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139 volunteers nonoured at Twentieth Anniversary of Awards for Volunteer Service
SAULT STE. MARIE - Ontario honoured 139 volunteers tonight in Sault Ste. Marie for making a difference in the lives of others, said Ontario Citizenship and Immigration Minister Mike Colle.
"Over the past 20 years we have celebrated the dedication and outstanding
achievement of approximately 100,000 volunteers for their community service,"
said Colle. "These are the people who give back to their communities in so
many ways, from driving seniors to coaching young people."
This is the twentieth anniversary of the Volunteer Service Awards. The
theme is 'Volunteers Build Communities'.
The Ontario Volunteer Service Awards recognize five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30,
40 and, 50-plus continuous years of service to a single organization. Youth
are recognized for two or more years of service. All award winners receive a
stylized trillium pin and a personalized certificate.
Bianca Vespini, Joshua Printess, Mackenzie Rice, Nicholas Hroch and
Stephane Thibodeau all of Sault Ste. Marie were recognized for their volunteer
work with the Sault. Ste. Marie Museum and Sara Johnson also of Sault Ste.
Marie was recognized for her work with the Alzheimer Society of Sault Ste.
Marie and Algoma.
More than 8,000 people will receive Volunteer Service Awards this year
across the province.
This year the Outstanding Achievement Award for Volunteerism will go to
16 people, and one community organization for their extraordinary leadership.
More than 2.3 million Ontarians volunteer over 390 million hours each
year.
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Budget sets stage for huge windfall for charities says Executive Director of Private Giving Foundation launched by TD Waterhouse
- Conservatives deliver on their campaign promise to eliminate capital
gains on donations of publicly traded securities to charities
- Exempting capital gains from taxation is expected to unlock
substantial security holdings for donations and provide a much needed
boost to cash-strapped charities
- It is now possible for donors to actually make money through
charitable giving relative to the amount invested if the gain on
their stock is large enough
TORONTO - Finance Minister Flaherty's first budget is music to the ears of Canada's 82,000 registered charities, with the announcement that the capital gains on donations of publicly traded securities to charitable organizations and public foundations will be tax free.
Charities have been asking for such relief since 1997. Since then,
individuals and corporations donating publicly traded securities to public
charities have received preferential capital gains treatment and have only had
to include 25% of capital gains realized on the donation as taxable income
instead of the normal capital gains inclusion rate of 50%. The elimination of
the remaining 25% as announced in the 2006 Budget has the potential to cause a
surge in such donations in the future.
Charities under ever more pressure
TD Economics first investigated the state of Canadian charities in the
fall of 2004 and found the sector to be under duress. The steady increase in
the demand for charitable services, brought about in part by an aging
population and an increase in global natural disasters, combined with
government budgets that are quickly eroded by rising healthcare costs, have
put charities under intense pressure, threatening their ability to meet their
social objectives.
Investors poised to give millions
In October 2004, TD Waterhouse launched the Private Giving Foundation, an
independent registered charity and a simple, effective way to leave a lasting
legacy as an alternative to setting up a private foundation. In just 18
months, total donations to the Private Giving Foundation have exceeded
$30 million with over 80% comprised of donations of securities. Jo-Anne Ryan,
Vice President, Philanthropic Advisory Services, TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. and
Executive Director of the Private Giving Foundation, has already begun to feel
the effect of the budget. Since the budget announcement, Ryan has taken calls
from donors who have expressed their intent to transfer over $2 million in
securities to the Private Giving Foundation. "I believe that we are just
scratching the surface. The total market value of publicly traded stocks held
by Canadians is an astounding $1.3 trillion with unrealized capital gains
accounting for almost half of these holdings," states Ryan. "The potential if
these securities holdings are converted to charitable donations is huge. Not
only does this provide a tremendous opportunity to increase donations today,
but also facilitates excellent planning opportunities for individuals who plan
to give later in life and may want to buy stocks now in order to accomplish
this."
Some donors will even make money
Many advocates of removing the remaining taxation of capital gains on
gifts of securities argue that stock donations will rise 50%. If so, this
would provide more than $100 million in additional funding to charities. Don
Drummond, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, TD Bank Financial Group,
believes that the boost could be even greater, particularly once people become
aware of how attractive this measure is from a tax perspective. "Without any
capital gains taxation, many donors will actually make money from a gift
relative to what they originally paid for the stock. In other words, the
charitable donation credit could exceed the purchase price if the value of the
shares has appreciated significantly," explains Drummond.
"This isn't only for the wealthy," says Ryan. "It will benefit many
Canadians, from the employee who acquired company stock at a low cost several
years ago to the typical investor who has enjoyed nice returns in their stock
portfolio."
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Manulife Financial's 2005 Public Accountability Statement now available on-line
TORONTO - Manulife Financial Corporation's 2005 Public Accountability Statement, detailing the Company's philanthropic and sustainability efforts, is now available for download at www.manulife.com.
"Our goal is to strengthen the vitality and health of the communities in which we live and work," said Dominic D'Alessandro, President and Chief Executive Officer. "In addition, Manulife strives to set the highest standards in corporate governance, environmental responsibility, product development and customer satisfaction - all of which we believe are part of being accountable and bring us closer to being the most professional life insurance company in the world."
In 2005, Manulife donated more than $23 million and its employees contributed some 44,000 volunteer hours to the communities in which we operate in Canada, the United States and Asia, focused on community-building in four main areas: health care, education, community service and local volunteerism.
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National Volunteer Week Interview Opportunity
Three Quarters of Canadian Boomers and Retirees are Volunteering, According to BMO Survey
TORONTO – National Volunteer Week runs from April 23 to April 29, a week set aside in April each year to honour and recognize Canadians who donate time and energy to their fellow citizens. According to Volunteer Canada, the Canadian voluntary and nonprofit sector is made up of more than 161,000 organizations, 6.5 million volunteers and 2 million paid staff.
Who makes up a large number of these volunteers?
According to The BMO Retirement Trends Study*, Canadian boomers and retirees are vital participants in the volunteering community. The study revealed:
· Volunteering is prevalent among this group: 76 per cent of Canadians 45 and older spend time on non-profit community work or charitable work
1 Women are more likely to volunteer than men: 80 per cent of women respondents spend time on non-profit community work or charitable work compared with 75 per cent of men
2 Albertans are the most likely to volunteer: With 83 per cent of those 45 and older volunteering, Alberta boasts the highest level of volunteerism
· Atlantic Canada: 82 per cent
1 Manitoba/Saskatchewan: 80 per cent
2 Ontario: 75 per cent
3 BC and Quebec: 74 per cent
BMO Financial Group spokespeople are available this week to discuss why so many boomers and retirees are volunteering and how volunteering fits into their new definition of “retirement”.
Also available for media interviews on Friday is BMO Community Hero and retiree Doreen Lebrash. At age 74, Doreen was recognized as a BMO Community Hero on January 6, 2006 for her generous work in the Newmarket and Aurora communities, where she volunteers at a retirement home, a school and a healthcare facility.
* The BMO Retirement Trends Study is the most comprehensive survey on Canadian retirement compiled to date, with a randomly selected sample of 5,325 financial decision-makers age 45 or over with at least $25,000 in financial assets completing an online survey. The survey was conducted from October 21 to October 27, 2005 for BMO by Ipsos Reid.
