OpenText funds 4 million meals this holiday season

2020 has been a most challenging year, and food insecurity has dramatically increased over the last year globally. In Canada alone: 2 Million households experienced…

Mark J. Barrenechea profile picture

Mark J. Barrenechea

December 11, 20203 minutes read

2020 has been a most challenging year, and food insecurity has dramatically increased over the last year globally. In Canada alone:

  • 2 Million households experienced moderate to severe food insecurity (Stats Canada)
  • 34% of those relying on food banks are children (Stats Canada)
  • 1 in 8 people who access food banks are employed (Food Banks Canada)
  • Rising food costs are outpacing increases in median incomes (Food Banks Canada)

In a graphic, here is the distribution of food insecurity in Canada:

Source: Beyond Hunger: The Hidden Impacts of Food Insecurity in Canada (Community Food Centres)

Almost one in seven Canadians reported food insecurity in May 2020 (Stats Can). One in Seven.

At OpenText, we needed to act and in a significant way, to help the communities where we live and work.

That is why we are announcing today a cash donation of $1 million USD to food banks around the world to supply four million meals this holiday season. This donation, from OpenText’s new Navigator Fund, will provide needed help in 21 countries. This donation is being provided on behalf of OpenText employees to support the incredible communities we live and work in. I am so proud of our employees, and humbled, that the OpenText Navigator Fund will supply millions of meals over the holidays.

OpenText teams, in 58 communities globally, will work with trusted local food banks to deliver our contributions during this time of heightened and historical need.

In Canada, we will be contributing $240,000 CAD in total, distributed to:

  • The Food Bank of Waterloo Region
  • Daily Bread Food Bank
  • North York Harvest
  • Food Bank of York Region
  • Mississauga Food Bank
  • Knights Table
  • Feed the Need Durham
  • Moisson Montreal

I would like to thank again all the OpenText site leaders and employees around the world, and our many food bank partners.

If you can read this blog, you are among the blessed. Hunger is one of the greatest injustices. There are no reasons for big gifts this year as “enough is a feast,” rather, MAKE A DONATION to a food bank in your community. Let’s all make a difference.

Through the Navigator Fund, we have taken a long-term view to identify essential needs in our communities and help address them by lending our support to local partners who are doing amazing work. This year, it is to help provide food security to millions.

From the OpenText family to yours, I wish you a safe, healthy and joyous holiday season.

Share this post

Share this post to x. Share to linkedin. Mail to
Mark J. Barrenechea avatar image

Mark J. Barrenechea

Mark J. Barrenechea joined OpenText as President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2012, and also serves as a member of the Board of Directors. In January 2016, Mark took on the role of Chief Technology Officer and was appointed Vice Chair in September 2017.

See all posts

More from the author

The Future Needs You Today: A Conversation on AI & Decolonization with Karen Palmer

The Future Needs You Today: A Conversation on AI & Decolonization with Karen Palmer

AI is bringing us into a new epoch of human society—it is a force multiplier for human potential. OpenText is about Information Management + Data…

February 29, 2024 8 minutes read
OpenText World 2023—Welcome to the AI Revolution

OpenText World 2023—Welcome to the AI Revolution

Welcome to the AI Revolution. AI is not just a technology, it is a new ontology—for creativity, data, trust. No business or individual will be…

October 19, 2023 6 minutes read
OpenText World 2023—AI and Its Forces of Change

OpenText World 2023—AI and Its Forces of Change

AI will change everything. We are in the midst of a massive shift from the cloud digital era to the AI cognitive era. Automation, data…

September 26, 2023 4 minutes read

Stay in the loop!

Get our most popular content delivered monthly to your inbox.