Lili Creteu and Oleta LaRush, members of BASF Canada’s KeepFit committee, present Erika Minkhorst of Right to Play with a $3,000 donation, as part of The Company’s KeepFit program.

BASF Canada recently donated $20,000 to select Canadian charities as part of KeepFit, an employee wellness program. Over the past few weeks, the company has presented cheques totaling $20,000 to Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, The Canadian Diabetes Foundation and Right to Play.

The KeepFit program encourages BASF Canada employees to improve their wellbeing through increased exercise and activity.  An internal website feature helps participants keep record of their accomplishments by recording their steps and translating non-walking activities into distance covered.

To help promote participation, BASF Canada paired this initiative with charitable giving. Every kilometer walked and recorded during the campaign period resulted in a $1 donation to the employee’s charity of choice.

“BASF encourages its employees to live an active lifestyle,” said Laurent Tainturier, President of BASF Canada. “The KeepFit program promotes healthy living by providing the tools they need to track their progress and a charitable incentive which benefits our society at large.”

During the three month campaign period, employees walked the equivalent of 20,000 kilometers. In doing so they raised $20,000 for charities which promote activity among society’s youth:

• – Canadian Tire Jumpstart received $9,500 to use toward its program, which is dedicated to removing financial barriers that prevent children from participating in organized sports and recreation.
• – $7,500 was given to The Canadian Diabetes Association to use in their effort to help youth manage their diabetes through regular exercise.
• – Right to Play, an organization committed to giving children a chance to play sports and become constructive participants in society, regardless of gender, disability, ethnicity, social background or religion, received $3,000.