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Make-A-Wish Foundation(R) Celebrates 26 Years of Making Dreams and Wishes Come True
Health professionals believe the granting of a wish has a positive impact on children facing life-threatening illnesses
TORONTO - Believing that no child should live their life without knowing that their dreams and wishes can come true, the Make-A-Wish Foundation(R) of Canada and members of the health care community are convinced there is tremendous power in the granting of a wish.
According to Dr. Eric Bouffet, Director of the Paediatric Brain Tumour
Program at the Hospital for Sick Children, the granting of a wish to an ill
child has many positive health benefits. "Like many doctors, I was at first
skeptical about how the granting of a wish could have an impact on a child.
However, I have personally witnessed a change in the strength of many
children, simply through the hope and the joy they derive from having their
wish come true. I now believe, and strongly encourage the child and their
family to think of a wish and consider Make-A-Wish(R) as a way of helping them
find their way through the illness."
David Brownstone, a Social Worker in the same program at Sick Kids,
agrees. "A wish provides a child with something to look forward to either
before, during or after his or her treatment is finished." Brownstone, who
often refers children in his care to the Make-A-Wish Foundation(R) because of
the benefits he sees on the entire family, believes in the power of a wish.
"The granting of a wish can be a very connecting experience for a family. In
many cases, it's one of the few opportunities where that child gets to do
things together with his or her whole family."
When 7 year old Andrew learned that his wish to see pirates was about to
come true during a visit to Disney World, he said it made him 'happy'. But to
Andrew's parents Florin and Adrianna, the upcoming wish trip holds much deeper
meaning. Not only will it provide a break from the ongoing stress of hospital
visits and worry, but it will be a chance to create important memories of
their time together as a family. "Precious memories are what we hope to get
from this trip," says Florin, Andrew's father. "We want Andrew to remember us
as a family, together having fun. We hope he will always remember this trip."
In 2005, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Canada granted approximately
365 wishes or one wish each day across the country. This year, the Foundation
expects that number will increase by an additional 20 percent. The wishes
granted by the organization typically fall into four categories, "I wish to
meet ...", "I wish to have ..." I wish to go ..." and "I wish to be ... ."
Although the wishes range from pure and simple to much more complex and
involved, the average cost to grant a wish is $6,800.
"Our goal is to never deny any eligible child their wish," says Shelagh
Tippet-Fagyas, CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Canada. "The activities
that will be occurring across the country in celebration of Make-A-Wish Week
in Canada will help us raise money and awareness of this important
organization."
Dr. Bouffet agrees on the importance of Make-A-Wish Foundation, and hopes
there is increased recognition among health care providers that this type of
organization is essential. "While it is important to work toward improved
patient survival rates, it is equally important to consider the quality of
that survival," says Bouffet. "This is where Make-A-Wish(R) certainly makes an
impact, as it plays a significant role in the quality of those outcomes."
On April 29, Make-A-Wish Foundation(R) will celebrate 26 years of making wishes come true for children with life-threatening illness. Make-A-Wish grants the personal, special wishes of children ages 3 though 17, with life-threatening medical conditions, to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded after a group of caring individuals helped a young boy fulfil his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting organization in the world, making dreams and wishes come true for more than 155,000 children. The national office of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Canada is now located in Toronto, Ontario. www.makeawish.ca
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Tee off to fight Alzheimer Disease at the Alzheimer Society of Perth County’s 3RD Annual Golf Tournament!
Monday, June 5, 2006 - Stratford Country Club
11:30am Registration & Lunch, 1pm Shotgun Start
$125 per person/$105 for Country Club members.
Registration Fee includes:
BBQ Lunch, 18 Holes with shared power cart, Golfers Gift valued at $70+, Four Hole in Ones, On-Course Events with great prizes and a Full Course Dinner
Early Bird: Register and pay by May 12th and your name goes in the draw for a great prize!
For more information and to acquire a
Registration Form, call the Alzheimer Society (519) 271-1910 or toll free, 1-888-797-1882.
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Manulife Financial donates $500,000 to Kitchener-Waterloo hospitals
WATERLOO - On April 18 Manulife Financial strengthened its commitment to Waterloo Region healthcare today with an announcement of $500,000 in donations for two hospitals in Kitchener-Waterloo. Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital will each receive $250,000.
“We’re pleased to continue our history of support to our local hospitals,” said Bruce Gordon, Senior Executive Vice-President & General Manager, Manulife Canada. “With more than 3,000 employees living and working in Kitchener-Waterloo, Manulife is committed to making a significant contribution to the health of our community.”
In the past 10 years, Manulife has donated more than $1.7 million dollars to local hospitals, including a $1 million commitment to the One Voice, One Vision hospital campaign in 2001. In addition, the company organizes a community fundraising event each year, The Manulife Bike & Hike for Heart, that has raised almost $1 million for St. Mary’s Regional Cardiac Care Centre.
St. Mary’s Hospital
At St. Mary’s Hospital, the newly-announced funding will establish a special step-down unit within its Coronary Care Unit (CCU). The step-down unit will allow cardiac staff to transfer patients from the most critical care area of CCU to an environment where resources better match the level of care required. The step-down unit operates on a 3-to-1 patient-to-nurse ratio, below the 2-to-1 ratio of the CCU, but well above the typical 5-to-1 ratio found in an in-patient unit.
“The step-down unit ensures we’re using CCU beds for only our most critically ill cardiac patients,” says Moira Taylor, President of St. Mary’s Hospital. “It also provides an opportunity for our nurses to introduce education and rehabilitation in an environment that is conducive to such treatment.”
Grand River Hospital
The new funding for Grand River Hospital will be directed to the hospital’s ‘Architects of Care’ fundraising program, which hopes to raise $4.2 million for a redeveloped inpatient oncology unit, a redeveloped intensive care unit and a brachytherapy surgical suite. To recognize this gift, Manulife will name two family quiet rooms in the Inpatient Oncology Unit, which has direct access to the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre. These comfortable rooms are equipped with showers and sleeper chairs and give cancer patients and their families privacy when they need it.
“The redeveloped Inpatient Oncology Unit will provide an environment that promotes comfort and healing and enhances our ability to care for those at a critical point in their journey with cancer,” says Dennis Egan, President of Grand River Hospital.
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Scotiabank Contributes $100,000 to CIGI’s Caribbean Economic Governance Project
TORONTO – Scotiabank today announced a three-year, $100,000 contribution toward a Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) project examining alternatives for overcoming economic challenges in the Caribbean.
“By supporting the research of organizations like CIGI, Scotiabank links to our customers, employees, shareholders and communities,” said Rick Waugh, Scotiabank President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). “As a major international company, with diverse operations on five continents, Scotiabank recognizes that we can have the greatest impact at the local community level.”
CIGI is planning to undertake a fresh examination of the Caribbean economy. The CIGI project will convene researchers and private and public sector leaders to scrutinize economic governance challenges facing the Caribbean region. Through workshops, public discussion papers, online collaboration and conferences, CIGI hopes to stimulate the emergence of substantive and relevant answers and policy prescriptions.
John English, CIGI’s Executive Director, said “CIGI is very proud of the relationships that it has built with the private sector which funds over half of our research. The partnership between Scotiabank and CIGI allows for timely research and policy proposals in critical areas of international importance to be made available to decision-makers and the general public.”
