December 14, 2021

Manitoba Blue Cross celebrates holiday season with community donations

Community support
Two men and a woman hold up a giant cheque for A Woman's Place in the amount of $2,500.

As a gift to our community, Manitoba Blue Cross is donating $15,000 to local charities this holiday season:

  • $10,000 to Harvest Manitoba  
  • $2,500 to the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre
  • $2,500 to A Woman’s Place

“It is an honour to support organizations that do so much for Manitobans all year long,” said Benjamin Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross. “As a not-for-profit organization, our focus is on supporting the communities in which we live and work, and improving the health and wellness of all Manitobans in everything we do, and not just during the holiday season.”

A Woman’s Place was chosen by Ravi Ramberran, owner of Four Crowns Restaurant and Hotel, who opened his doors during the pandemic for people fleeing domestic violence.

When Graham heard about Ramberran’s initiative, he reached out for the entrepreneur’s opinion on a worthy charity to support. A Woman’s Place helps women and children impacted by family violence during COVID-19, offering counselling and support, safety planning, protection orders, legal consults and representation.  

“It's just really cool getting a call from [Manitoba Blue Cross]. These situations just lead to win-win-win experiences for everybody,” said Ramberran.

Harvest Manitoba was chosen as a recipient due to its focus on improving the health and nutrition of Manitobans throughout the province. Harvest collects and shares 11 million pounds of healthy food a year to those in need.  

The Bruce Oake Recovery Centre was chosen as a recipient due to its focus on mental health and addictions. The Centre is a non-profit residential treatment program that offers long-term, live-in and community-based services for people recovering from substance use disorder.

“Although each of these organizations focus on a different area, they all share Manitoba Blue Cross’s main goal – to improve the health and well-being of Manitobans,” said Graham. “From all of us at Manitoba Blue Cross, I wish you all the best this holiday season and a safe and happy New Year.”

Ben Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross (right) and Dave Tompkins, director of sales for Manitoba Blue Cross present a cheque for $10,000 to Vince Barletta, president and CEO of Harvest Manitoba (left).
Dave Tompkins, director of sales for Manitoba Blue Cross (right),
presents a cheque for $2,500 to Greg Kyllo, executive director of
Bruce Oake Recovery Centre.
Top photo: Benjamin Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross (left) and Ravi Ramberran, owner of Four Crowns Restaurant and Hotel (right) present a cheque to Elizabete Halprin, Community Development Coordinator of Social Work of A Woman's Place (middle) for $2,500.
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