We are passionate about giving back to our community.

Energy Atlantica is extremely proud of the impact it has made through the charity it helped to found and still supports, GIVETOLIVE. To date, GIVETOLIVE projects have raised over $4 million.

GIVETOLIVE logo Give To Live, charity raising money through physical activity

GIVETOLIVE is a volunteer organization dedicated to ending illness and disease by inspiring people to lead healthy lives through exercise, altruism and achievement. It was founded within the walls of Energy Atlantica in 2007 by CEO Todd McDonald and his wife Ashley Ward.

GIVETOLIVE has grown to include four main events – THE BIG SWIM, THE BIG RIDE, THE BIG CHILL and THE BIG WELCOME. Watch this video to learn more about how GIVETOLIVE came to be, or visit the GIVETOLIVE website to learn more about each event.

“I could not be more proud of GIVETOLIVE and what the team has achieved. Not only was founding this charity one of the best business decisions I’ve ever made, it was one of my best life decisions as well. I see our team members work together, sweat together and thrive together; inspiring people to lead happier and healthier lives through acts of generosity and achievement of physical feats which at first seemed impossible. I love that we share a passion for giving back to the community and working on issues much greater then ourselves.”

Todd McDonald, CEO Energy Atlantica and Co-Founder of GIVETOLIVE

The Big Ride 2012
The Big Swim 2012
The Big Ride 2009
The Big Ride 2008
First Big Ride 2007
Paul celebrates 10 years at EA 2018
The Big Welcome 2018
The Big Ride 2017
The Big Welcome 2018
The Big Swim 2016
The Big Ride 2016
The Big Chill 2016
Energy Atlantica 2006
Energy Atlantica 2014
Heather, The Big Swim 2015
The Big Swim 2011
Heather and Nadja, The Big Swim 2019
Todd & Ashley The Big Ride
The Big Swim 2019

  • "Brigadoon Village has been able to grow our program services to children and families living with chronic illness directly because of the support of the team at Energy Atlantica and GIVETOLIVE. I have never encountered a group so willing to give of their time to engage and execute on their plans to make the place where they live better. Their commitment to their community embodies the values of their leadership and we feel tremendously fortunate to call them a partner and friends!”

    Dave Graham, Executive Director, Brigadoon Village

  • “I’ll never forget the moment when Todd came out of the water at the end of the very first BIG SWIM after swimming across the Northumberland Strait that first time. It was such a proud moment for us all.”

    Stephen, Energy Atlantica

  • "One of my favourite GIVETOLIVE memories is the very first BIG RIDE when we went to Austin, Texas with 60 people. I started off only knowing 12 of them, but it didn’t take long for that to change. It was the longest ride I’ve ever done. It was super scary and awesome at the same time.”

    Paul, Energy Atlantica

  • “I love hearing about the motivation behind why our event participants are there. They’re always so very inspirational. My own personal moment came when my feet touched the sand on the PEI side after completing my first BIG SWIM with my family (and my extended GIVETOLIVE family) there to greet me.”

    Heather, Energy Atlantica

  • ”Energy Atlantica through GIVETOLIVE has been one of the Canadian Cancer Society’s strongest supporters here in Nova Scotia. Their volunteers and participants have the winning combination of determination to give back and drive to live life to the extreme. We applaud their commitment to supporting physical activity and are proud to partner with such an amazing group of people.”

    Canadian Cancer Society