CIGI will look at the Caribbean region as a whole, including its opportunities for development, the levels of poverty and unemployment, as well as government policies. CIGI is building strategic and knowledge partnerships whose vision and mandate correspond with the project objectives of enhancing Caribbean economic and social prospects. A strategic advisory group, made up of individuals from diverse backgrounds, will provide a bridge between the project and public officials and other decision-makers within the region. Knowledge partners will lend their expertise and share their existing research related to the project.
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is located in Waterloo, Canada, where it was founded in 2001. CIGI conducts research and advises on issues of international governance and multilateral reform. Current areas of research focus include global institutional reform, the changing shape of international relations, shifting global economic power, regional governance, poverty and fragile states and special issues of global importance like health governance and nuclear security. CIGI's research is of interest to government leaders, public officials, civil society, academic researchers, post-secondary students, opinion leaders in the print and electronic media and the interested public. CIGI's research is supported by IGLOOTM (International Governance Leaders and Organizations Online), a research and information portal for strengthening international governance research. Visit www.cigionline.org www.theigloo.org.
Scotiabank has been part of the Caribbean and Central America region since 1889 when the Bank opened its first office in Kingston, Jamaica. Some 117 years later, Scotiabank is the leading bank in the region, with operations in 25 countries. Scotiabank has more than two million customers, 10,158 employees, 366 branches and about 776 automated banking machines (ABMs) throughout the Caribbean and Central America.
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Toyota Donation Supports and Advances Technical Education at Conestoga
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. (TMMC) has donated $150,000 to Conestoga College in support of technical education and the College's aim of increasing technical learning opportunities that address current and future labour market needs in the high-concentration manufacturing region where both TMMC and Conestoga are located.
The result of the donation will be a significant acquisition and upgrading of equipment and materials at Conestoga's Manufacturing and Automation Training Centre, located at the Doon campus in Kitchener.
Speaking of the donation and the long-standing relationship between Conestoga and Toyota, Peter Barrett, Vice-President of Manufacturing Control at TMMC, comments, "Conestoga College provides a valuable service to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. through the targeted training they provide to existing and future TMMC employees. We hope this donation will help to foster our partnership in providing the industry-specific skills training so critical in today's global economy."
Conestoga is in the process of obtaining equipment, computers and monitors needed to run additional activity in the computerized manufacturing areas of programmable logic control machinery and processes. This enhanced capability will benefit a wide range of students: in selected full-time engineering technology programs; in a number of part-time, continuing education courses; and in customized corporate training designed by the College in consultation with specific employers/sectors.
Ingrid Town, Conestoga's Executive Director of Development, believes that the Toyota-Conestoga partnership is an outstanding example of education for economic progress, "TMMC and Conestoga have enjoyed a thriving and mutually beneficial relationship over the years. We train quite a number of TMMC employees annually in areas ranging from multiskill maintenance to communication skills. In turn, TMMC has hired our graduates and has supported the College on an ongoing basis through donations. We are thrilled with this newest donation -- a significant investment that will benefit for years to come students in our School of Engineering and Information Technology, and Trades and Apprenticeship."
In recognition of TMMC's generous support, Conestoga has designated three large classroom/lab areas at the Manufacturing and Automation Training Centre as the Lexus classroom, the Corolla classroom and the Matrix classroom, in acknowledgment of the product lines at TMMC's Cambridge plant.
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Community’s generosity exceeds expectations
(KITCHENER) The YWCA kicked off a new fundraising campaign with a special announcement: early community response has been so strong, the Campaign Team has decided to increase their fundraising goal.
The Second Century Campaign, which began in 2005 with the formation of the fundraising team, had an original target of $2.5 million to fund much-needed renovations to Mary’s Place, the YWCA’s local emergency shelter for homeless women and families. But with a pledge total currently sitting at more than $2.3 million, organizers have set a new super-goal of $3 million.
“We’re so thrilled with the response we’ve had during the quiet phase of the campaign from businesses and individuals in our community and members of the YWCA family who have so generously contributed to this campaign,” said Jim Hallman, who co-chairs the Campaign Team along with his wife, Sue Hallman. “It’s wonderful to be able to announce at our public launch that our team of volunteers, working behind the scenes in the months leading up to the official campaign launch, has nearly achieved our original goal!”
“The higher goal will help to offset some of the increasing costs of the project, which is now $4.8 million, and allow us to decrease the amount the YWCA would have to raise through traditional financing,” added Hallman. “We’re confident the community will continue to respond with generosity to this great community cause.”
The Second Century Campaign will fund the renovation of Mary’s Place and the construction of 6 transitional apartments for women fleeing abuse. Construction is scheduled to begin later this month, and completion is expected in approximately 17 months.
Three of Waterloo Region’s most philanthropic families, Jim and Heidi Balsillie, Jim and Sue Hallman, and the Spaetzel family, owners of Spaenaur Inc. well known for their ongoing contributions to the community, have already made significant donations to the campaign. In recognition of those lead donations, these families chose the name for the transitional housing, Next Door.
The campaign has also seen generous “Major Gift” contributions from 13 other individuals/organizations, including: 3 anonymous donors, Bob and Judy Astley, Jean Caya, Manfred and Penny Conrad, Deloitte & Touche, Heffner Lexus Toyota, the Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation, the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation, M & M Meat Shops Ltd., Marcia Shortreed, and Larry and Maggie Williamson.
(more)
The Campaign Team of fundraising volunteers working with the Hallmans includes: Keren Adderley, Peter Barr, Jane Cowan, Jim Frank, Jane Humphries, and Al Orth. Honorary Advisors are Marjorie Carroll-Nelson, Sara Kaufman, John Panabaker, Brian Ruby, and Bob Warren.
Mary’s Place was originally designed in the early 20th century to house single women. But with a growing number of homeless families in K-W, the YWCA is responding to a need for more emergency and transitional housing for mothers and their children, including families with adult or adolescent males.
Regionally, shelter for homeless families has been identified as one of the primary service gaps in the community. Nationally, families have been identified as the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. A recent University of Calgary study concluded that as many as one third of homeless families are actually two-parent families.
Each night, 60 or more homeless women and children receive shelter at Mary’s Place. In 2005, Mary’s Place provided 22,267 nights of emergency shelter, food, and crisis support for 710 women, 111 children and four men, including 45 families.
The shelter currently has small bedrooms and shared toilets and shower rooms, and there is little play space for children or privacy for families. There is only one small unit that can accommodate a two-parent family, a father-led family, or a mother with male children over the age of 10. When the family unit is occupied, these families must find alternate accommodations or, worse, be separated.
The shelter also faces rising maintenance costs to meet the demands of repairs and fire and building code requirements of an aging building. These costs have nearly doubled in recent years.
The newly renovated Mary’s Place will consist of self-contained units that can house either two or more single women or a family, including families with adult or adolescent males. The Next Door will consist of 6 transitional apartments for women fleeing abuse.
In addition, the new shelter and apartment complex will have a green designation, meaning it will be built to standards that qualify it to be certified as a Leader in Energy and Environmental Design. As such, the YWCA will recover its initial investment in green design, construction materials, and operational practices in reduced energy costs within seven to 10 years.
The Second Century campaign will continue through December of 2006. The remaining $1.8-million cost of the project will come from government grants and conventional financing, unless the campaign exceeds its new $3-million target.
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Drop Off Old Phone Books to Benefit the Local Food Bank
GUELPH - Did you know you can help feed the hungry in our community simply by dropping off your old phone books to be recycled? Under a unique new partnership, The Co-operators and Wasteco will make a donation to the local food bank for every phone book delivered to the Phone Books for Food Banks drop off centres before March 31st.
