The amount has been allocated in the following manner:
116 025 $ US in donations to major projects
26 520 $ US to the Action program
25 150 $ US to the Bravo! program
The following are the recipient organizations, who shared the total amount of 116 025 $ US for various projects spread over our region :
- La Fondation du Centre hospitalier régional de Trois-Rivières (the Trois-Rivieres Regional Hospital Foundation) – 22 100 $ to a project helping patients with mental health problems and learning difficulties.
- La Corporation de développement culturel du Québec (the Québec Cultural Development Corporation) – 22 100 $ for the improvement of public access and the discovery of local artists during the Parc Chenaux Concerts.
- Le Centre de recherche et d’éducation à l’environnement régional (the Regional Centre for Environmental Research and Education) – 33 150 $ for the production of an ‘Reused Repertory’ for the citizens of Trois-Rivières.
- Le Centre de la Biodiversité du Québec (the Québec Biodiversity Centre) – 38 675 $ for the new exposition (‘Guaranteed Shivers’) « Frissons garantis » : An introduction to the world of anthropods.
ACTION Program[i]
The People from ABI: A team for which community involvement expands beyond financial contributions.
Besides the donations, there are numerous causes. Above and beyond the causes, there are many committed and generous individuals. That is why, year after year, the Alcoa Foundation emphasizes the volunteer commitment of the Aluminerie de Bécancour (ABI) team.
In 2006, finances were distributed throughout the region within the framework of the Alcoa Foundation ACTION and Bravo! programs. The ACTION program of group volunteers has enabled organizations to benefit from 26 520 $ US in donations.
Several Action Programs :
1) Upon the initiative of Mr. Guy Pelletier of the Maintenance and Engineering sector, a group of volunteers acquired the mission of planting a cedar hedge in the Val-Marie school yard in Cap-de-la-Madeleine. Numerous rocks were removed from the immense sand box, tree trimming was performed and perennials were planted. All in all, the school yard was landscaped and enhanced!
2) Approximately ten people were recruited by Nathalie Fournier from the Maintenance and Engineering sector to enact the last phase of Explorami Park landscaping in Ste-Angèle de Laval. Children may further enjoy these surroundings since part of the park was cleaned up, new trees were planted and unsafe play modules were dissembled.
3) Yves Ducharme from the Potline sector contributed with the recruitment of his colleagues for the laying of grass in the Ste-Cécile-de-Lévrard primary school yard. What a wonderful surprise the young students received when they arrived in September to see their sandy yard embellished with greenery!
4) The young people who frequent the Gentilly Transit Jeunesse youth centre were also gifted with the fine work of volunteers, initiated by Bernard Labrie from the Carbon sector. Painting and various renovations were made to their centre to render their workshops safer and more pleasant.
5) The Notre-Dame-de-la-Joie camp, which has existed since 1947 in Nicolet and entertains more than 4000 youths annually, was the recipient of the Action program goodwill when it underwent restorations of the centre, which will be used as a training and practice centre destined to prepare the young for street art.
6) A team of volunteers, recruited by François Gaudet, from the Maintenance and Engineering sector, effectuated the work of spreading and levelling recycled gravel for the landscaping of an area with bushes, vines and flowers.
7) Another fine contribution was made in Ste-Angèle de Laval and influenced by Jean Provencher of the Casthouse sector. This act involved the reinforcing of the stands of the baseball field to increase safety for the young people of the Ville de Bécancour.
8) At the Ste-Bernadette school in Trois-Rivières, Patrice Guillemette from the Potline sector and his team of volunteers repainted the area where the young people gather around the school water fountain.
9) René Levasseur from the ABS – Quality team at the ABI plant recruited nine colleagues, their families and friends to voluntarily paint the Sports Complex for the football program at the Académie des Estacades.
Bravo! Program[ii]
Over and above these acts of generosity, more than 91 people from the ABI plant were qualified for the Bravo! Program, which supports individual volunteer work. From the efforts within this program, more than thirty organizations shared the amount of 25 150 $ US for volunteer commitments of our employees.
The Alcoa Foundation encourages the reinforcement of community, social and educational life in our regions with the collaboration of Aluminerie de Bécancour Inc. ABI and its people support several projects and organizations, of which Opération Enfant Soleil, Centraide Centre-du-Québec, Centraide Mauricie, la Fondation du Centre hospitalier régional de Trois-Rivières are major recipients, along with many others.
[i] The ACTION program recognizes the work of employees who combine their efforts directly to community projects. Non-profit organizations benefit not only from volunteer work, but they also receive Alcoa contributions of 1500 $ and 3000 $ US.
[ii] The BRAVO ! Program acknowledges the work contributions of the employees, who dedicate at least 50 hours per year to a non-profit organization, by according 250 $ US to the organization per employee participation.
