’s more than just business – Corporate social responsibility
LawPRO’s continued commitment to its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program was reflected in contributions to the profession, to wellness, and to the community.
Fostering the legal profession and access to justice
In May of 2016, LawPRO personnel attended the Pro Bono Ontario awards gala to honour the contributions of lawyers, law firms, legal departments, law associations and governments who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to access to justice. The LawPRO approved Pro Bono Ontario programs include specific quality-control and risk management strategies that the programs follow. In 2016, LawPRO added the Queen’s Elder Law Clinic and Bank of Montreal/Mt. Sinai Powers of Attorney Project to its list of approved programs.
In 2016, LawPRO continued its efforts to reach and support new lawyers. LawPRO reached numerous student groups (including the Ontario Bar Association Student Division, the Asian Canadian Law Students, the Toronto Lawyers Association Articling Headstart program) and published a special student issue of LawPRO Magazine. We presented the fifth annual Caron Wishart Memorial Scholarship to University of Toronto Faculty of Law student Amanda Nash.
Promoting wellness and balance
LawPRO promoted lawyer well-being by providing approximately one-half of the funding for the Law Society’s arm’s-length Member Assistance Program (MAP) operated by Homewood Human Solutions. LawPRO has promoted the program and the services it offers in presentations, print publications, online and through social media.
In our offices, we organized a Fitbit® fitness challenge with healthy prizes for monthly winners; a presentation about the impact of blood donation from Canadian Blood Services (CBS); and a plant sale.
Supporting the broader Canadian community
LawPRO raised a total $29,963 through the company’s denim Friday charitable giving program and staff led events for its five chosen recipient charities in 2016. Donations of $5,992 went to each of Autism Speaks Canada, Fanconi Canada, Food Allergy Canada, Good Shepherd Refuge Social Ministries, and Toronto Humane Society.
In 2016, employees donated a total of 12 days as part of LawPRO’s charity day program. Charities that benefited from help by LawPRO staff included Kol Hope for Children, Rethink Breast Cancer, Children’s Wish Foundation, and the Daily Bread Food Bank.
Other staff-led charitable initiatives included donations of frozen lasagna to the Good Shepherd Homeless Shelter (more than 4,500 servings of food), a “Secret Santa” toy drive for Toy Mountain and the sale of daffodil pins in support of cancer research.