RBC Foundation and Employee Volunteer program support Addictions Treatment Services
October 06, 2021
Addictions Treatment Services (ATS) will direct funds received through the RBC Employee Volunteer Grant program towards supporting client services. On hand for the cheque presentation were (l to r): Alison Green, RVH VP Corporate Services, Carol-Ann Adams, Branch Manager – RBC Renfrew, Kim MacLeod, ATS Director, Patti Dillabough, RVH Foundation Executive Director, Marci Joyce, RBC Commercial Associate, Ottawa Valley & Agriculture, Jackie Laughlin, RBC Community Manager – Upper Ottawa Valley, and Andrew Staniforth, RBC Vice President, Commercial Financial Services – Ottawa Valley & Agriculture Eastern Ontario.
Addictions Treatment Services (ATS) was thrilled to receive a donation of $8,525 from Royal Bank of Canada on September 29. The funds received are a combination of an RBC Foundation donation for COVID-19 relief and an RBC Employee Volunteer Grants program that recognizes staff members’ hours of community work supporting the charity for which they volunteer.
“I love that my employer is behind me, supporting my passion. It makes me proud,” said Marci Joyce, RBC Commercial Associate, Ottawa Valley & Agriculture and ATS volunteer, about the volunteer grant program.
“The other portion of the donation is in recognition of the extra challenges during the pandemic and the work done by ATS to support the community,” noted Joyce.
To meet the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased needs of clients, ATS expanded its services to include virtual day treatment programming that allows individuals who are struggling with moderate to severe mental health and addiction to access services from the comfort of their own homes or somewhere safe and comfortable in the community.
“We appreciate the support we have received from RBC. The funds this year will go directly towards client care,” stated Kim MacLeod, ATS Director. “I want to thank Marci for her longstanding dedication as a volunteer on our Advisory Committee. Her commitment is twofold in that she advocates in the community for our services and provides insight on the needs of the community back to the committee.”
ATS offers outpatient substance abuse and problem gambling services for individuals 12 years of age or older residing in Renfrew County with an addiction, as well as support for family members and significant others of loved ones misusing alcohol, drugs or gambling in order to cope with stress and difficulties in their lives. ATS also offers specialized outpatient services for opioid community-based treatment programming and smoking cessation, aftercare groups (led by a physician) as well as Seeking Safety, Strengthening Families for Parents and Youth, and a virtual Parents’ Life Lines of Eastern Ontario support group.