Manitoba Blue Cross celebrates holiday season with community donations
As a gift to our community, Manitoba Blue Cross is donating $15,000 to local charities this holiday season:
- $10,000 to Harvest Manitoba
- $2,500 to the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre
- $2,500 to A Woman’s Place
“It is an honour to support organizations that do so much for Manitobans all year long,” said Benjamin Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross. “As a not-for-profit organization, our focus is on supporting the communities in which we live and work, and improving the health and wellness of all Manitobans in everything we do, and not just during the holiday season.”
A Woman’s Place was chosen by Ravi Ramberran, owner of Four Crowns Restaurant and Hotel, who opened his doors during the pandemic for people fleeing domestic violence.
When Graham heard about Ramberran’s initiative, he reached out for the entrepreneur’s opinion on a worthy charity to support. A Woman’s Place helps women and children impacted by family violence during COVID-19, offering counselling and support, safety planning, protection orders, legal consults and representation.
“It's just really cool getting a call from [Manitoba Blue Cross]. These situations just lead to win-win-win experiences for everybody,” said Ramberran.
Harvest Manitoba was chosen as a recipient due to its focus on improving the health and nutrition of Manitobans throughout the province. Harvest collects and shares 11 million pounds of healthy food a year to those in need.
The Bruce Oake Recovery Centre was chosen as a recipient due to its focus on mental health and addictions. The Centre is a non-profit residential treatment program that offers long-term, live-in and community-based services for people recovering from substance use disorder.
“Although each of these organizations focus on a different area, they all share Manitoba Blue Cross’s main goal – to improve the health and well-being of Manitobans,” said Graham. “From all of us at Manitoba Blue Cross, I wish you all the best this holiday season and a safe and happy New Year.”
presents a cheque for $2,500 to Greg Kyllo, executive director of
Bruce Oake Recovery Centre.
Manitoba Blue Cross funds warehouse space for Sleep in Heavenly Peace
The Sleep in Heavenly Peace building, sponsored by Manitoba Blue Cross, will provide ample space for bed construction, assembly and storage, streamlining the entire process and ensuring that more kids have access to a safe and comfortable place to sleep.
“A warm, safe bed should not be a luxury – it is a fundamental right. That’s why Manitoba Blue Cross is stepping up to support Sleep in Heavenly Peace for years to come,” says Benjamin Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross. “We are providing essential resources that Sleep in Heavenly Peace needs to expand their operations and reach more children in the community. This investment aligns with our own commitment to support the health and well-being of all Manitobans, and we are proud to play an ongoing role in ensuring no child sleeps on the floor.”
This new facility will allow SHP to:
- increase production capacity: With a large, dedicated space and the ability to build beds in the colder months, SHP volunteers can now build and assemble more than twice as many beds, reducing wait times for families in need.
- improve storage capabilities: The facility will provide secure storage for completed beds before delivery can occur while allowing for more efficient and timely delivery.
- enhance the volunteer experience: The workspace will create a more comfortable and efficient environment for volunteers – who are the backbone of SHP’s operations – to build and store beds all year long.
“This generous support from Manitoba Blue Cross is a game changer for us,” says Jim Thiessen, co-president of the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. “This new space will allow us to drastically increase the number of beds we build and deliver, ensuring that more children in our community have a safe and comfortable place to sleep. We currently build approximately 400 beds a year and we hope to now increase that to 1,000. We are incredibly grateful for Manitoba Blue Cross’s continued commitment to our mission.”
Join us in helping local children find comfort: Manitoba Blue Cross holds annual bedding drive
Support this valuable cause during our annual bedding drive. Donate new, twin-sized bedding items, including comforters, pillows and sheet sets for local children. Donations can be dropped off weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at Manitoba Blue Cross (599 Empress Street in Winnipeg) until June 20.
Online donations toward bedding purchases can be made at https://bit.ly/50beds.
“Our focus at Manitoba Blue Cross is the health and well-being of all Manitobans. We’re committed to building healthier communities – one bed and one good night’s sleep at a time,” says Benjamin Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross. “The outpouring of support that Manitobans showed last year did not disappoint and this generosity helped to create safe havens for local kids. I’m certain the same community spirit that Manitoba is known for will be seen again this year.”
Manitoba Blue Cross holds second annual bed build event
“The bed build event that was held in 2024 to celebrate our 50th anniversary had a profound impact on our staff and myself. Building those beds at Blue Cross Park was incredibly inspiring. We had to turn away staff who wanted to participate,” says Benjamin Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross. “That hands-on work really connected us to this important cause, and I believe it also helped us build stronger bonds within our team.”
Employee volunteers from the health benefits provider, along with SHP volunteers, will be constructing 50 beds for local kids on June 6, 2025 at Blue Cross Park.
To encourage the community to support this valuable cause, Manitoba Blue Cross is also holding a bedding drive once again. Donate new, twin-sized bedding items, including comforters, pillows and sheet sets for local kids. Donations can be dropped off weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at Manitoba Blue Cross (599 Empress Street in Winnipeg) until June 20.
Online donations toward bedding purchases can be made at https://bit.ly/50beds.