Our Communities. Our Future.
Our commitment to corporate social responsibility.
Sagen has grown to be Canada’s largest default private sector residential mortgage insurer, but what really makes us proud is that now, more than ever, we’re helping Canadians move into their first home, building strong and vibrant communities from coast to coast.
We feel a responsibility to not only do our part to create more homes and communities across Canada, but also to support charities and initiatives that help the Canadians in those homes and communities thrive.
Our approach has been consistent over the years. As a company we’re committed to supporting communities through four key pillars; supporting affordable homeownership, financial literacy, engaging our employees and civic responsibility.
Growing Communities
Our affordable homeownership pillar
Canadians owning their own home is what we strive for every day, and we support charities that succeed in making this a reality.
Habitat for Humanity Canada
Established in 1976, Habitat For Humanity Canada has worked tirelessly towards their stated goal ‘to build homes, communities and hope’. Since 2003, Sagen has been proud to support the building of new homes for families in need, raising $6.8 million for affordable housing in Canada, with over 600 employees investing almost 9,000 volunteer hours to this worthy cause.
In 2021, 212 families moved into their very own Habitat homes, including 484 children, 88 single parent led households and 22 Indigenous families.
Homebuilding Grants
Through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity Canada we’ve had the opportunity to provide financial support to regional Habitat affiliates who help empower families in communities across the country. We’ve assisted with 113 families being served by Habitat’s efforts, so far, with many more to come.
Meaning of Home Contest
Established by Sagen in 2007, the Meaning of Home helps raise funds and awareness each year for Habitat for Humanity Canada and families in need of affordable homeownership. Every year Canadian students from grades 4, 5 and 6 submit a poem or essay explaining what ‘home’ means to them. Thousands of students have participated over the years, in a fun and interactive way, to express themselves and build understanding of the importance of safe and affordable housing.
Teaching Communities
Our financial literacy pillar
Understanding one’s complete financial picture is a fundamental part of responsible homeownership. Sagen works with various organizations to bring financial literacy to students and underserved groups.
University of Waterloo
We continue to support and partner with the University of Waterloo School of Accounting and Finance to promote the bi-annual Financial Literacy Competition. Our contribution ensures the competition continues and is easily accessed by both students and teachers. Students, in grades 9-12, are invited to challenge their knowledge of personal finance, accounting, economics and income management.
HomeSuiteHope
Breaking the cycle of poverty requires support, guidance and understanding. HomeSuiteHope’s Homeward Bound program in Halton region has been a catalyst for dozens of households to stabilize their living situations, as well as boast graduates who have obtained post-secondary diplomas. 34 families were served in 2021, with many more graduates to come. Sagen supported this program by sponsoring the HomeSuiteHope’s mission of improving the financial literacy of Canadian families so they can achieve their dreams of affordable homeownership.
Black Mentorship Inc.
Black Mentorship Inc. (BMI) is dedicated to empowering Black professionals in Canada. Sagen has worked alongside BMI to connect Black youths, professionals and entrepreneurs with industry experts to provide invaluable mentoring, education and skill-building programs to create a more equitable workforce for tomorrow.
Engaging Communities
Our employee engagement pillar
At Sagen we promote two core values with our team—We Have Heart and We Grow When You Grow. We pride ourselves on supporting our employees in their volunteer efforts in our communities through philanthropic contributions, funding drives and charitable boards. Our employees know their communities best and we are always happy to assist in any way we can.
Formed in 1917, the United Way serves over 5,000 communities across Canada. In 2022, we surpassed our fundraising goal, with company-matching putting us over the top.
Month of Giving
Throughout the year we present our employees many volunteer opportunities. November 2022 will be an important one, with our first annual Month of Giving. We have dedicated all 30 days in November to getting involved with many efforts and drives combatting food insecurity across the country.
Sagen’s home office is located in the town of Oakville, so many of our efforts are focused throughout this community. We’ve proudly supported the town’s efforts through sponsorship of the Town of Oakville’s Recreation and Culture Department’s Family Day activities, as well as ongoing support of the Oakville Community Spirit Awards.
Throughout the year we present our employees with many volunteer opportunities. November 2022 was our first annual Month of Giving. We dedicated all 30 days in that month to getting involved with many efforts and drives to help address food insecurity across the country.
MiGiving
Sagen has boosted our employee engagement with a convenient giving and matching portal called MiGiving. Up to a certain amount, Sagen will match, dollar for dollar, the amount our employees donate through their personal online portfolio of preferred charities. We award funds for various initiatives by hitting goals through the portal and discover worthy charities all year long.
Lighthouse supports children, youth and their families with a safe space to receive free grief support, connecting with others who have experienced tragic losses in their lives. Sagen is an ongoing sponsor of the annual Run4Lighthouse event that raises funds to support grieving children and youth in our communities. In 2022, the event raised over $265,000.
At Sagen, we feel that our greatest contribution to the community is by remaining engaged and committed, year over year, to increasing financial literacy, not only as an organization but as individual contributors.”
— Stuart Levings, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sagen
Supporting Communities
Our civic responsibility pillar
Canada has many charitable organizations doing important work in communities across the nation. Sagen and our employees are driven to give back.
Regional Giving
Sagen supports important groups and efforts across the country, from the BC Children’s Hospital and Vancouver Island Food Banks in the West, to the Alzheimer’s Society of Edmonton and Alberta’s Children’s Hospital in Calgary in the Prairies, and from La Maison D’Ariane Women’s Shelter in Quebec, to the Fredericton Community Kitchens and Daffodil Place in St. John’s in the East. We’re a proud Canadian company that takes pride in local efforts from coast to coast.
Tackling the crisis of mental health and addiction head-on, The Food Court Social is George Brown’s annual fundraising event in support of the Augmented Education program. Sagen is a sponsor of the annual fundraiser to help students in need by providing them with job focused education, training and certification in both the culinary arts and construction fields.
Serving over 100 child and youth-serving agencies across the country, the Children’s Aid Foundation is Canada’s leading charity dedicated to improving the lives of young people in the child welfare system. Sagen is honoured to be a sponsor of the Teddy Bear Affair Gala event.
Sagen was proud to provide financial support for the annual Well Dressed For Spring event in tandem with Wellspring, a prominent Canadian charity for families living with cancer.
CAMH is Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital, with outreach centres located across Ontario. CAMH is dedicated to saving lives in face of the tragedy of rising suicide rates. Sagen is proud to be ongoing participants in the Sunrise Challenge, where we rise with the sun for 5 consecutive days to raise funds in support of this important healthcare facility.
Transitioning from a shelter to private housing is an ongoing challenge for thousands of Canadians each year. Sagen’s employees took part in a drive to assist those striving to better their lives by helping fill up cupboards and pantries with necessities. Members of our team also baked and delivered cookies to those getting back on their feet after extended periods of being unhoused.
Over 3 million Canadians live with diabetes, with more diagnosed every year. The Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF is an active charity drive that raises money through physical activity, while inspiring some healthy competition between companies and corporations. Sagen is proud to take part each October by participating in the Spin, Sweat or Stretch event, raising money for this important cause.
We’re proud at Sagen to have helped so many communities across this great country. In 2022, we…
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