Historic donation by UNI Financial Cooperation to help New Brunswick youth attain their full potential
Posted on Tuesday March 01, 2022
From left to right: Ken Macleod, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sistema NB; Robert Moreau, President and Chief Executive Officer of UNI Financial Cooperation; and the orchestra composed of 40 young people from Sistema NB.
UNI Financial Cooperation proudly goes all in to make a difference in the lives of young people with its gift of $1 million to Sistema NB’s 10,000 Children campaign.
The gift was announced today at Sistema NB, with UNI president and CEO Robert Moreau and Sistema NB president and CEO Ken MacLeod in attendance, along with Sistema’s orchestra of 40 kids who benefit from the groundbreaking music education program.
“There are three principles that guide Sistema NB, inclusion, intensity and excellence, so if we want community children to be integrated into society and gain the skills they need to become successful adults, together we must provide more opportunities for more of our children. We simply can’t let them down. Through ’10,000 CHILDREN’, we will strategically invest in a whole generation of children and youth in New Brunswick. The partnership and generosity of UNI Financial Cooperation is simply overwhelming. Your contribution to Sistema NB - to the children, families and communities of this province - will without question be felt for generations. On behalf of all New Brunswickers, we are deeply grateful”, said Ken Macleod, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sistema NB.
“I’m very proud that we’ve been able to make such a substantial donation to this important campaign. The program is a builder of hope and has had a remarkable effect on children, youths, and their communities. Investing in children and their future—the future of New Brunswick—is so critically important. I’m so honoured to chair the 10,000 Children campaign, and to be surrounded by the fantastic group of business and community leaders who have joined me in saying “YES!” to the campaign. I’m all the more honoured that our great big UNI family is also backing the plan. It’s thanks to the confidence shown by all our UNI members that we’re in a position to help future generations. Such an investment the whole UNI family shows what Solidarity, Responsibility, and Courage really mean, for the good of our community and its future. That future is in our hands. The hands of us all!”, said Robert Moreau, President and Chief Executive Officer of UNI.
For more details on the campaign:
Excerpt from the website:
SOCIAL BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Improved focus, discipline and cooperation; improved attendance at school, behaviour, and academic performance; higher levels of confidence and self-esteem.
CULTURAL BENEFITS FOR COMMUNITIES*
- More than 1,200 children engaged in music education annually
- 78,000 people attending 140+ performances annually
- 58 professional musicians recruited to teach
ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR SOCIETY*
- Employment: 58 Teaching Artists – the top employer of professional artists in Atlantic Canada and one of the top 10% of employers in New Brunswick;
- Immigration: 35% of Teaching Artists are from outside of Canada
- GDP: boosts provincial GDP by $4 million
Note; if only 19 of the 1,600 children, who benefited from Sistema NB in the past four years, are diverted from social assistance, it would cover the entire investment in Sistema NB.
* 2019-2020
About UNI Financial Cooperation
UNI Financial Cooperation is a major economic player that contributes actively to a thriving, growing economy in New Brunswick and beyond. UNI is committed to values of solidarity, responsibility and courage for the greater benefit and sustainable prosperity of the organization and its members. To learn more, visit www.uni.ca.
For media interviews
Ginette Hébert
Communications Director
UNI Financial Cooperation
ginette.hebert@uni.ca │ www.uni.ca