Credit Slab Cares Aids Displaced Fort McMurray Families, Donates to Red Cross

On May 3^rd, a wildfire reached the economic hub of the Alberta oil patch region, Fort McMurray, resulting in a total town evacuation displacing at least 80,000 people, consuming over 10,000 hectares of prairie and forest land, destroying approximately 1600 buildings while some neighbourhood have lost up to 80% of its homes and causing millions of dollars in damage as entire neighbourhoods were laid to waste. As residents of Fort Mac temporarily resettle in surrounding towns, industrial camps and make their way to Edmonton and Calgary, an appeal by municipal government has called in an emergency response and aid from the provincial and national government, mobilization of firefighters, police and armed forces personnel to the disaster area, and has prompted an outpouring of support and donations.

In response to this appeal for aid, Credit Slab Cares, headed by Credit Slab and Nu Life CEO Sheldon Wolf, has just made a sizable donation to the Red Cross relief program for the victims of the Fort McMurray fire, as well as offering several homes rent free, as temporary shelter to families in need as they flee the disaster area.

In a statement about this recent generous act of charity, Credit Slab and Nu Life CEO Sheldon Wolf explains, “We have just made a donation to the Red Cross and encourage all individuals and corporations to do whatever they can in these times of emergency. It is absolutely mind blowing to think that that only a few days ago it was just another day for most of these people in Fort Mac. How fast things can change and whether you know any of these people or not, please keep in mind that they are still our family and they need our support right now.” 

With inspired foresight, Sheldon Wolf, whom also owns a successful real estate company Empire Citi Properties which serves Calgary, Okotoks and Airdrie, is personally donating the temporary usage of several homes in the greater Calgary area. “As a proud Albertan, we have also offered up all of our vacant homes free of charge as temporary relief to those that are homeless.” He states as his contribution in response to the exodus that is making its way south caused by the mass evacuation of Fort McMurray’s over 80,000 residents.

Unprecedented, Sheldon Wolf has also made this offer in the past during times of disaster. During the Calgary flood of 2012 he offered his vacant properties in a similar manner, opening up for families forced out of their homes when the Bow River flooded large portions of Calgary and High River. He had also personally donated money to help with flood disaster assistance and even volunteered his own time and physical efforts to aid in the cleanup thereafter.

The donation of money and living space was made on behalf of the Credit Slab Cares program, the social responsibility initiative that’s an extension of the Nu-Life Credit Improvement and Credit Slab programs that have in the past led multiple charitable and philanthropic efforts including donations to Kids Up Front, the Calgary Humane Society, Inn from the Cold, Little Mutts, as well as donations and support to local families and individuals in need. During Thanksgiving their food drive saw huge donations of non-perishable items and turkeys to the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank. Their Adopt-a-Family program saw to the needs of a family during the holiday season while another initiative in January was given financial help while he missed work due to surgery. Their veterans program aided active Canadian Armed Forces personnel and veterans by offering pro-bono service and dropped setup fees for their credit repair and credit rebuilding programs.

All this and more has been done through the Credit Slab Cares program as a natural extension of Credit’s Slab’s mission to help those in need; not just in matters of financial literacy and credit and debt related issues, but also basic human necessity and reaching out when hardship strikes and the vulnerable are affected.

The efforts of one company, however, is not enough for a disaster of this magnitude. As natural disaster strikes the oil patch capital, Sheldon Wolf calls on the corporate and business community in Calgary and beyond to do more to help the victims of the Fort Mac fire. The Credit Slab CEO encourages all corporations and communities to give generously and give back to the communities that support us and make Alberta and the nation strong.

He encourages anyone, from businesses to communities and individuals with time and money to spare, to go to the Canadian Red Cross and send their charitable donations to help aid victims of the Fort McMurray wildfire, as well as notify Credit Slab Cares through their website to call attention to community based charitable needs and raise awareness for worthwhile causes.  

And at the time of writing Fort McMurray is in desperate need of help. Credit Slab Cares has answered that call and hopes others will do the same.