LIFT Philanthropy Partners invests in not-for-profit organizations that have a direct and positive effect on the health and productivity of Canadians by delivering social impact in the areas of literacy, skills development, sport and physical activity.
Literacy and Skills Development
An essential contributor to economic growth in Canada is a skilled workforce, which can be achieved through investments in literacy and skills development. With close to 40% of our workforce lacking the basic literacy and digital skills needed to thrive in the technological age, our nation’s long-term prosperity is at risk.
By ensuring more Canadians have access to educational support, skills training and employment integration, we can contribute the employability of our workforce. An increase in national literacy levels by 1% would raise Canada’s labour productivity by 2.5%. It is essential for the success of our economy to improve literacy levels and skills development, so Canadians are viable employees in today’s job market.
Literacy and skills challenges:
- 40% of Canadians, aged 16 and older, lack adequate literacy skills
- Low literacy costs businesses an estimated $6 billion annually
- Each year of post-secondary education raises a person’s annual earnings by 8%
Sport and Physical Activity
Sport and physical activity are valuable tools for improving the health and wellness of Canadian families and communities. Physical inactivity accounts for more than $2 billion in annual health costs and carries significant health risks associated with hypertension, obesity, stress and chronic diseases such as diabetes, mental illness, and cardiovascular, respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases.
By eliminating social and economic barriers to sport participation, and enabling Canadians of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to engage in daily physical activity, we can create a culture of active, healthy citizens and communities. We can address the escalating social and economic burden of chronic diseases, and have a significant impact on the long-term health and productivity of Canadians.
Sport and physical activity challenges:
- 26% of Canadian youth and 59% of adults are overweight or obese
- Physical inactivity costs more than $2 billion annually in health care
- Chronic diseases lead to more than $54 billion in productivity losses annually
LIFT invests in literacy, skills development, sport and physical activity, so we can improve the health and productivity of Canadians, and support them to make positive and lasting contributions to the social and economic success of our country.
