Canadian Diabetes Association and PotashCorp partnership to benefit communities at high risk
The Canadian Diabetes Association has partnered with PotashCorp – the world’s largest fertilizer company by capacity – as a sponsor to invest funds into the local community, focusing on building partnerships through diabetes risk assessments and programming within the diverse high risk communities.
PotashCorp donated $15,000 to the Canadian Diabetes Association to fund the Diabetes Risk Assessment and Education Project – a two-year project that will provide diabetes awareness to Saskatoon’s core neighbourhoods from September 2011 to August 2013. This, along with $5,000 received earlier from Saskatoon Community Foundation Quality of Life Grant, has allowed the Association to mobilize the project in Saskatoon. The purpose of the project is to increase diabetes awareness and educate about diabetes prevention. The project will have a total of 25 educational presentations with at least eight presentations featuring a screening component. The project targets at-risk individuals and communities of Aboriginal, Hispanic, Asian, South Asian or African descent.
The Canadian Diabetes Association and PotashCorp announced the new partnership at a health check event that took place at the White Buffalo Youth Lodge in Saskatoon. It was a collaborative approach as the Association worked with key partners in the community to raise awareness of diabetes and other chronic conditions. These partners included the White Buffalo Youth Lodge, Kidney Foundation of Canada, Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre – Score Group, Saskatoon Food Bank and Saskatoon Health Region programs (CKD Outreach, LiveWell Diabetes Program – Aim 4 Health, LiveWell with Chronic Conditions and LiveWell Respiratory Program – COPD).
The Canadian Diabetes Association was proud to lead a coordinated approach against health inequity experienced by core neighbourhood residents in Saskatoon. The event was successful with 70 people participating in risk assessments and getting the information they needed to educate themselves on living healthy lives. The White Buffalo Youth Lodge Health Check Event was monumental to the project as it outlined the dedication the Canadian Diabetes Association had to building partnerships and showed PotashCorp the impact donated funds have on helping the local community.