"Food banks across the country rely on contributions of food, money and time to help them provide for the most needy in our communities," said Adam Spence, executive director of the Ontario Association of Food Banks. "Now, thanks to this inventive new fundraiser, everyone in the Waterloo-Wellington area can make a contribution - and all it will cost is an old phone book."
New telephone directories are currently being distributed to homes in Wellington county and the region of Waterloo. Rather than bringing the outdated ones to the curb, residents are encouraged to drop them off to be recycled at any Co-operators office in the area between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, until March 31st. For every directory collected, a donation will be made to the food bank in your community.
Phone Books for Food Banks Drop-off Centres:
All Co-operators offices in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph.
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Sun Life Financial donates $50,000 to aid in Philippine landslide relief efforts
TORONTO - Sun Life Financial Inc. today announced that it is donating $50,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to aid the relief and rebuilding efforts following the landslide in the Philippines.
Donald A. Stewart, Sun Life Financial's Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are saddened by the tragedy in the village of Guinsaugon, and financial support is urgently needed to facilitate the recovery from the landslide."
"On behalf of all those who will benefit from this generous donation, the Canadian Red Cross is extremely grateful to Sun Life Financial for initiating corporate Canada's response," said Dr. Pierre Duplessis, Secretary-General of the Canadian Red Cross. "We are working together with the local Red Cross staff and volunteers to ensure that the money donated by Canadians is used to provide the best immediate relief and long-term recovery possible."
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Raytheon Canada Sponsors Hatfield, Spirit of Canada in Velux 5 Oceans Solo Race
OTTAWA - Raytheon Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary of Raytheon Company, today announced its platinum sponsorship of skipper Derek Hatfield and his Spirit of Canada Open 60 racing yacht as he prepares for this fall's grueling 2006/2007 Velux 5 Oceans solo race around the world.
The Velux 5 Oceans around-the-world race spans eight months and some 30,000 nautical miles. Held every four years since 1982, it tests the endurance and stamina of competing skippers. Hatfield was chosen as the 2003 Canadian sailor of the year, is a seasoned athlete and is one of 139 people to finish a single-handed race around the globe. In 2003, he finished third in his class, despite capsizing near Cape Horn, Africa.
As one of Hatfield's sponsors, Raytheon Canada will provide a state-of- the-art radar collision warning system based on its advanced Small Target Tracking technology. The equipment suite includes software, hardware, on-board computers and mission support systems that include navigation, weather retrieval and communication devices for the 60-foot racing yacht. Hatfield can use the equipment to detect and track water-borne objects such as ice, sea life, lost containers and logs -- all of which could be serious threats to the yacht's safety.
"Because of the speed of these yachting greyhounds, solid objects in the water are a constant worry," said Hatfield. "The hull and foils are susceptible to damage. With the tracking system, I will be warned ahead of time about possible collisions and can adjust course accordingly. That's especially important at night or in rough seas."
"We're committed to Derek and to the Spirit of Canada," said Mark Desmarais, general manager of Raytheon Canada's Waterloo facility. "In 2006, Raytheon marks our 50th anniversary in Canada, and we decided to celebrate by adopting the Spirit of Canada as our site mascot."
Raytheon Canada employs 1400 people at sites in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia. It serves the defence, security and aerospace sectors with a broad range of high technology products and services. Raytheon Canada's Waterloo facility is a world leader in radar signal processing technology. Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with 2005 sales of $21.9 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide.
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New Fellowship Helps Keep Older Drivers Safe
GUELPH, ON, Jan. 27 - With more than 20 million licensed drivers navigating 900,000 kilometres of road, Canadians are among the most mobile people in the world. With our aging population comes a need to better.
understand and address safety issues for older drivers. That's why The
Co-operators has donated $20,000 over two years to CanDRIVE, a research program dedicated to improving road safety for seniors.
CanDRIVE will use the funding to create The Co-operators Aging and Driving Fellowship to support graduate students' research on older driver assessment tools. This research will ultimately improve the health, safety and independence of older drivers while making the roads safer for all.
"Road safety rests on three pillars - the road, the vehicle and the driver. As a society we invest millions to improve car and road design. What demands more attention is the human factor, particularly how medical
conditions and medications affect driving ability," said Dr. Malcolm
Man-Son-Hing of CanDRIVE. "The Co-operators Aging and Driving Fellowship will help develop the next generation of researchers in this increasingly important area."
With more than 60 researchers at universities across Canada, CanDRIVE is a program of the Elisabeth Bruyère Research Institute, a partnership between the SCO Health Service and the University of Ottawa. The program's ongoing projects include the development of science-based assessment methods to help physicians fairly and accurately determine whether older drivers are medically fit to drive. Other projects underway are: a critical assessment of the effectiveness of the 55 Alive Driver Education Program; an investigation into the use of GPS monitoring and on-board diagnostic devices in older drivers' vehicles; and a study of the impacts of licensing restrictions for older drivers.
"Only through research and innovation can we hope to fully grasp and respond to issues surrounding the aging process and our ability to drive," said Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co-operators. "That's why we're pleased to sponsor CanDRIVE by funding this new fellowship to support the important research being done by Canadian graduate students."
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Centre In The Square Donates Tickets for 2006 Community Ticket Program
Donating At Least $22,500 In Tickets To Five Local Social Service Agencies
The Centre In The Square's new Community Ticket Program is proving to be a wonderful success! Launched in 2005, this innovative program donates tickets to people who would otherwise not be able to attend live performances at Kitchener's world-class theatre. The Program will be donating at least $22,500 worth of tickets in 2006. The agencies chosen to distribute the tickets in 2006 are: KidsAbility, The Working Centre, The Independent Living Centre, The Multicultural Centre, and Heartwood Place.
Stephen Swatridge, CEO of KidsAbility is delighted to be able to distribute tickets to their clients. "It is very gratifying to be able to provide a special evening event to our families at the Centre In The Square. Many would not have the financial means to attend such an event so this is an incredible opportunity for them. On their behalf, we are most appreciative and thankful."
Thanks to successful fundraising and the support of several local organizations and businesses such as the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation, The Walter Fedy Partnership, Faith Life Financial and numerous individual supporters, the Centre In The Square has been able to offer this unique and innovative program again in 2006. The Centre's General Manager, Jamie Grant, says that the program is one of the first of its kind in Canada, and he is pleased to be able to continue to offer it in 2006. "We have received a tremendous response from people who participated in it last year and we truly believe that this program helps to enhance self-esteem, make people feel more included in society as well as simply offering them a night out in a positive, fun and creative environment. The value of helping people to feel better about themselves is incalculable and all society benefits from that." Grant added that, "We are tremendously appreciative to those organizations and individuals who have supported this program and hope that others will see its benefit and help us to expand it for next year."
Grant noted that we decided, "the best way to deliver the tickets to those who could best use them would be to partner with local social service agencies who then re-distribute the tickets to their clients." The program was launched in 2005 and $33,000 worth of tickets were distributed to the partner agencies in that first year: House of Friendship, Catholic Family Counselling, Extend-A-Family, KW Counselling and Lutherwood.
Grant added that, "our goal for the Community Ticket Program is to remove some of the barriers faced by select members of our community and to thereby increase accessibility to live theatre in our community. It is also important to note that many of the tickets we give away under this program are the best seats to high-profile shows like Tim Conway and Harvey Korman, Rich Little, Evita, Randy Bachman, Bruce Cockburn, etc."
