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This is an archive of CharityVillage NewsWeek.
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To view other articles in the archive, use our Chronological Index.
NewsBytes: July, 2000
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
Poor? You're better off living in Canada than the U.S.
July 31, 2000
While the income gap between rich and poor in Canada has been fairly stable since the mid 1970s, it has grown considerably in the United States, according to a new study from Statistics Canada. The report Income inequality in North America: Does the 49th parallel still matter? explores patterns of change between 1974 and 1997 in average earnings and income distribution in Canada and the United States.The study rejected a theory that increasing economic integration has lead to greater similarity in patterns of income distribution in the two countries. Rather, the results suggested a widespread difference in overall income distribution in both Canada and the United States. If anything, the differences appeared to be widening, at least up to 1997.
According to the report, in terms of comparative economic well-being, Canadian families in the bottom 25% of the income distribution were better off in absolute terms in 1997 than were their counterparts in the United States. However, in the top one-fifth of the income distribution, American families had disposable incomes more than 20% higher than their Canadian counterparts. In 1997, disposable incomes for American families in the top one-fifth of the income distribution averaged $61,400 compared with $50,800 for Canadian families. To download a pdf feature article about the report, visit the StatsCan web site.
July 31, 2000
A new study from the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM) shows that while most seniors gamble, less than three percent are addicted to it or at risk of becoming addicted. Believed to be the first study ever to examine the habits of seniors specifically, the Senior Gambling Prevalence study found that 75% of Manitobans over the age of 60 gamble but aren't addicted to it. Just 1.6% are at risk of becoming addicted and another 1.2% are probable pathological gamblers. The remaining 22.5% don't gamble at all.The most common forms of gaming for seniors are lotteries and raffle tickets and most older Manitobans play for entertainment value. Problem gamblers are more likely to play video lottery terminals and play for the excitement and challenge of the game. The information released last week was from the preliminary findings of the study. AFM expects to release the complete findings by October. For more information about the AFM, visit http://www.afm.mb.ca/
July 31, 2000
Musicians including Sinead O' Connor and Thomas Dolby hooked up virtually in July to record an Internet-based single for a charity that helps children recover from the affects of war. The artists recorded a cover of Bob Marley's song "Them Belly Full (but we hungry)" and are releasing it online in the popular MP3 format. Listeners tune in and pay £1 to hear the song online. All artist royalties are donated to War Child. Organizers are also releasing a limited edition CD-ROM with the single and six more hours of underground music. For more information, visit the web site at: www.warchild.org.uk.
Fast Fact:Pride celebrations bring in big bucks for Montreal
July 31, 2000
Tourism Montréal estimates that the city's International Gay and Lesbian Pride Festival will bring in 30,000 visitors from outside Québec and 200,000 from out of town. These visitors will generate economic spin-offs in the order of $17.6 million for the city during the festival from August 3 to 7. -- Tourisme Montréal
July 31, 2000
The Ontario government announced a new $5 million fund last week to help people learn job skills online. The TVOntario Lifelong Learning Challenge Fund will support the creation of Ontario-based online skills training programs. TVOntario will issue a call for proposals in August from employers, industry organizations, unions, and educators to partner in program development.The new fund will operate as a 50-50 matching grant program between TVOntario and its partners. According to officials, in-kind contributions will also be eligible to meet matching criteria. Organizations interested in providing online training with support from the Lifelong Learning Challenge Fund should contact: Sarah Irwin at: telephone: 416-484-2615; fax: 416-484-2767 email: LLCF@tvo.org.
July 31, 2000
The Canadian Auto Workers gave a plug last week to social justice and Ryerson University, endowing a $1 million chair at the university. It is the first time a labour union in Canada has made such a donation to a post-secondary institution. The gift will establish the CAW-Sam Gindin Chair for Social Justice and Democracy. Sam Gindin is an economist, activist and author who was with the CAW for 26 years before retiring recently.
July 31, 2000
The Ontario Human Rights Commission released a discussion paper on age discrimination last week and announced consultations on human rights issues facing older persons in Ontario. Chief Commissioner Keith Norton said in a release, "Longer life expectancies mean people can work productively longer. But right now, our human rights laws don't protect workers over 65 from age discrimination. These people are going to say, 'Hold it. Why doesn't the Human Rights Code protect me against discrimination based on age?'"The commission plans to look at housing, services and facilities for persons over 65 years of age. Consultations with stakeholders are planned for the Fall of 2000. Copies of the discussion paper are available on the web site at: http://www.ohrc.on.ca. Further information about the consultations will also be available in the Fall.
July 31, 2000
At one of biggest fundraisers of the year in Vancouver, more than 13,000 people participated in the 15th Annual Walk with the Dragon, raising $453,224 for S.U.C.C.E.S.S. (United Chinese Enrichment Services Society). Organized in conjunction with the United Way of the Lower Mainland, walkers followed a 35-metre dragon for seven kilometers around the Stanley Park Seawall, helped by more than 300 volunteers. Proceeds from the walk fund S.U.C.C.E.S.S. programs for Chinese newcomers, seniors and youth.
