Ray Hildebrand (centre) and Dean Gurney (right) present a cheque for $20,300 to Jim Cornelius, Executive Director of Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
Thirteen years ago, the Puratone Corporation, one of Manitoba’s largest producers of hogs, made a commitment to donate a portion of its profits to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
“We looked at all the charities we could support at a national level, and decided that the Foodgrains Bank was the best fit for our company,” says President and CEO Ray Hildebrand.
From 1997 to 2007, the company donated $137,000 the Foodgrains Bank to help hungry people around the world. Then the hog industry took a serious downturn.
“For the next three years, Puratone didn’t make a profit at all,” he says. “We couldn’t make a donation.”
Last year, however, things began to look up for the hog industry, and for Puratone.
“Last year we made money, and are in the pleasant position of being able to donate again,” he says. “The hog industry is still under stress, but we made a commitment. I’m’ glad to be able to follow up on it.”
On February 25, Hildebrand and Dean Gurney, who directs the company’s environmental stewardship and social responsibility, presented the Foodgrains Bank with a check for $20,300.
“People need food, and we’re finally in a position to help again,” Hildebrand says.
“It’s a delight to receive gifts like this from businesses like Puratone,” says Foodgrains Bank Executive Director Jim Cornelius.
The gift will be used for various food programs in the developing world, he notes, adding that last year the Foodgrains Bank assisted over two million people in 32 countries.
Founded in 1973, Puratone’s 320 employees produce over 500,000 hogs a year at 40 farms in Niverville, Winkler and Arborg.