Grant explained that the Community Ticket Program is entirely dependent on fundraising and he said that The Centre is currently fundraising to support it for 2006 and beyond. Grant encourages businesses and individuals to contact the Centre In The Square if they wish to donate. "All donations are welcome and important," Grant stated. "This is a tremendous opportunity for people to support our community, the arts and to bring encouragement to people participating in the program. And all donations receive a tax receipt." Grant noted that in addition to smaller donations, "We are also seeking a title sponsor for the program so as to be able to offer more
stable funding for this program over the coming years. This is a great opportunity for a community minded individual or business to step forward and take leadership in this important program and to make a real difference in thousands of lives." |
| Donors Plan To Withhold $375 Million From Ethiopia
Donors are to withhold direct budgetary support worth about $375 million from Ethiopia following the government's brutal crackdown on opposition supporters last month, western development officials said Wednesday, reports The Financial Times (UK).
Until the situation improves, the donors - which include the World Bank, the European Union and the UK - will look to disburse the funds in other ways to continue tackling the country's massive poverty challenges, Ishac Diwan, the World Bank's Country Director, said. |
UN Agencies Refuse To Disclose Costs As Third Of Tsunami Funds Go On Overheads
A year after the Indian Ocean tsunami, up to a third of the $590 million so far spent under the United Nations' $1.1 billion disaster flash appeal appears to have gone on administration, staff and related costs, reports The Financial Times.
A two-month investigation by the financial daily has also found that several UN agencies are still refusing to disclose details of their relief expenditure in spite of earlier pledges of transparency by senior UN officials. The unprecedented international response to the tragedy that struck on Boxing Day last year killing more 220,000 saw governments, companies and individuals pledge more than $13 billion to help affected countries, according to UN estimates.
The flash appeal covered the money donated by governments to the UN in the first weeks after the disaster to fund the early aid work. Spending details from that appeal obtained by the FT from UN-affiliated agencies such as the World Health Organization and the World Food Program show 18 percent to 32 percent of the expenditure related to staff, administration and other costs.
There is currently no accepted standard on what constitutes reasonable overhead costs for aid organizations, the daily writes. Agencies such as the German development ministry say non-profit aid organizations should claim no more than 10 percent of project funds for administration costs. The figures can be difficult to compare, however. Some UN agencies will not disclose staff costs and others account for items such as transport and equipment differently.
Even the most basic overhead breakdowns can be sensitive in the relief world where highly paid consultants are often a significant expense for the UN and its agencies. Details of such costs are usually absent from public material. Alex Jacobs, Director of Mango, a non-profit group that aims to improve financial disclosure by aid agencies, said many also regularly reported either rosy or "meaningless" assessments of their administrative overheads. However, senior UN officials insist its tsunami relief operations have been the most open.
The Financial Times also reports in a separate piece that around the Indian Ocean tsunami zone, conflicts and uncertainties over land rights have been a major hindrance to reconstruction and a source of worry for survivors struggling to get back on their feet. In Sri Lanka, the post-tsunami establishment of wide coastal "exclusion zones" - in which construction is now banned on safety grounds - is dispossessing thousands of people from the sites of their former homes. As a result, Oxfam estimates 50 percent of Sri Lankans left homeless by the wave now require fresh land on which to build. But Oxfam says the new rule has raised "widespread suspicion that the tsunami might be used as an excuse to make way for lucrative property deals linked to tourism", especially since the government is making selective exceptions.
In related news, an editorial in Le Monde (France) states that one year after the December 26 tsunami, the assessment of the international assistance appears positive overall. The survey carried out by the correspondents of the French daily in the areas hit shows that the inevitable "failures," given the extent of the disaster and the need to make decisions quickly, were rather limited with respect to the use of aid, at least up until this point.
The Jakarta Post (Indonesia) writes that despite the billions in international aid pledged, a year after the tsunami the fishing industry in Aceh is yet to recover, and the price of fish in the province is twice what it used to be. People on the Lam Pulo Fish Market, the biggest in Banda Aceh, said the tsunami had decimated the industry, claiming the lives of many fishermen and destroying most fishermen's boats. The increasing cost of production after the fuel price hike on October 1 has also made things more difficult for fishermen, who depend on cheap fuel for their boats, and has ensured prices have not come down although more fishermen are at sea.
Reuters meanwhile reports that fishermen in Aceh have more boats now than before last December's tsunami hit the Indonesian province and donors should focus on other strategies to rebuild the fishing industry, a global research body said on Friday. A year later, efforts to replace lost equipment has enhanced fishermen's ability to catch fish, but they have not tackled the problem of over fishing and severe depletion that existed before the tsunami, the Malaysia-based World Fish Center said in a statement.
Agence France Presse further notes that the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has announced a revised five-year plan of action worth nearly 1.5 billion euros to assist victims of last year's tsunami. With a total budget of $1.75 billion the plan will concentrate on the reconstruction of housing and rebuilding livelihoods, with 54 percent of the funds earmarked for these fields, it said in a statement Thursday. The plan includes rebuilding or upgrading homes, hospitals and clinics as well as water and sanitation systems, and providing psycho-social support and livelihood support to people affected by the tsunami which devastated Indian Ocean coastlines on December 26, it said.
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KidsAbility Foundation Receives Donation of $100,000 from Laurence Development LP to support Endowment Campaign
KidsAbility Foundation would like to extend sincere thanks to Laurence Development LP for their outstanding support and generous donation of $100,000 to KidsAbility’s Endowment Campaign. Peter Schwartz, President of Laurence Development LP, stated “We are proud to support such a worthwhile organization in making this donation that will help children in our community with special needs for generations to come.”
KidsAbility has recently embarked upon a $10,000,000 Endowment Campaign to ensure its long-term financial stability and has achieved 20% of that goal to-date. The security of annual income from long-term investments will minimize risk to existing programs and allow KidsAbility to provide world-class services to children with special needs. This campaign is being led by Elaine Ormston,CindyBridgeand Wayne Kemick, members of the KidsAbility Foundation Board of Directors. |
Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty presents cheque for $86,000 to Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region
Kitchener, Ontario – At a sales meeting held yesterday at Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty, Peter Benninger, President, presented a cheque in the amount of $86,000 to Trevor Unruh, Chair of Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region.
The money was raised as a result of the Building Dreams Gala that was hosted by Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty on November 18, 2005, to mark 20 years in real estate and to raise money for a Habitat for Humanity build.
Having raised $86,000 in just one night, The Building Dreams Gala was a tremendous success. The event, which was held at Bingeman’s Marshall Hall, was attended by 650 people, and included both a live and silent auction and a performance by the Carpet Frogs. The goal of the gala was to build a house in ‘one night’ by raising the necessary $65,000 to sponsor a Habitat for Humanity home in Waterloo Region. Not only did the company meet its ambitious goal, but thanks to some very exciting auction items, and some very generous bidders, they actually exceeded it, raising an incredible $86,000 in one night!
“We are delighted to have reached our financial goal to sponsor a home through Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region”, said Peter Benninger, President at Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty.
The house will be built in the spring of 2006, on a single-family lot still yet to be determined. “In addition to sponsoring the home, Coldwell Banker agents will be rolling up their sleeves to participate in the build itself. All of us at Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty take great pride in knowing that our efforts will have such a positive impact on a deserving family within our region.”
