Target Canada is helping Canadians give to a local charity of their choice this holiday season through a social media campaign that launches today in hopes of raising $1 million.
To start, Target Canada has partnered with six charities – ArtsSmarts, ArtStarts, YMCAs in Canada, Food Bank Canada, First Book Canada and Pathways to Education – for the “Give with Target” social media campaign.
Visitors to the brand’s Facebook page are invited to select a charity of their choice and Target Canada will then donate $100 to that charity. The campaign runs until Dec. 9 or until Target Canada reaches it’s $1 million goal.
Derek Jenkins, Target Canada’s senior vice-president of external relations who has worked with Target for 18 years, told Marketing that the retailer held focus groups and chatted with influencers to gage which charities and causes are important to Canada.
“We let the Canadian community give us more advice because they can weigh in on where the money goes,” said Jenkins. “We look forward to comments about the selection.”
Target Canada is using media outreach, Twitter, Facebook and e-blasts to promote the campaign and to hopefully increase its number of fans at the same time, said Jenkins.
The Minneapolis-based retailer has a long-standing commitment to supporting local initiatives throughout the U.S. in the areas of education, environment, team member well-being and volunteerism.
According to its website, Target gives 5% of its profits every year to communities, which adds up to more than $4 million each week.
“It’s always important to be part of the community versus just trying to come in and do business as usual and I think we’ve proven that through the years,” Jenkins said.
The charitable initiative comes as Target Canada prepares to open its first stores north of the border (and the retailer’s first international expansion) early next year.