July 31, 2000
More than 20 farmers on Prince Edward Island are joining together to share the bounty of two large fields with developing countries. Part of a Canadian Foodgrains Bank project, the farmers are tending 100 acres of land in two fields on the island. Organizers and a few corporate partners are donating all of the labour, as well as seed, fertilizer and equipment for the project. They hope to raise $20,000 through the sale of the wheat and have that donation matched 4 to 1 by the federal government. In addition to tilling the soil, the farmers are also helping to spread the word by erecting large billboards promoting the project. For more information about the Canada Foodgrains Bank, visit www.foodgrainsbank.ca/
July 31, 2000
An estimated 1.2 million men and women faced some form of violence in their marriage or common-law relationship between 1995 and1999, according to a new survey about victimization and spousal violence. According to the Family violence in Canada: A statistical profile, an estimated 8% of women and 7% of men who were married or living in a common-law relationship during the survey period experienced some type of violence committed by their partner on at least one occasion. To download a pdf version of the report, visit the StatsCan web site. -- Statistics Canada
July 31, 2000
Strolling fundraiser John Davidson walked his way into the Guinness Book of World Records for the duration and length of his Jesse's Journey campaign in 1998 and 1999. Davidson walked across the country over a nine month period, raising money for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and genetic disease research. He walked for 286 days in a row and covered 8,272 kilometres along the trip. That distance and time qualified him for the annual list of biggest, best, farthest and fastest. His trip also brought in $3.1 million for the Foundation for Gene and Cell Therapy, perhaps an even bigger accolade than a mention in the record books.
July 31, 2000
Students at Toronto's Northview Heights Secondary School raised $6,000 in memory of a classmate who was killed last November. Matty Baranovski, a grade 11 student, died in a park after a gang of teens beat him. Students at Baranovski's school and several other public and private schools around the city sold backpack patches reading "This can never happen again" for $5 each. Money raised from the fundraising effort is going to Kids Help Phone and crime prevention organization CAVEAT.
July 31, 2000
When the Thai Marching Show Band headed home from the 2000 World Marching Show Band Championships in Calgary, they left 126 pillows for the Calgary Drop In Centre. The Calgary Stampede's Band Management Committee followed up the kind gesture by the Thai group by donating 420 foam mattresses to the centre too. The marching band competition, which runs in conjunction with the Calgary Stampede, attracted 2,000 musicians and 54 bands, many of whom were housed in high schools during their stay.
July 24, 2000
Two new studies highlight the economic benefits and social costs of Canada's burgeoning gaming industry. A new report released recently in the Canadian Medical Association Journal highlights some of the limited research that has been done to date on the effects of gaming from a public health perspective. According to Statistics Canada data, although higher-income households spend more actual dollars on gambling, lower-income households spend more as a portion of household income. As the article notes, "among households in which at least one person was involved in gambling, those with incomes of less than $20,000 spent an annual average of $296 on gambling pursuits, which represented 2.2% of total household income, whereas those with an income of $80,000 or more spent $536, only 0.5% of total income." The Journal article also notes that there is a high though steady prevalence of gambling among youth. Find out more on the CMA Journal web site.Despite some early warning signs about the public health impacts of gambling, the Canadian Tax Foundation concludes in a recent report that government gaming has had a net benefit on the country. The report, "Gambling and Governments in Canada, 1969-1998: How Much? Who Pays? What Payoff?" finds that "in both 1990 and 1995 the gambling policies in place in Canada resulted in net benefits for both government and society at large, and that the benefits were greater in the more permissive gambling environment of 1995 than they were in 1990." Researchers conducted a cost-benefit analysis of gaming data that factored in the gaming benefits of government gaming revenue and standard tax revenue, as well as costs related to pathological gaming, crime, health, lost labour income and taxes and the loss of welfare by non-gamblers. Copies of the report are available from the foundation for $30. For more information, call (416) 599-0283, ctfpubs@ctf.ca or visit www.ctf.ca
July 24, 2000
The average net worth of Canada's 100 wealthiest people is $1.29 billion. According to the second-annual Canadian Business Rich 100, you'll now need at least $275 million to even make the list richest list, compared to $235 million last year. It would take the average male full-time employee 6,102 years to earn the minimum of $275 million, while female workers would need 8,448 years.This year's list includes 19 new members and four women. It also highlights the growing importance of the tech sector, noting that the total net worth of tech sector members is $21.85 billion while that of oil and gas sector members is $3.2 billion. Find the list and accompanying breakdowns, profiles and details in the August 7 issue of Canadian Business. The issue is available in print or online at http://www.canadianbusiness.com/special_lists/rich100_2000/aug07_00_rich100.shtml.
July 24, 2000
A new Canadian World War Two memorial museum will be built in Normandy, France, thanks to the donation of five acres of waterfront property by the town of Courseulles-sur-Mer. The memorial will be built on Juno Beach, where the Canadian Armed Forces landed in the D Day invasion of Europe on June 6th, 1944. The Juno Beach Centre project has been developed by a group of Canadian World War Two veterans. According to organizers, the Juno Beach Centre will provide a modern, educational and interactive computer-based experience about Canada's role on land, sea and air in World War Two. The Centre will also be accessible on through a web-based virtual museum. To date more than $700,000 has been raised of the overall total of $3.3 million required for the project. For more information, visit the web site at: www.junobeach.org.