In addition to the Gala efforts, sales representatives and brokers at Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty have contributed over the last 9 months with donations and voluntary pay deductions towards their Habitat for Humanity build in 2006. As a result of these efforts, an additional $5,000 was raised and this cheque will be provided to Habitat for Humanity this month as well.
The overall result is that the combined efforts have raised a total of $91,000!
“We have now completed the fundraising phase of our Habitat for Humanity commitment, and now will be entering the Build or operational phase”, said Gord Mepham, Operations Manager at Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty, “many call this the fun phase as it gives us all the opportunity to do something different with a bit of our time, and for a great cause.”
This is the 2nd Habitat for Humanity Build that Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty has sponsored and built. In 2001, the company built a house in Kitchener, making their office the first Coldwell Banker office in Canada to sponsor and build a home.
Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization, aims to eliminate substandard housing and homelessness worldwide by providing affordable housing to low-income families. Habitat for Humanity has built more than 200,000 homes in 100 countries around the world. A new home is dedicated worldwide every 24 minutes.
Habitat for Humanity Canada has dedicated more than 940 homes from coast to coast since its inception. There are currently 67 affiliates in all 10 provinces and two territories, helping to eliminate poverty housing.
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Non-profit institutions and volunteering: Economic contribution: 1997 to 2001
Economic activity in the non-profit sector, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), recorded solid growth during the late 1990s and early 2000s, according to data on the economic contribution of non-profit institutions and volunteering.
Between 1997 and 2001, GDP for the core non-profit sector increased at an annual average rate of 7.1%, slightly faster than the average of 6.1% for the economy as a whole. At the same time, economic activity generated by hospitals, universities and colleges grew at a slower pace of 5.4%.
The overall non-profit sector includes hospitals, universities and colleges, along with a widely diverse range of other generally smaller organizations. Hospitals, universities and colleges account for the lion's share of non-profit economic activity. The generally smaller organizations, known as the "core non-profit sector", function in a diverse array of fields and play an increasingly important role in society.
In 2001 alone, economic activity in the overall non-profit sector increased 8.4%, more than twice the 3.2% gain in the economy as a whole. Solid growth in the core non-profit sector of 10.2% boosted overall growth in the sector by a full percentage point.
The GDP of the core non-profit sector, estimated at $25.4 billion in 2001, accounted for 2.5% of the overall economy. When hospitals, universities and colleges are included, this share increased to 6.8%.
Volunteering a significant activity in non-profit sector, especially for the core segment
Because the non-profit sector relies heavily on volunteers to undertake its activities, the standard measure of GDP is extended to include a replacement cost value of volunteer work (i.e., the cost to replace it if the same services were purchased on the paid labour market). Extended measures of the sector's economic contribution were estimated for 1997 and 2000. In 2000, adding the value of volunteer work to GDP increases the overall sector's share of the economy from 6.4% to 7.8%.
In 2000, volunteer labour services contributed about $14 billion, or nearly 18% of the total extended value of the non-profit sector's GDP. Between 1997 and 2000, the total extended value of the non-profit sector's GDP grew at the slower pace of 12.9% than standard GDP, at 16.4%, due to a marginal decline in the overall value of volunteer work.
Notably, core non-profit organizations mobilized over 86% of the overall volunteer effort in 2000 ($12.1 billion). The economic contribution of the core non-profit sector increases from 2.3% to 3.5%, when this value is taken into account. The replacement cost value of volunteer work accounted for about one-third (34.3%) of its economic activity.
The size of both Canada's core and overall non-profit sector exceeds that of certain key industries
Although the non-profit sector is not a specific industry, its GDP can be compared against traditional industries to provide a point of reference.
In 2000, the overall non-profit sector's extended GDP was larger than the mining, oil and gas extraction industry, and the entire retail trade industry. The value of GDP exceeded that of these major industries regardless of whether the contribution of volunteers (the replacement cost value of volunteer work) was included in its valuation.
The extended value of GDP for the core non-profit sector in 2000 was larger than that of the motor vehicle manufacturing, agriculture and the accommodation and food services industries.
Core non-profit sector gained momentum from 1997 to 2001
Hospitals (including residential care facilities), universities and colleges accounted for the lion's share of non-profit economic activity in 2001, as their combined GDP reached $45.0 billion, or over 63% of the total. Hospitals generated twice as much value added, $30.3 billion, as universities and colleges, at $14.8 billion. These primarily large organizations fall mostly into the fields of health and education. As a result, these fields of activity dominate the overall sector's GDP.
However, with average GDP growth of 7.1% between 1997 and 2001, the core non-profit sector was the fastest growing segment. As a result, the share of hospitals (including residential care facilities) and universities and colleges in total non-profit sector GDP has progressively declined, from 65.3% in 1997 to 63.8% in 2001.
Social services on the rise, health in decline in the diverse core non-profit sector
The core non-profit sector, which amounted to $25.5 billion (36.2% of the overall non-profit sector's GDP) in 2001, typically comprises smaller organizations functioning in a diverse array of fields and playing an increasingly important role in Canadian society.
On the whole, the composition of the core non-profit sector by field of activity remained stable between 1997 and 2001. Throughout these five years, the field of social services always led the way, accounting for 23.5% of GDP in 2001. Other industries ranked as follows: culture and recreation (15.1%), development and housing (12.9%), business and professional associations and unions (11.6%), religion (11.4%), and health (7.6%). Together, these six fields of activity accounted for over 82% of the GDP generated by this group.
With an average growth of almost 10%, the social services group was not only at the head of the pack in terms of level of GDP, it was also the fastest growing field over the 1997 to 2001 period, after education and research. Social services organizations engage in the delivery of a multitude of services such as day care, shelters, services for the youth, the elderly, or persons with disabilities. The increase in social services organizations' share in core non-profit sector GDP (from 21.2% to 23.5%) was largely offset by a decrease in the field of (non-hospital) health services (from 10.2% to 7.6%).
Revenue growth of core segment takes the lead
Total revenue for the generally smaller organizations that make up the core non-profit sector grew by an average of 7.5% over the 1997 to 2001 period, exceeding income growth for the overall non-profit sector (+6.6%).
Sales of goods and services rank as the most important revenue source for core non-profit organizations, with significant income also derived from membership fees and donations from households. Over the period, the federal share of government transfers to the core non-profit sector rose, while the provincial share declined. Culture and recreation, business and professional associations, social services, and religion were pockets of strength, with these four groups accounting for over two-thirds of the cumulative income growth in the core non-profit sector between 1997 and 2001.
In 2001, revenue received by core non-profit organizations was up 4.8%, while that of hospitals, universities and colleges, which are primarily funded by provincial government, increased by 4.5%. The environment group (+25.4%) was the star performer in terms of income growth in 2001, followed by business and professional association (+21.2%). Organizations in the education and research field also saw their revenues increase strongly (+18.5%), as did the social services group (+13.5%).
Hospital, universities and colleges get bigger slice of the donations pie
The composition of revenue sources was notably stable over the 1997 to 2001 period. However, hospitals, universities and colleges received increased income in the form of donations from households and businesses over the period, their share in total donations climbing from 13.4% in 1997 to 16.2% in 2001.
Compensation of employees top expense of the non-profit sector
In 2001, outlays of the non-profit sector increased 8.9% to $109.6 billion. As much as 98% of these outlays consisted of operating expenditures incurred to produce goods and services. The remainder was transfers to other sectors of the economy.
