Well Grounded Real Estate donates reusable masks to TCHC tenants as part of its increased community support during COVID-19
TCHC's Romil Ramales (left) and Well Grounded Real Estate's Gabriel Diamond (centre) and Jonathan Diamond display samples of the cloth masks that the company donated to TCHC tenants.
TORONTO, August 4, 2020—Well Grounded Real Estate has generously donated 2,000 reusable cloth masks to Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) tenants as part of its increased contributions to support community efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"The donation from Well Grounded Real Estate is timely and very much appreciated," TCHC Chief Operating Officer Sheila Penny said. "As programs and services gradually begin to restart, and with the new City bylaw making masks mandatory in apartment buildings taking effect this week, tenants will need to wear masks to protect themselves and others. The masks donated by Well Grounded Real Estate will help to support those tenants who have had difficulty obtaining masks."
The mask donation is the largest to date for Well Grounded Real Estate, a family business that owns and operates a portfolio of multi-residential and commercial properties in Toronto and southern Ontario. In addition to ensuring a supply of masks for staff and tenants in the buildings they own or manage, the company has provided free masks to TCHC and to other community agencies and social enterprises serving TCHC tenants.
"When the pandemic hit, we could have paused or cut back some of our community giving, but we quickly decided to go in another direction and ramp up our giving instead," company vice president Gabriel Diamond said. "As we ramped up our giving activities, we felt that donating masks was an important additional contribution we should make."
According to Gabriel Diamond, the principals Harvey Diamond and Bernice Finkelstein are committed to making philanthropy a vital part of the company today. "We appreciate how difficult the pandemic is for many low-income families and hope our donations will inspire other firms to follow suit and share masks or other supports with their neighbours and community," he said.
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About Toronto Community Housing:
Toronto Community Housing (www.torontohousing.ca) is Canada's largest social housing landlord, providing homes for nearly 60,000 low and moderate-income households in neighbourhoods across the city. We are wholly owned by the City of Toronto and our 2,100 buildings represent a $10-billion public asset.
