As part of the Royal Bank of Canada’s RBC Blue Water Project, a global charitable commitment to help provide access to drinkable, swimmable and fishable water, RBC Investor & Treasury Services in Luxembourg announced on Thursday a continued partnership and a grant of CAD 50,000 (approximately €35,000) to support natur&ëmwelt Fondation Hëllef fir d'Natur. This is the second year RBC has partnered with natur&ëmwelt Fondation Hëllef fir d'Natur, one of the main non-governmental organisations for nature protection in Luxembourg, bringing its total contribution to CAD 100,000 (approximately €72,000).
The Foundation was chosen from among hundreds of applicants from around the world, based on its commitment to addressing water issues and protecting water in urbanised areas. The donation and partnership with RBC will contribute to the organisation’s management of nature reserves and water in order to preserve or restore biodiversity.
Water is one of the world’s most precious natural resources. Our local water sources are not limitless, and are under continual and growing stress from population growth, climate change and pollution. Protecting this most precious resource is a growing concern around the world.
“At RBC, our purpose is to help clients thrive and communities prosper. This simple statement sums up who we are as an organisation, and gives meaning to the work we do every day,” said Yves Lahaye, General Manager, RBC Investor & Treasury Services, Luxembourg. “We are delighted to be able to support the efforts of natur&ëmwelt Fondation Hëllef fir d'Natur for the second year running. It’s a fantastic opportunity to help raise awareness and fund projects that will help protect and manage water in Luxembourg, and engage our employees in environmental issues through various actions throughout the year.”
Yesterday’s announcement is part of RBC Blue Water Day, an annual initiative bringing RBC employees around the globe together in protecting their local water sources through a variety of “Makeover” activities, including helping clean streets, sidewalks and shorelines, and creating awareness about urban water issues. In 2015, more than 20,000 employees completed over 850 Makeovers worldwide.
To do their part for RBC Blue Water Day, over 130 RBC employees collected refuse in and around Esch-Belval, home of the RBC’s Luxembourg office, and participated in various awareness raising information sessions led by nature&ëmwelt Fondation Hëllef fir d'Natur and RBC employee volunteers.
Gilles Weber, Director of natur&ëmwelt Fondation Hëllef fir d'Natur, stated: “We are exceedingly grateful to RBC for this grant and for their continued support and commitment to preserving wet zones and safeguarding water quality in Luxembourg. Every action we undertake today can have a significant impact tomorrow in helping reduce the effects of our environmental footprint and in preserving essential resources such as water.”
Photo (L-R): Yves Lahaye (RBC), Brigitte Michaelis, Eugene Conrad, Gilles Weber (all natur&ëmwelt)
