Renewable energy company Drax has announced that five Canadian
non-profits will receive over $450,000 from the second round of
Drax Foundation donations. The latest round of funding will go to
programs that benefit Indigenous communities, as well as over 1,200
children in programs through STEM education, and 20,000 people
through the protection of biological diversity and sustainable
forest management. 100% of these grants will reach underserved
groups.
The organizations receiving the donations are Actua, Nature
Trust of BC, Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology
(SCWIST), UBC Faculty of Forestry Alex Fraser Research Forest and
the Williams Lake First Nation.
“These organizations invigorate the communities they work in and
have lasting impacts on the people and areas they serve,”
said Sandy Sung, Community Manager for Drax
Canada. “We are guided by the needs and expertise of our
non-profit partners, and that’s why we prioritize funding for some
of their harder-to-fundraise for areas of work.”
The non-profits all work to better their communities through
targeted programing, education, improving local greenspaces,
enhancing biodiversity and supporting Indigenous communities in and
around the areas where Drax has operations.
Actua, which will receive $100,000, works with a network of
colleges and universities to engage youth from across the country
in transformational STEM learning experiences that build critical
employability skills and confidence.
“I’d like to thank the Drax Foundation for its generous support
as their focus in supporting STEM education, and advancing equity
and access to STEM education resonates with Actua’s mission,”
said Jennifer Flanagan, CEO of Actua. “This
partnership will significantly strengthen our combined work in
building a future that’s inclusive and fair for everyone.”
The Nature Trust of BC, which will receive $100,000, conserves
BC’s biodiversity through securing, restoring and managing
ecologically significant lands.
“Through the generous support of the Drax Foundation, we will be
able to enhance approximately 20 hectares of ingrown forest at our
Hoodoos Westside Conservation Area near Fairmont Hot Springs, BC,”
said Dr. Jasper Lament, CEO of The Nature Trust of British
Columbia. “These funds will allow crews to open up the
forest stand to improve wildlife and biodiversity habitat values,
for species including the Mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk and
American badger, while also increasing its resilience to wildfire
and forest health issues like disease and pests.”
SCWIST, which will receive $97,000, creates an environment where
women and girls in Canada can pursue their interest, education and
careers in STEM without barriers.
“STEM skills are life skills, and with access to STEM knowledge,
the youth of today can shape their own futures and chart a logical
path in a rapidly changing world” says JeAnn Watson,
Director of SCWIST.
The Alex Fraser Research Forest, which will receive $80,000, is
improving green spaces to create opportunities for research,
education and demonstration of sustainable forest management.
“UBC Forestry’s Wild & Immersive (W&I) program is
honoured to be awarded a grant from the Drax Foundation that will
be directed towards developing a publicly accessible trail in
Williams Lake,” says Stephanie Ewen, Manager of the Alex
Fraser Research Forest. “In addition, we are incredibly
grateful to the Drax Foundation for contributing to establish a
bursary fund that will make it possible for families with financial
constraints to access our programming.”
The Williams Lake First Nation, which will receive $80,000,
works to better Indigenous communities and share the traditional
knowledge of their ancestors.
“Williams Lake First Nation will utilize a grant supplied by
Drax Foundation to develop environmental objectives specifically
bolstering our commitment to stewardship,” says the
Williams Lake First Nation Natural Resource Management
Department. “This generous contribution will assist the
community in designing crucial plans and maintaining our cultural
identity, as well as preserving our connection to these Secwepemc
lands.”
Launched in March 2023, the Drax Foundation funds initiatives
that support education and skills development in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), as well as those that
improve green spaces, enhance biodiversity and support Indigenous
communities within the communities Drax operations. To learn more
about the Drax Foundation and community projects that Drax has
previously funded, visit https://drax.com/ca/news/.
Previous organizations
that have received funds from the Drax Foundation include Connected
North, Scientists in School and The Exploration Place.
Contact
Information: Caroline BleayCommunications Manager,
Canada 780-502-1571mediacanada@drax.com
About
DraxDrax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower
cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition
to be carbon negative by 2030, using bioenergy with carbon capture
and storage (BECCS) technology. Drax’s around 3,000 employees
operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity
generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed
wood pellet production and supply to third parties. For more
information, visit http://www.drax.com/ca Pellet
production and supplyThe Group has 18 operational pellet
plants and developments with nameplate production capacity of
around five million tons a year. Drax is targeting eight million
tons of production capacity by 2030, which will require the
development of over three million tons of new biomass pellet
production capacity. The pellets are produced using materials
sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied
to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of
renewable power.
Drax’s pellet plants supply biomass used at its own power
station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable
power for the UK’s homes and businesses, and also to customers in
Europe and Asia.
Drax (LSE:DRX)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Mar 2024 até Abr 2024
Drax (LSE:DRX)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Abr 2023 até Abr 2024