July 24, 2000
There are 1.3 million more poor households in Canada today than there were 25 years ago, according to the latest poverty report from the Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD). Single-parent and young families are also finding it tougher to thrive today. More than half of single-mother households and 19% of families headed by adults between the ages of 25 and 34 live below the poverty line. -- Canadian Council on Social Development's Canadian Fact Book on Poverty
July 24, 2000
The Alberta provincial government announced $400,000 in funding last week for community groups working on projects aimed at preventing crime and building safer communities. One-time grants of up to $10,000 are available to nonprofits to cover the costs of materials for program development. The deadline for applications is September 15. Find full grant criteria and an application form on the Alberta Justice web site at www.gov.ab.ca/just/crimeprev/funding.htm or call (780) 427-3457.
July 24, 2000
Moving beyond online donations, World Vision launched a new web site last week to connect donors with the children that they sponsor in developing countries. The ExpressHope web site, currently in a pilot program phase, allows donors to send electronic messages to the children that they sponsor in Bangalore, India. With a monthly donation of $45, donors can access a password-protected site with information about their child, and news and information about the Bangalore region. Organizers also plan to add a child's page with interactive activities for Canadian families, a community chat room, animation, an interactive newsletter and video. Find the new site at http://www.expresshope.com.
July 24, 2000
Vancouver's Brock Tully and Wilma Fuchs have been cycling around North America since the end of February, asking people to commit random acts of kindness. The couple has pedalled down the West Coast, across the southern U.S., up the East Coast, and is now making their way back through southern Ontario. Along the way, they're collecting tales of good deeds done and encouraging people to make an effort at kindness. Their goal is inspire one million random acts of kindness over the course of the trek. Submit your favourite story of a kind word or deed to their web site at www.kindacts.net.
July 24, 2000
Organizers of Leave a Legacy British Columbia were honoured last weekend by their peers from across North America, taking home the prize for the best new Leave a Legacy (LAL) campaign with a budget of more than $100,000. The award was presented at the annual meeting of LAL organizers in Indianapolis, Indiana. Leave a Legacy is a grassroots public awareness campaign running in 140 cities throughout Canada and the U.S. that promotes charitable giving through bequests. For more information about the B.C. campaign, visit the web site at www.leavealegacy.ca.
July 24, 2000
Publishers and writers from street newspapers around North America gathered at the University of Alberta in Edmonton last weekend to share ideas and discuss poverty issues. Members of the North American Street Newspapers Association work to create and uphold journalistic and ethical standards while promoting self-help and empowerment among people living in poverty. Street newspapers, popular in most major cities, offer people a chance to earn money selling the papers and also have their voices heard as reporters and columnists. The association includes more than 30 newspapers throughout North America. For more information, visit www.speakeasy.org/nasna
July 24, 2000
Microsoft Canada announced changes last week to its software licensing program for charities. Previously, Microsoft's CHOG program (Charitable Organization Not for Resale program) offered discounts on software and allowed charities to license up to 25 copies of eligible software titles over the period of one year. The new Charity Open License program will not have a limit on the number of copies of software charities may license and offers a broader list of available Microsoft software programs. For more information on open licensing visit: www.microsoft.com/canada/biz/openlicense/
July 24, 2000
CharityVillage® contributor Graham Francis has launched a new resource for online fundraisers: the "Hitdonate.net Guide to Website Design for Fundraising." Written with charity webmasters and fundraisers in mind, the guide is designed as a basic introduction to the various strategies and resources that can help charities make a success of onsite donations. The guide contains a range of information, from a summary of the state of online fundraising today to ideas about site design, trustbuilding online, donor relationships, and a guide to other online fundraising resources. Find it at: www.hitdonate.net.
July 24, 2000
In another example of charities using the Internet to demonstrate their programs in action, aid agency CARE has created another virtual field trip, this time to Peru. The site includes information from 10 CARE Youth Corps participants who began a three week journey in Peru on July 4. The first Youth Corps trip for the organization, participating students are working on self-help development projects with local families. Visit the field trip site at: www.care.org/virtual_trip/peru/index.html?cw.
July 24, 2000
The Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) announced the latest recipients of its Community Education Grant program last week. Organizations in eight communities across the province received funds to support education, awareness and prevention programs at the local level. Applications for this Fall's Community Education Grants are now available at www.cbcf.org, or by calling Gail Stewart Mores at (416) 596-6773, ext. 350. Submission deadline is September 29th.
July 24, 2000
The Independent Sector is focusing its 2001 Spring Research Forum on the "Impact of Information Technology on Civil Society: How will Online Innovation, Philanthropy, and Volunteerism Serve the Common Good?" Organizers are calling for papers to be presented at the conference. Possible subjects for investigation: Does the use of information technologies increase organizational effectiveness and encourage civic participation or create new forms of exclusion and alienation? What potential exists for supporting the former and discouraging the latter? The deadline for abstract submissions is 5:00 p.m. (EST) on September 1, 2000. The committee plans to give special attention to abstracts submitted from researchers and practitioners working on collaborative efforts, and to young scholars in the United States or abroad. For more information, contact the Independent Sector at: (202) 467-6100, visit, IndependentSector.org or e-mail: khume@IndependentSector.org.
