The Mosaic Company wrote Saskatchewan's Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS) another big cheque, bringing their total contributions to the air-ambulance service past the $8-million threshold.

Thursday as STARS celebrated their fifth anniversary, Mosaic donated a sum of $2.5 million. Back when STARS launched in Saskatchewan, Mosaic gave them $5.5 million to help get them off the ground.

Half of the STARS budget is provincially funded, while the other half relies on them raising funds via corporate donations, a lottery, and other methods.

Denise Belman, the executive director of the STARS foundation in Saskatchewan, said they have operating costs of $20 million a year, so donations like Mosaic's are helpful for keeping STARS "in the sky."

"This donation from Mosaic is substantial to us," Belman said. "We fly over two and a half missions per day into 500 communities in Saskatchewan. So it's tremendous volume. It costs a lot of money to keep the helicopter in the air, to train the crews. We strive for excellence and for innovation, and that's fueled by the critical funds that we get from amazing partners like Mosaic."

Mosaic - an international company that mines phosphate and potash - and has Saskatchewan locations in Regina, Esterhazy, Belle Plaine and Colonsay.

"Our potash operations are located in rural Saskatchewan, and our employees reside in many small communities that benefit from the addition of this service," said Bruce Bodine, Mosaic's senior vice president for potash, in a press release. "If an incident were to happen at one of our facilities or a nearby community, we know that STARS is ready to help."

Belman agreed that the relationship between STARS and Mosaic is mutually beneficial.

"It's definitely a win-win," said Belman. "Mosaic partners with organizations that enhance the sustainability of their communities where they operate. They're looking out for the best interest of their community, their employees, their employees family and friends, and want them going to work knowing every day that, should something happen, there's security that STARS will be there."

Wednesday is the last day to buy tickets for the STARS lottery on August 8.