Two expenditure categories accounted for nearly 95% of total operating expenditures in 2001. Compensation of employees was the largest and accounted for 56.8% of the total. Intermediate purchases, that is, current spending on goods and services used in the production process represented 37%. The composition of outlays remained relatively stable over the 1997 to 2001 period.
Increased reliance on volunteer work for core non-profit organizations
In 2000, non-profit organizations paid $56.4 billion in compensation of employees and received the equivalent of $14.0 billion in estimated volunteer work — nearly one-fifth of the total value of labour resources employed. The core non-profit sector mobilized over 86% of the total value of volunteer work in 2000, reflecting the key importance of this resource to smaller organizations. It is therefore not surprising that this group's share of the value of volunteer work in total labour services (40%) is twice as large as for the non-profit sector as a whole.
The overall value of labour resources employed by these generally smaller organizations represented 5.5% of the wage bill for the Canadian economy in 2000, compared with 12.9% for the non-profit sector as a whole.
Household donations pale compared with value of volunteer services
Despite a small decline in the value between 1997 and 2000, volunteering continues to represent a considerably larger resource to the non-profit sector than monetary and in-kind donations from households. In 2000, households donated $6.5 billion to non-profit organizations, less than half the estimated value of volunteer contributions of time.
Combining the value of volunteer work with donations from households triples the importance of household transfers in overall sector revenue, from 5.3% to almost 17% of the total. For the core non-profit sector, adding the value of volunteer work increases the importance of transfers from households from 10% to almost 30% of the total.
Culture and recreation attracts the most volunteers; health and education the fewest
As in 1997, four fields of activity accounted for the lion's share of the value of volunteer work in 2000. Culture and recreation led the way ($3.6 billion worth of volunteer effort), followed by social services ($2.9 billion), religion ($2.3 billion), and education and research ($1.5 billion). Together, these four groups accounted for nearly three-quarters of the value of volunteer work but less than 40% of paid labour compensation in 2000.
The field of health, which is essentially dominated by hospitals both in terms of GDP and income, relies heavily on paid labour services as opposed to volunteer effort. Health ranked ahead of all other areas in terms of paid remuneration, followed by education and research.
While these two fields account for the bulk (71.7%) of paid labour services in the non-profit sector, they only benefited from about one-fifth of the value of volunteer work. The dominance of paid labour services in health and education reflects the reliance on skilled labour in these two sectors.
The value of volunteer work fell between 1997 and 2000
The value of volunteer work fell marginally between 1997 and 2000, from an estimated $14.1 billion to about $14.0 billion. The decline in the value was because of a drop in hours volunteered over this period.
Philanthropic intermediaries and education and research organizations experienced the largest decline in the value of volunteer work, down 20% and 17% respectively. The few fields that registered an increase all have small volunteer complements, such as environment, business and professional associations, international, and law advocacy and politics.
In 2000, the value of volunteer work amounted to 1.4% of Canada's GDP, down from 1.7% in 1997.
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With the winter months PLACING MORE pressure on the Region’s food bank --
NCR’s Annual Foodraising event proves once again that the spirit of giving is alive and well
For the eighth year, NCR’s Charity Challenge foodraising event will bring together hundreds of employees and their families for one purpose: To help make a difference this Christmas for some of the 25,000 individuals who use The FoodBank of Waterloo Region.
On November 27th, NCR employees and families will gather at Zehrs Markets in Waterloo for a two-hour shopping blitz. NCR provides each employee with $35.00 spending money that can be used to purchase food and non-perishables for the local food bank. Many employees top up this amount with financial contributions of their own.
Since its inception in 1998, the NCR Charity Challenge has generated over 200,000 pounds of food and non-perishables. As the FoodBank’s largest single-source contributor, The NCR Charity Challenge comes at a time when it’s needed most. The winter months are especially difficult for low-income families as they face higher costs for heating and hydro.
We invite you to join NCR employees and families:
When: Sunday, November 27th, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Zehrs Markets, Conestoga Mall, 555 Davenport Road, Waterloo
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AAFC: Rural Philanthropy Model Receives Funding to Help Strengthen Rural Fabric
GUELPH, ONTARIO - The Government of Canada is helping to develop more of the community skills needed for successful rural and social development. The Foundation for Rural Living will receive $900,000 through the Models for Rural Development and Community Capacity Building Program to establish the Rural Philanthropy Resource Network. The Network will help to improve the quality of life in rural communities by creating stronger and better equipped non-profit and voluntary sectors across Canada.
Brenda Chamberlain, M.P. for Guelph, made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Wayne Easter, Parliamentary Secretary with Special Emphasis on Rural Development. "Rural Canada has a great volunteer spirit, sometimes it's just a matter of providing some tools. This initiative will benefit a number of Ontario communities through increased skills development," said Mrs. Chamberlain.
"Rural non-profit organizations face struggles similar to their urban counterparts, with the added challenges of a smaller population base, fewer resources, and vast geographical distances," added Mr. Easter. "This funding will help get rural groups, that are the backbone of communities, the specialized tools and support they need."
The Rural Philanthropy Resources Network will develop a virtually accessible Resource/ Learning Centre and also provide assistance to community groups through the placement of rural development officers with local agencies, like the United Way, so that skills and strategies can be passed along.
The Foundation for Rural Living, an organization that is dedicated to improving investments for the revitalization of rural communities, will have the role of managing this Network. Partners include Community Foundations of Canada, United Way Canada, Imagine Canada, and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.
"The Rural Philanthropy Resource Network is about fostering and supporting the economic and social well-being of rural communities," stated Mr. Easter. "By investing in stronger rural non-profit organizations, we are helping to build stronger rural communities."
The Network was formally launched in November 2003 and has achieved successful results in both the Nipissing/North Bay region in northern Ontario and the Elgin/Oxford region in southwestern Ontario. This funding will allow for the outreach of the Network's expertise to almost 30 community groups over the next three years.
The information gained through the Models for Rural Development and Community Capacity Building Program will contribute to the understanding of what approaches (models) to community development and capacity building work in rural, remote and northern communities. The information we collect will be useful for all levels of government in developing programs, services and policies for rural Canadians. The information will also directly benefit communities.
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$350,000 PRESENTED TO CANADIAN BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION BY CINEPLEX ENTERTAINMENT
Toronto – A gala reception was held Thursday night at the Cineplex Entertainment Paramount Toronto Cinema to announce the
results of the 2005 Spotlight on the Cure fundraising initiative. Ellis Jacob,
President and CEO, Greg Mason, Vice President Marketing, and Sarah
Lewthwaite, Director Marketing, from Cineplex Entertainment presented a
cheque for $350,000 to Mary Jane Thomson, Director, Canadian Breast Cancer
Foundation National Board.
Spotlight on the Cure is an annual fundraising campaign that was created by
Cineplex Entertainment in 2002 in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer
Foundation. Each year, Cineplex Entertainment brand theatres, including
Cineplex Odeon, Coliseum, Colossus, Famous Players, Galaxy and Silver City,
participate in the program by hosting a variety of fundraising activities.
“Cineplex Entertainment is very proud to support the Canadian Breast Cancer
Foundation,” said Pat Marshall, Vice President Communications and Investor
Relations. “We are committed to making this campaign as successful as possible
and we’re so thrilled by the enthusiasm our theatre management and staff show
each year in supporting the cause through a variety of initiatives including pink
ribbon pin sales, a golf tournament, the online auction and more! Every year we
continue to raise more and more money for the Foundation.”