July 24, 2000
The British arm of Oxfam used a novel online approach to promote their recent T-shirt day across Great Britain. The organization recruited virtual newsreader Ananova to help promote the fundraiser by wearing a virtual t-shirt promoting the charity during her entertainment newscast. Ananova is a digitized newsreader who debuted on the Internet this spring. Web users could also send virtual t-shirts of their own to friends via e-mail. For more information about the program, visit http://oxfam.org.uk or www.ananova.com.
July 24, 2000
If you're looking for long-term support for your organization, ask a British executive to lend a hand. A new report from Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) profiles the time that business leaders in the United Kingdom devote to charitable activities. Sponsored by Deloitte & Touche, the report Making Time for Charity found that, on average, 40% of chairman from the UK's biggest companies volunteer at least 10 hours a month, and 50% lend a hand at three or more organizations. On average, they stay with an organization for seven years. For more information about the report, visit the CAF web site at http://www.cafonline.org.
July 17, 2000
A greater amount of activity and traffic at the ERICA website earlier this week may have affected your ability to submit your entries for this awards program so organizers are extending the deadline to Friday, July 21st, midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST). The Ericsson Internet Community Awards (ERICA) offers five prizes of $100,000 USD each worth of web development and services to advance your cause. To apply, visit http://www.ericsson.com/erica/.
July 17, 2000
The Canadian Red Cross and local emergency organizations moved quickly last week to lend a hand after Friday's devastating tornado hit Pine Lake, Alberta, killing 10 people and destroying approximately 70 mobile homes and campers. If you have friends or family who might have been affected, call the Red Cross disaster inquiry line at 1-800-565-4483. The Red Cross is also taking donations to help the relief effort. Call 1-800-418-1111 to make a credit card donation or arrange to send a cheque. For additional information about the Pine Lake tornado, visit www.gov.ab.ca/geoc.cfm or www.redcross.ca/english/tornado/index.html.
July 17, 2000
If you'd like to participate on any level in the new the new Voluntary Sector Initiative, now is the time to make your voice heard. Organizers are now accepting nominations to the joint tables that will work with the federal government to develop a new relationship with the nonprofit sector.Organizers plan to create joint tables in the following areas:
- the development of an accord (or memorandum of understanding) between the sector and the federal government
- support for volunteerism
- capacity (funding, human resources, organizational, research, policy development),
- regulatory and legal framework (regulatory institutions, legal liabilities, reporting, sanctions)
- informational technology and
- increasing awareness and understanding of the sector.
If you'd prefer just to keep abreast of VSI progress, you can also register to receive updates and information about community consultations. For more information, or to submit a nomination, visit the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy web site or on the Voluntary Sector Round Table web site.
July 17, 2000
The annual Progress of Nations by UNICEF concludes that AIDS is the biggest health crisis facing children in developing countries. Released last week at the same time as the Thirteenth International AIDS Conference was underway in Durban, Tanzania, the report positions the AIDS problem as a security issue, rather than as just a health problem. It notes that young people aged 15 to 24 comprise one-third of the 34 million people infected with AIDS worldwide. Additionally, many of these young people are being left as the head of their household because parents have died from the disease. For the full report, visit the web site at: www.unicef.org/pon00/.
July 17, 2000
In 1985 the provinces were given exclusive control over gambling and legalized computer, video and slot betting devices. By 1997/98 Canadians were spending $6.8 billion every year on some form of government-run gambling activity, and the provinces were spending $14 million on support services for people with gambling problems. -- Canadian Medical Association Journal
July 17, 2000
The Arthritis Society of Canada hopes to capitalize on web users' goodwill with a new click-to-give campaign called clickforcure.com. Visitors to the special web site can make a free donation to the Arthritis society by clicking on the logos of the corporate sponsors. Sponsoring partners will then donate $1 for each click. Organizers hope to raise $500,000 in six months. Click over now and give at: clickforcure.com.
July 17, 2000
In Kind Canada (IKC) has just negotiated a new discount program with Bell Mobility and their national cellular dealers. IKC members can access new analogue phones (Motorola) for free, or new digital/analogue phones (Qualcomm) for $49. The phones come with no activation fee, no system access fee and 200 minutes per month local free calling time. There is also no limit on the number of phones an agency can order. For more information, call (905) 816-0900 or visit the In Kind Canada web site at www.inkindcanada.ca.
July 17, 2000
When the Seventh Day Adventists held their general conference in Toronto earlier this month, they decided to present the city with a generous thank-you gift. The church plans to build 30 to 60 townhouses on city-donated land and offer ongoing life-skills training for low-income families in the new units. The program will be part of the city's Let's Build plan, an effort to support nonprofit and private sector-driven housing projects. At a cost of between $3 and $6 million, organizers hope to begin construction next summer.
