The Most Important Meal of the Day

The Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation has always operated with the help of a committed team of volunteers. Each year, we are fortunate to have volunteers dedicating their time and energy to support our clients living with HIV/AIDS. This year we shine the spotlight on some of our valued volunteers from the corporate community.

Starbucks

“I’ve been serving breakfast at the Dr. Peter Centre for four years now,” says Victor Pedersen, Store Manager of Starbucks #4890 Bentall Tower 4. “When I started it was one district with staff from nine stores that participated. We now have grown it to include three districts and 27 downtown stores that serve breakfast at the Centre every Monday and Thursday morning.

“Starbucks really encourages us to volunteer in the community. And I can see why – it gives me a great feeling. After I serve breakfast at the Centre, I feel really inspired and really pumped too. The clients here are always happy to see us.

“Starbucks has a long history of supporting the Dr. Peter Centre, and I think the success of working with the Centre has encouraged us to stay involved year after year.”

RBC Financial Group

“RBC has been a strong corporate partner of the Dr. Peter Centre for a number of years. And, as an organization, we’re always looking for ways we can broaden corporate philanthropy and reach,” says Sarina McKenzie, Chair RBC Pride Vancouver and Co-Chair RBC Pride Nationally.

“RBC employees are passionate volunteers, and our objective was to see how we could harness that energy and expand our impact beyond the financial contribution that RBC continues to make to the Dr. Peter Centre. So we set up a team of 10 RBC employees to serve breakfast on Friday mornings.

“The result has been incredible. I hear from team members that they’re bringing their experience home and telling their friends and family about volunteering at the Dr. Peter Centre – and encouraging them to volunteer. When you think about it, the impact of a program like this extends beyond RBC and the Dr. Peter Centre – it has a positive impact on our families, our kids and the whole community.”

This year 245 volunteers donated over 6,400 hours of service!