The McKesson Foundation has been committed to helping people in the communities where our employees live and work for over 25 years. The McKesson Foundation has developed its programs to encourage employee volunteerism and to provide access to quality health care and education to children and youth in their communities.

These Programs are the Regional Grants Program, the Scholarship Programs, and the Educational Matching Gifts Program.

The McKesson Foundation is a corporate initiative based in San Francisco.

Keeping with our philosophy of Empowering Healthcare at McKesson Canada we also believe that it is our responsibility to help the most vulnerable and at-risk members of the communities in which we operate. Each year, the McKesson Foundation’s Regional Grants Program makes it possible for many Canadian non-profit charities to improve the status of children and youth in the areas of health and education.

Following a call for grant applications that was promoted in winter 2008, McKesson Canada received an impressive number of requests from local charities who work tirelessly, day in and day out, to advance the health and education of the next generation.

With each grant ranging in size from $4,700 to $22,000, recipient organizations were awarded a total of nearly $200,000.

The Janeway Children's Hospital Foundation works to help bring the best possible care to the children of Newfoundland and Labrador. Their funding efforts have brought life saving equipment and facilities to the only children's hospital in the province.

• Amount: $15,000
• Project: Purchase of medical equipment for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Janeway Children's Health and Rehabilitation Centre.

Simcoe Hall Settlement House is a multi-service, non-profit, community resource centre dedicated, since 1935, to aiding and improving the lives of less advantaged children and families.

• Amount: $12,888
• Project: Purchase computer equipment, learning materials and furnishings to support the needs of economically disadvantaged children and their families.

The Montreal Fluency Centre is the only non-profit bilingual centre in Quebec specializing in the assessment and treatment of children with communication disorders and language-based learning difficulties.

• Amount: $22,000
• Project: Equip a learning laboratory with specialized computer technology to facilitate learning among children with communication disorders and language-based learning difficulties.

St. Theresa of Lisieux is a publicly funded high school which focuses on academic excellence and life-long learning.

• Amount: $22,000
• Project: Furnish a classroom in a public high school with the necessary computer technology to further their mission of academic excellence and lifelong learning.

La Maison des enfants le Dauphin is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children develop a positive self-image through experiences which are both constructive and self-actualizing, and offer support and a safe place to visit after school.

• Amount: $14,000
• Project: Expand their facilities in order to care for the after school needs of at-risk children.

CNIB's mission is to enhance independence for people with vision loss and be the leader in promoting vision health. Through CNIB, people with vision loss have access to rehabilitation counseling and training, innovative consumer products, peer support and one of the world's largest libraries for people with print disabilities.

• Amount: $13,480
• Project: Purchase the necessary technology to train youth experiencing vision loss in the areas of safe and independent travel.

Toujours ensemble is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support young people as they encounter academic, family or social difficulties. Their main goals are to encourage children to stay in school, contribute to improving the quality of life of the children and their families, and provide them with the tools necessary to succeed and fight poverty.

• Amount: $20,903
• Project: Equip a room with computer and audiovisual technology to facilitate learning among at-risk youth.

Marymound is dedicated to the welfare of children, youth and families who need support as they face the challenges of growing, learning and parenting. Through culturally diverse care in safe living environments, individual relationships, academic preparation, therapeutic intervention and advocacy, Marymound supports Manitoban children and their families to reach their fullest potential and independence.

• Amount: $16,362
• Project: Create additional meeting space for young mothers attending life skills workshops.

Children's Cottage Society of Calgary is dedicated to preventing harm and neglect to all children and strengthening families through crisis, respite and support services. They accomplish this through a 24/7 crisis nursery, offering shelter for children ages 0 - 8 years for up to 72 hours. They also offer respite and support services, including Healthy Families and Family Liaison, Community Respite and Child Care Respite programs.

• Amount: $14,472
• Project: Purchase technology and home furnishings to support the temporary housing needs of at-risk children.

The Columbus House Parent Support is dedicated to offering young mothers the opportunity to complete their Ontario Secondary School Diploma while their children are engaged in development on-site programs.

• Amount: $5,000
• Project: Build a workshop to provide young mothers with life and parenting skills training and enable them to complete their secondary school diplomas.

IODE Canada is a national women's charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals through education, support, community service and citizenship programs. Their mission is to assist and encourage all literacy programs whenever possible to do so.

• Amount: $4,700
• Project: Purchase books for a children's library.

Independent Living Centre of Waterloo provides support and services to people with disabilities, caregivers, friends, family and to the community at large.

• Amount: $5,500
• Project: Purchase of life-sized puppets in order to raise awareness among school-aged children on the topic of disabilities.

The McKesson Foundation, through Scholarship America, sponsors 20 scholarships to children of McKesson Canada employees across Canada and the United States. These scholarships, ranging in size from $1,000 to $2,500, are awarded based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities and community involvement.

The McKesson Foundation also offers 50 scholarships annually to pharmacy students who are nominated by one of our pharmacy customers. To be eligible for a $1,000 McKesson Pharmacy Scholarship, the applicants must be the pharmacists' interns, children or grandchildren and be currently enrolled in an accredited school of pharmacy.

Supporting educational institutions is important to the McKesson Foundation. The matching gifts program supports higher education by matching gifts made by employees and retirees to accredited educational institutions.