July 17, 2000
If your hospital or community group has created a successful partnership to address a community health issue in your area, then the Hospital Involvement in Community Action Project wants to hear from you. The project is a research collaboration of several Ontario hospitals and universities. Researchers plan to look at successful partnerships between hospitals and community groups and determine what common factors lead to their success. From there, they will create a series of policy principles and practice tools that groups can use to help create and improve collaborations in the future.At the moment, researchers are looking for up to four sites across the province where they can conduct in-depth case studies. If you think your partnership fits the bill and would like more information, please contact Stasey Tobin at 416-946-7139, or, email: s.tobin@utoronto.ca by August 18.
July 17, 2000
The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University now accepting applications for its Archives Research Fellows Fund. The annual program awards grants up to $4,000 in any discipline for research requiring use of the Philanthropy Archives Collection at the university. The application deadline for grants is November 15, 2000 for funds beginning January 1, 2001. Find application forms and guidelines on the Center's web site at http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/ResearchArchives.htm. For more information, contact Kathy Keirouz at (317) 684-8957 or e-mail kkeirouz @iupui.edu.
July 17, 2000
Look TV, a digital television service operating in central Canada, wants to help spread the word about your organization and services on its InfoLOOK Community Expression Channel. Part of the company's mission is to provide access to community programming and teach people the process of producing a show for broadcast. If you have an existing PSA or other programs, the company wants to hear from you. Even if you don't have a production of your own ready, Look TV organizers can help you develop one.LookTV also operates a text-based television broadcast channel where you can post information about your fundraising events for free. To add an event, visit www.billboard.ca. For more information about either program, contact Nino Giangrande at toll free 1-877-917-5665 or (905) 693-3639.
July 17, 2000
Last week, GE Canada and GE Capital Canada announced a combined donation of $50,000 to Habitat for Humanity. The money will be put toward helping Habitat build 115 houses across the country this year. In addition to the monetary donation, the company's employee volunteer organization, the Elfun Society, is offering up volunteers to help construct Habitat homes. This week, 60 employees will give their time to build 10 houses in the Windsor area. For more information about GE's Elfun Society, visit http://www.elfun.org.
July 17, 2000
Petro-Canada and the Canadian Olympic Association (COA) announced a five-year, multi-million-dollar sponsorship deal last week, that will see PetroCan become the COA's exclusive sponsor in the oil and gas sector from now through the Summer Games in Athens in 2004. Although the full amount of the sponsorship was not made public, the new deal also includes a fundraising component that could see as much as half a million dollars added to Petro-Canada's contributions to the COA. For more information about the COA, visit www.coa.ca For more information about PetroCan's community programs, visit http://www.petro-canada.ca/html/about/community/Info-community.html.
July 17, 2000
Of 103 new appointments to the Order of Canada, several well-known philanthropists and volunteers were honoured with one of three designations within the order. Philanthropist Richard M. Ivey was promoted to a Companion of the Order and the Honourable Henry Jackman was promoted to an Officer of the Order. Geraldine Braak of Powell River, B.C. and Edward Bronfman of Toronto, and Alma V. Ricard of Sudbury, Ontario were also named Officers of the Order.New Members of the order: James Barriere (Voluntarism), Nuns Island, Que.; André Boudreau (Voluntarism), Edmonton, Alta.; Jean-Paul Cloutier (Voluntarism), Sainte-Foy, Que.; Morley Mitchell Cohen (Voluntarism), Montréal, Que.; Joseph Daniel (Don) Gardiner (Voluntarism), Fredericton, N.B.; Helen Hayles (Social Services), Winnipeg, Man.; Arthur Chui Fu Lau (Voluntarism), Pointe-Claire, Que.; Joan M. McKim (Voluntarism) Montréal, Que.; Paul J. Rezansoff (Voluntarism), Swift Current, Sask.; Margaret S. Strongitharm (Voluntarism), Nanaimo, B.C.; Paul Wong (Voluntarism), Vancouver, B.C.; and Jack Yazer (Philanthropy), Sydney, N.S.
If you know someone who has made a difference, you can nominate her or him for the Order of Canada. Call 1-800-O-Canada or visit the web site at www.gg.ca for more information and a nomination form.
July 17, 2000
Organizers of the Hamilton Regional Cancer Centre's (HRCC) $12 million capital campaign launched the public phase of their fundraising drive with a bang last week. Morgan Firestone, CEO of Firan Corporation and honorary chair of the fundraising effort, presented the organization with a $1-million gift and Dofasco kicked in another $1.5 million. Both gifts will help to expand the radiation therapy services at HRCC. So far, organizers have raised $4 million toward the goal and hope to reach $12 million within the next seven months.
July 17, 2000
The Upper Canada Brewing Company launched a new writers' award last week that will celebrate the art of the short story. The annual $10,000 Upper Canada Brewing Company Writers' Craft Award will be presented to a collection of short stories by an Ontario-based author published over the past 12 months. The deadline for submissions is July 21, 2000. According to organizers, Canadian publishers of fiction received notification of the award several weeks ago and have already been canvassed for submissions. For more information about Upper Canada Brewing, visit http://www.uppercanada.com.
