Scotiabank raises money for MADD
By Sage Birchwater
Williams Lake Tribune
November 21, 2008

Scotiabank employees are going all out to promote sobriety behind the wheel.

Decked out in their red Mothers Against Drunk Driving T-shirts, Team Scotia members transform into a splash of red, lined up against a massive wall of red pledges donated by Scotiabank customers.

“Community support is phenomenal,” says Jennifer Ryan, Scotiabank’s manager of customer services. “We’re raising money for MADD. People buy certificates for a dollar, and we’re selling popcorn for the month before Christmas.”

On Halloween Team Scotia did the concession at the fireworks to raise money for MADD.

“We’re hoping to have a couple of Christmas baskets that people can bid on,” Ryan continues. “And we’ll be selling ornaments for the MADD Christmas tree.”

She says the fundraising goal is $1,000.

“So far we’ve raised $350.”

The MADD message is simple, she says: “Don’t drink and drive.”

Bob McIntosh, president of the local MADD chapter, is also decked out in a red MADD T-shirt.

“We’re trying to get that message out. Don’t drink and drive. There’s a lot of carnage on the highway, and we want to reduce that.”

A retired RCMP staff sergeant, now very busy with volunteer work around the community, McIntosh says things are getting better.

“More people are using designated drivers. It’s making a big difference.”

He takes a sheet of statistics from his pocket and points out how the incidents of drunk driving are declining in recent years. There were 183 impaired driving charges in 2006; last year there were 155; and so far this year 133 people have been charged.

“A lot more people are taking taxis. But we’ve still got a long haul yet.”

Pam Herman, vice president of the local MADD chapter is impressed with the support shown by Scotiabank employees and their customers.

“This is awesome; it’s just amazing what they are doing,” Herman says. “We appreciate Team Scotia and their customers for their support.”

Asked why Scotiabank has rallied behind MADD so strongly, Liz Rennie, the bank’s customer relations rep, says they picked MADD because it is near and dear to everyone’s hearts.

“It’s personal. There’s very few people, friends and family, who haven’t been affected by the tragedies caused by impaired driving. There’s not a lot of people who haven’t been touched in some way.”

McIntosh says MADD and Community Policing are always looking for more volunteers.

He offers his phone number of 250-305-1041 in case there are folks out there who want to spend some time volunteering for these worthwhile causes.