Making a Difference: Realize 2020-21 Impact Report

“We believe people are the heartbeat and that culture is foundation of all world-changing organizations.”

This is the core principle of the work we do here at Realize – putting people and culture at the centre of everything we do.

2020/21 has been a year of unprecedented change. As we have all had to continuously adapt to shifting circumstances and a “New Normal”, at the end of the day, it is people who are the ones driving positive change and growth with their innovation, resilience, passion, empathy, and energy.

The theme that was selected for this year’s Impact Report is “Community”. At Realize, we strive to truly use business as a force for good and live out our values in all aspects of our work. Along with highlighting and celebrating how we at Realize actively reinvest in and engage with our valuable community of members, partners, and clients, we hope this report inspires others to reflect on and celebrate their people and communities as well as hold our team accountable to continuing to use business as a force for good and keeping people at the centre of everything we do.

A few highlights from our 2020-21 Impact Report include:

• Generating over half a million dollars in interest for our Realize members through our Community Innovation Cash Pool Program (operated in partnership with Vancity) – funds that support the vital work of our members and helps build stronger communities and organizations. Interested in learning more about what being a member of Realize can do for you? Reach out to us!

• Making our first-ever social impact investment in East Van Roasters – a social enterprise coffee roaster and chocolate producer that provides support and employment opportunities for at-risk women navigating various challenges including addiction and homelessness in the Downtown Eastside. We were thrilled to join with a number of social impact investment partners to preserve this vital social enterprise and support their expansion. We will continue to make more social impact investments as part of our vision of using our business as a force for good in the community.

• Realize staff volunteered over 140 hours to support a variety of community non-profits and events. All team members are encouraged and supported (e.g., paid volunteer hours) to help make a difference as active volunteers in the community. Check out our living Talent, Culture, and Performance Strategy to learn more about how we support staff.

Check out our full 2020-21 Impact Report for more stories on how we actively reinvest in and engage with our valuable community of members, partners, and clients!

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey. We look forward to reporting back on more successes in our next impact report!