July 17, 2000
Four university students from central and eastern Canada are spending the summer conducting research into liver disease, thanks to a series of grants awarded by the Canadian Liver Foundation. Students in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Québec and Ontario have been awarded Summer Studentship Grants by the foundation to study a range of issues surrounding the disease. The awards, worth approximately $4,000 each, compensate the students for a research period of three summer months. For more information about the program and other grants, visit www.liver.ca
July 10, 2000
A new report from the American Ad Council and MTV looks at what motivates young people to volunteer, and offers suggestions to help nonprofits recruit and keep youth volunteers. Among the findings in the report: today's young adults are most interested in health, substance abuse, children's issues, the elderly, violence prevention, animal rights, and the environment. According to the findings, lack of time or a perceived heavy time commitment are major reasons that young people choose not to volunteer. Often, they also don't think that an hour of their time can make a difference.The 40-page report offers suggestions for overcoming objections and developing an organization with positive youth volunteering opportunities. Download the Engaging The Next Generation: How Non-profits Can Reach Young Adultsreport at: http://www.adcouncil.org/fr_executive_summary.html.
July 10, 2000
The United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) launched a new version of its interactive web site last week to support preparations for the International Year of Volunteers, IYV 2001. The new iteration includes links to IYV participating organizations and events around the globe, as well as downloadable logos, slide presentations and background materials that you can use to promote IYV. Find it at: http://www.iyv2001.org
July 10, 2000
If you missed last month's ERICA online seminar by Dan Geiger, don't despair. You can view an archived version of the "Bridging the Digital Divide" seminar or download the accompanying PowerPoint presentation from the ERICA web site at: http://www.ericsson.com/erica/.Now in its second year, ERICA 2000 will award US$500,000 worth of Web development services provided by Ericsson Internet & Wireless Solutions to five nonprofit organizations around the world. The deadline for submissions is July 17, 2000, so submit your idea on the web site today.
July 10, 2000
Nova Scotians contribute 140 million hours a year of voluntary work time. That's the equivalent of 83,000 jobs, and $2 billion worth of services, or 10% of the provincial GDP. -- Genuine Progress Index for Atlantic Canada
July 10, 2000
Nominations are now being accepted for the Imagine "New Spirit of Community" Partnership Awards 2000. The annual award program honours outstanding partnerships between companies and nonprofit organizations working together to find innovative solutions to social and community needs. Up to five winning partnerships will be selected and winners each receive $5,000 towards its partnership project/program and national media exposure. The deadline for nominations is September 29, 2000. For a nomination package, contact the Imagine Awards Program, Canadian Centre for Philanthropy, Fax: (416) 597-2294; Tel: (416) 597-2293 ext. 229; E-mail: imagine@ccp.ca.
July 10, 2000
Nearly 3,000 people spent part of Canada Day climbing Vancouver's Grouse Grind, a 2,800 foot hike up Grouse Mountain on the city's north shore. The climb was part of a mountain-top Canada Day celebration that supported the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. The hikers, and another 3,200 people who rode the cable car to the top, brought along $4,000 in cash donations and 3,800 pounds of food for the food bank.
July 10, 2000
A pilot program aims to connect nonprofits in need of research, with university-based researchers looking for real-world projects. LINK is a free service where nonprofit organizations can post information about research projects that they would like to conduct. Projects might include program evaluations, feasibility studies or any other kind of data research and analysis. University researchers can access the database of requests and contact the organization directly if they are interested in conducting the research. For more information, visit: http://www.linkresearch.org. The project is being sponsored by the Packard Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, the Markle Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation and several individuals.
July 10, 2000
The Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA) and the Foundation For Active Healthy Kids recently launched a new web site aimed at spreading the word on ways to keep your kids active. With a database of sports activities across Ontario, the Ready Set Go site is searchable by location and activity type and also includes resource information for parents and coaches. If your organization offers active programs for young people, you can list then on the site free of charge. For more information, visit http://www.readysetgo.org.
July 10, 2000
Although he's confined to a wheelchair because of multiple sclerosis, on July 22, Tony Xuereb will jump out of a plane in Gananoque, Ontario and try skydiving for the first time. Unable to pull the rip cord or steer the parachute himself, Xuereb will be strapped to a skydiving instructor with a special harness. He hopes that his jump will raise $20,000 to pay for new computer equipment for patients in the Providence Continuing Care Centre at St. Mary's of the Lake Hospital. Xuereb has lived at the centre since 1996. To make a donation to "Jump for Hope", call Providence Continuing Care Foundation at (613) 544-5797 or e-mail pcccf@pccc.kari.net.
July 10, 2000
In a bid to boost falling membership numbers, the Shriners of North America voted last week to open their membership to the Master Masons. In the past, members have had to pass thorough other Masonic-related bodies before being eligible to join the Shriners. The Shriners fraternity has been in existence for 128 years. Its membership reached a peak of 943,000 in 1979, and since that time has declined to 525,000 members. The organization is well known for local philanthropic activities around North America, as well as for its Shriners Hospitals for Children. For more information about the organization, visit: http://www.shriners.com
July 10, 2000
More human rights cases in Ontario are being resolved through mediation, instead of the courts, according to the latest annual report from Ontario's chief human rights commissioner. Releasing his report last week, Keith Norton noted that about 60% of all human rights complainants in 1998-99 opted for mediation and that 75% of those cases going through mediation were settled successfully.In 1998-99, discrimination against people with disabilities remained one of the largest areas of complaints filed with the Commission. Disability was cited as a ground 760 times in complaints filed and this represented 25% of all grounds cited. For a full copy of the report, visit the OHRC web site at: www.ohrc.on.ca.