"This year, Cineplex Entertainment has established itself as a top corporate
donor to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. We at the Foundation are
grateful for the generous support of community-minded partners like Cineplex
Entertainment," says Leslie Denier, Chair, National Board of Directors, Canadian
Breast Cancer Foundation. Spotlight on the Cure has raised a total of $850,000
for the Foundation in just four years.
Established in 1986, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is the leading
national volunteer-based organization in Canada dedicated to creating a future
without breast cancer. The Foundation works collaboratively to fund, support and
advocate on behalf of those living with breast cancer. Its fundraising has enabled
the Foundation to allocate millions of dollars in grants for breast cancer research,
education, and awareness programs in Canada.
Addressing the needs of Canadians from coast to coast, the Foundation has
chapters in British Columbia/Yukon Territory, Prairies/NWT, Ontario, and the
Atlantic Region. The National Office is located in Toronto, Ontario. |
COLDWELL BANKER PETER BENNINGER REALTY WILL HOST building dreams gala TO RAISE FUNDS FOR HABITAT for humanity waterloo region
Kitchener – Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty will hold a Gala event with silent and live auction to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region. The event begins at 6pm at Bingemans Marshall Hall in Kitchener and a special announcement will be made at 10:30 pm. The price for the event is $100 per ticket or $1000 for a corporate table (a tax receipt will be supplied for a portion of the ticket price). The event is receiving a lot of support by businesses in the area - 40 corporate tables have been purchased, and many tickets have been sold to individuals wishing to attend as well. Tickets can be purchased online at: www.coldwellbankerpbr.com or by phone at 742-5800 ext. 5022.
ACTIVA Group is a platinum sponsor of the event that is being sponsored by Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty.
Attendees of The Building Dreams Gala will enjoy a performance by the very entertaining rock tribute band, The Carpet Frogs who played Live 8 in Barrie this year, as well they have performed at the junos. The Live and Silent Auction items will include creative and experiential ones to encourage participation.
We expect that this evening will be the talk of the community and the Goal will be to raise enough funds for our 2006 Habitat Build.
Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty has pledged to raise the necessary funds to sponsor a Habitat for Humanity home home for a deserving family in Waterloo Region, to mark its 20th anniversary, but also as part of the Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation (Coldwell Banker®) “100 Homes by Our 100th Anniversary” campaign. At the annual Coldwell Banker International Business Conference in February 2003, the company formally announced a mission to organize the sponsorship of 100 homes for Habitat for Humanity International, Inc. by the Coldwell Banker 100th anniversary in August 2006.
Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization, aims to eliminate substandard housing and homelessness worldwide by providing affordable housing to low-income families. Habitat for Humanity has built more than 200,000 homes in 100 countries around the world. A new home is dedicated worldwide every 24 minutes.
Habitat for Humanity Canada has dedicated more than 940 homes from coast to coast since its inception. There are currently 67 affiliates in all 10 provinces and two territories, helping to eliminate poverty housing
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Co-operators offers $10, 000 to help rebuild Prince Edward Island Community Arena
TIGNISH, PE - As in many small Canadian communities, life in Tignish, PEI seems to revolve around the local arena. Locals gather at the rink to watch hockey or figure skating and chat with friends and neighbours over a cup of hot chocolate. In a very real sense, small town arenas bring communities together.
With this in mind, the people of Tignish, where the arena is showing its age after decades of use, are working together to make sure it remains a centrepiece of the town. The Centennial Arena Capital Campaign was recently formed to do just that. Today The Co-operators donated $10,000 to help ensure that Tignish has a community centre residents can be proud of for decades to come.
"Raising the money we need to build a brand new arena will not be easy, but its value to this community is not something you can put a price tag on," said Clarence Frasier, member of the Capital Campaign Committee. "With the support of the people of Tignish, the government, and sponsors like The Co-operators we'll make this happen."
The campaign's goal is to raise $750,000, which may then be matched by federal and provincial government funding, allowing for the construction of a new arena. Today's donation was presented by The Co-operators agent Louise Richard.
"I know how important the rink is to Tignish," said Richard. "We're going to work together and do everything in our collective power to breathe new life into an old arena. I'm proud to be supporting the campaign, because I know how much it means to this community."
From its humble pre-war beginnings as an outdoor rink, the arena has become an important part of local life, hosting hockey, figure skating, bingo, festivals and dances. A roof was first raised over the rink in 1967, and was last replaced in 1979. The aging roof will soon have to be replaced again, and work is needed to address safety issues, a cracked concrete ice pad, a lack of washrooms, and poor air circulation. The Capital Campaign Committee's goal is to break ground for the construction of a new arena next spring.
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Eagle Makes Annual Donation of $50,000 to the Children's Aid Foundation: IT Staffing Company Demonstrates Value of Corporate Social Responsibility
OTTAWA, ONTARIO - Eagle Professional Resources Inc. (EAGLE) officially announced today its ongoing commitment and annual donation to the Children's Aid Foundation (CAF). Eagle made its annual donation of $50,000 to the Children's Aid Foundation this month. This most recent donation to the CAF brings Eagle's total support for that organization to more than a quarter million dollars ($250,000) over the last few years. The funds will be distributed to local organizations across the country within the communities where Eagle has a local presence including: Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Vancouver and Victoria.
As Eagle's major charity of choice, The Children's Aid Foundation provides the opportunity for Eagle to be involved in selecting programs to which these funds will be distributed. The funds will provide much needed support to a wide variety of services within two major groups, namely, The Early Years Programs and the Middle and High School Programs.
"The Children's Aid Foundation meets a critical need throughout Canada. Eagle is proud to provide continued support to both the Children's Aid Foundation and our communities," said Kevin Dee, Eagle's CEO. "Beyond our corporate donation, we encourage staff involvement, such as a silent auction at the annual Christmas party, which raises additional funds for the Children's Aid Foundation. Many staff members also volunteer their services to make a difference in the lives of these deserving children."Sheilagh Johnson, Executive Director of the Children's Aid Foundation, said:
"Eagle Professional Resources has provided incredible leadership in
establishing programs for vulnerable children in some of the most high-risk
communities in Canada. The programs that they fund target low-income children
from backgrounds of abuse and neglect and have had significant impact on
educational outcomes. We are honoured and grateful to partner with an
organization that puts such a high value on Canada's children."
Eagle subscribes to The McKinsey and Company theory that "profits are not an end unto themselves but rather a signal from society that a company is
providing things people want". Thus, Eagle's commitment to corporate social
responsibility continues to be prominent in the many and varied ways the
company gives back to the community. In addition to the corporate support
Eagle gives to the Children's Aid Foundation, the company continues to support IT education through fourteen (14) annual Eagle scholarships worth $500 each. Eagle matched contributions from staff to make significant contributions to both the Tsunami and the Katrina Relief funds, and most recently for the Pakistan Earthquake. In addition, Eagle sponsors a number of charitable initiatives including the very popular Young Author's and Illustrator's Conference in Ottawa that allows 600 children to experience the delight of the arts. Last month, Eagle was the Gold Sponsor for The Big ART Event, a fundraiser for the Big Brother and Big Sister organization which took place in Ottawa.
About The Children's Aid Foundation
The Children's Aid Foundation is a registered charity that raises funds and
supports initiatives for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Its mission
is to improve the lives of abused and neglected children through education,
enrichment and prevention. The foundation's web site is www.cafdn.org.
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