In 2007, ENMAX Corporation contributed more than $4.7 million to communities across Alberta, focusing these funds on opportunities for families to enjoy active, community-based initiatives, on programs and special events of interest to a wide range of Albertans and to several charities of choice.
Becoming an Imagine Caring Company
Based on Imagine Canada Caring Company criteria, our 2007 investments reflected 1.43% of pre-tax profits. ENMAX has made a commitment to become a Caring Company through Imagine Canada in 2008. This commitment involves agreeing to contribute, on a
five-year rolling average basis, at least 1% of pre-tax profits to support charitable and nonprofit organizations. In addition, earning the Caring Company designation carries with it a responsibility to encourage and facilitate the personal giving and volunteer activities of our employees, to champion at least one community investment project that leverages the skills and
competencies of our company to make a difference in the
community and to demonstrate leadership by describing
our community investment and citizenship activities in an annual public report.
Our Areas of Focus and Funding Criteria
We direct the majority of our community investment dollars to charitable organizations or programming that reflects one or more of our key investment pillars: youth, environment and safety. The five-point criteria we use to determine the best places for our community investment dollars includes:
- alignment with our areas of focus: environment, youth and safety;
- alignment with our core business;
- benefit to the community;
- benefit to our business;
- project feasibility.
We apply similar criteria to the evaluation of sponsorship opportunities. For either area, applicants are able to apply online through www.enmax.com/sponsorship. Our internal Sponsorship and Community Investment team reviews proposals and consults with internal stakeholders to arrive at funding decisions.
The True Value of Community Investment
ENMAX is an active member of the London Benchmarking Group (LBG) Canada, a group of companies using the LBG Model to improve the management, measurement and reporting of their corporate community involvement. LBG Canada companies place a value on all community investments, including contributions of cash, employee time, in-kind donations 
and management costs, using standardized accounting principles. The Model encourages community investment professionals to carefully consider all of the value that is created for the community and for the business.
As facilitators of LBG Canada, the SiMPACT Strategy Group has worked with us to ensure that we have applied the LBG principles to our community investments in a consistent manner.
Community Investment and Sponsorship in Action
Our commitment to funding programs for youth, the environment and safety found expression in a diverse array of initiatives throughout 2007, which included:
- Breakfast for Learning – 44 schools throughout the province received funds through the "Fuel Up with Vegetables and Fruit" program to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables for the 6,848 children in their schools.
- Pond Hockey by ENMAX Energy – More than 6,300 Albertans in 14 communities enjoyed watching the 560 youth who improved their skating skills and enjoyed the on-ice camaraderie.
- Rinklighter Rebate by ENMAX Energy – Community associations operating outdoor hockey rinks throughout the province enjoyed the rebate on the cost of rink lighting that ENMAX provides.
- School Safety Programs – Through our 2007 Safety Expo involving 35 schools and our classroom safety presentations to elementary students in 130 schools, we've helped inform and reinforce the importance of electricity safety to more than 15,000 students.
- Environmental Enrichment – ENMAX has formed partnerships to fund environmental school programs with the Calgary Board of Education and the Calgary Separate School Board, with 12 schools implementing programs in 2007.
- United Way of Calgary – 40% of ENMAX employees participate in the United Way's payroll giving program and in 2007, they donated a total of $111,342 to the annual campaign, which ENMAX matched with an additional $100,000 contribution. Employee participation in the community-based fundraising effort also increased by 31% in 2007.
- Arts and Culture – ENMAX sponsors ENMAX Hall in the Winspear Centre in Edmonton, the city's leading performing arts venue, and in Calgary, ENMAX Energy Corporation is proud to sponsor the Calgary Folk Festival through the support of clean, renewable energy.