July 10, 2000
Organizers of the Jubilee 2000 Coalition have launched a new e-mail campaign to pressure international leaders into action on the issue of unpayable foreign debt. G7 leaders will meet in Okinawa, Japan later this month and campaign organizers hope to deliver a flood of e-mails calling on the leaders to cancel the foreign debt of the world's poorest countries. To participate, just send a message to g7leaders@dropthedebt.org. Organizers have set up an e-mail system that will copy your message to all G7 leaders. Alternatively, you can send in a ready-made letter of protest from the Drop the Debt web site at: http://www.dropthedebt.org/index1.html
July 10, 2000
Hamilton, Ontario's Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital received a million dollar boost last week, with a donation from the AIC Group of Funds and Berkshire Investment Group. The corporate donation brings the hospital's capital campaign to within $2 million of its $6 million goal. The donation will fund expansion of the hospital's emergency department and cancer clinic.
July 10, 2000
The death toll from infectious diseases (AIDS, malaria, respiratory diseases and diarrhoea) is 160 times greater than the number killed in last year's natural disasters, including the massive earthquakes in Turkey, floods in Venezuela and cyclones in India. Of last year's 13 million deaths from infectious disease, most could have been prevented at a cost of $7.50 per person. -- Red Cross World Disasters Report
July 10, 2000
The preservation of provincial landmarks on Prince Edward Island is more safe this week, thanks to a $100,000 donation from Mildred Jaynes to the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation. Making the gift in memory of her late husband Robert, the Robert and Mildred Jaynes Trust will help repair and maintain heritage buildings and sites in the province.
July 10, 2000
Proceeds from the first annual Tim E. Noel Golf Outing for the ALS Society of Canada totalled more than $500,000, bringing the foundation's Tim E. Noel Endowment Fund total to more than $800,000. The endowment is named for Tim Noel, deputy governor of the Bank of Canada, who was diagnosed some 15 months ago with ALS -- also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Tim fights on, and even though wheelchair bound, carries on his Bank of Canada responsibilities. Proceeds from the endowment fund will be used for research into ALS, a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease.
July 10, 2000
This summer 82 young people from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom will meet in Hamilton, Ontario for a five-day conference to help build their leadership skills and community spirit. Sponsored by the Independent Order of Foresters (IOF), the Youth Leadership Institute Conference is placing an emphasis on both the theory and practice of leadership and community service. For one day of the conference, participants will take a break from regular workshops and put their skills to use at local nonprofit organizations, including the Boys' and Girls' Club, Big Brothers, Easter Seal Society and The Equestrian Association for the Disabled.
July 4, 2000
One of the country's leading publishing houses has been donated to the University of Toronto (U of T). Last week, Avie Bennett, owner of McClelland & Stewart (M&S) announced that he was giving 75% of his shares to U of T and selling the rest to Random House Canada. A public announcement of the value of the gift has not yet been made, but news reports suggest that it is in the range of $10 to $20 million. M&S has annual sales of about $25 million.Laws in Ontario require that charities own no more than 10% of a company, but U of T will have seven years to dispose of the rest of the holdings. It can also apply to the courts to hold the shares for a longer period of time. Under the new arrangement, U of T will hold five of the company's seven board seats while Random House will hold the other two. M&S will operate independently of the University of Toronto press and all income received by the university from its ownership interest will fund an endowment at the university in support of Canadian writing, poetry and culture.
M&S authors, including Michael Ondaatje and Margaret Atwood praised the move. "This is a truly remarkable gift on the part of Avie Bennett - to ensure a great Canadian publishing house and its excellent publishing program will continue to flourish in the best way possible," said Ondaatje.
July 4, 2000
For the seventh year in a row, the United Nations has ranked Canada as the best country in which to live. Released last week, the annual Human Development 2000 report rated 174 countries on criteria such as education, life expectancy, and standards of living. Although being ranked number one overall, Canada did fall down the list considerably on several other rakings in the report, placing 22nd in economic performance and 11th on the poverty list.According to the report, more than 10% of the Canadian population is "income-poor" -- that is, more than 10% of Canadians earn less then half of the median income for the country. For more information about the report, visit http://www.undp.org/hdr2000/home.html.
July 4, 2000
Several amendments to Alberta's Charitable Fund-raising Regulation came into effect last month. Among the changes:
- The $10 registration fee for chapters or branches has been eliminated.
- Financial information returns prepared by a charitable organization must now be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and signed by at least two directors (previously three).
- Previously, all organizations had to maintain records in Alberta for three years. Now organizations must only make these records available for inspection in Alberta as opposed to requiring them to maintain the records in the province.
