CanWest Global Foundation

Started in 1997 by Canwest founder Israel Asper and now led by Gail Asper, the Canwest Foundation was established with initial funding of $1 million. Today, the Foundation has grown to be a major sponsor of causes all across Canada. With the support of the Foundation, many worthy organizations are able to continue operating and delivering the promise of a better community. The purpose of setting up the foundation was to ensure that Canwest's philanthropy was not conditional on the company's financial performance; but an endowment to fund charitable initiatives in perpetuity.

In 2006, the Foundation and Canwest's operating units donated $55.2 million (cash and in-kind) across Canada and approximately $23 million at its international operations in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the U.K. and Turkey. It's through the Foundation and the charitable efforts of our various operating units around the world that we stay truly connected with the communities in which we do business.