- Fund-raising businesses will be allowed to post cash securities with the department as an alternative to surety bonds.
- The process for making a claim on a bond has been made less onerous to anyone who has suffered a financial loss. Previously, anyone wishing to make a claim against a bond required a judgment.
The complete Regulation can be obtained from the Queen's Printer Bookstore or viewed on the Internet at http://www.gov.ab.ca/qp/ascii/regs/1995_095.TXT (note: the online version does not yet include the most recent amendments). For more information about the Charitable Fund-raising Act or Regulation, call Government Services at 1-877-427-4088.
In addition to the Regulation amendments, the Alberta Government Services web site has undergone a major redesign and it's much easier to find information about charitable issues in the province. Find the charities and nonprofit section of the new site at: http://www2.gov.ab.ca/gs/information/cfns/.
July 4, 2000
According to "2000 A Better World for All: Progress towards the international development goals,"1.2 billion people live on less than $1 a day and an additional 1.6 billion live on less than $2 a day. -- United Nations
July 4, 2000
With revenues sliding by up to 40% since slot machines were introduced at Mohawk Raceway and at Woodbine Raceway, Mississauga's bingo operators are fighting back, and they've recruited Mayor Hazel McCallion and Mississauga council to lead the charge. Last week, the council voted to convene a meeting of the Mississauga Bingo Industry and officials of the Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission to voice their concerns."The provincial government is pushing private bingo operators over the edge and seems to be taking the business for itself," said McCallion. "It's not a fair playing field. The province enforces a very restrictive set of rules on the operators but doesn't follow those rules itself. This double standard is having a negative impact on our community and cutting off a very important source of revenue for charities and non-profit community groups."
Bingo operators complain that they face heavy restrictions on advertising and prize amounts while the government gaming activities face no similar limitations. The operators are asking for the introduction of a standard book of games endorsed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission, new game formats, bingo on cable television, alternate forms of entertainment and fewer restrictions on player appreciation gifts. For more information, please contact Elaine Buckstein, Director of Enforcement, at (905) 615-4194 or e-mail elaine.buckstein@city.mississauga.on.ca.
July 4, 2000
Following the recent announcement of a $10 million gift to Ryerson Polytechnic University, media mogul Ted Rogers announced a $25-million donation to the University of Toronto honouring his late father Edward S. Rogers Sr. The gift will result in the permanent naming of the Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in U of T's Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering and provide $18 million in endowed funds for undergraduate and graduate scholarships. The other $7 million will fund two research chairs and equip a new wireless technology lab.
July 4, 2000
A coalition of technology providers to the nonprofit community announced plans last week to release an XML-based open language standard for use by the sector and those who provide services to the sector. Blackbaud, Charitableway.com, and MyAssociation.com announced that the Open Philanthropy eXchange (OPX) will be launched this month. OPX 1.0 will enable nonprofit organizations and supporting industries to use a common technology-based language that will ease the flow of data during e-commerce transactions. Once the new standard is in place, people will be able to visit an OPX-ready online giving site or service and make a donation to the charity of their choice. Nonprofits using OPX-ready software, can then download donor and gift information automatically into the organization's database. According to the consortium, the OPX specification will be made publicly available for implementation by any nonprofit organization or service provider.
July 4, 2000
After his son finished a training session with Brent McFarlane, Canada's track and field team head coach, an American father handed McFarlane a cheque for US$10,000. Mark McIlvane, a senior vice president with Clarent Communications was impressed with the dry land hockey training session that McFarlane ran in Illinois earlier this month, and has since pledged another US$5,000, bringing the total donation to CDN$23,000. The money will be used to help Canada's track team attend a pre-Olympic training session in Australia this summer.
July 4, 2000
The Alberta government announced a new $25,000 literary award last week in honour of Grant MacEwan, the former lieutenant-governor of the province who died earlier this month at the age of 97. In addition to his vice regal duties, MacEwan was a prolific author. The Dr. Grant MacEwan Literary Awards will provide an annual award of $25,000 to a published writer living in the province whose work best represents Alberta subjects as reflected in MacEwan's interests. A second annual award of $10,000 will go to an Albertan, between the ages of 16 and 25, for an essay or short story that meets the same criteria. Both awards will be administered by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.Alongside the literary award, the government will rename its United World College scholarships in MacEwan's honour and add two new $25,000 awards to the $400,000 program. The scholarship program allows Grade 11 students in the province to study a two-year International Baccalaureate program in Italy, Wales, Singapore or the United States.
July 4, 2000
Scotiabank will buy naming rights to the old Festival Park Stage at Winnipeg's Forks Market with a 10-year sponsorship deal worth $1 million. It's the first million-dollar corporate sponsor for the 56 acre riverside shopping and entertainment property in the heart of downtown Winnipeg. Forks officials are focusing on using sponsors to pay for new public programming at the site.
July 4, 2000
A survey of 46 Ontario church congregations in Kingston, Toronto and London, indicates that, on average, each contributed a minimum of about $145,000 a year toward social services for their communities. According to the findings, the congregations offered a range of services, from shelters and soup kitchens to counselling and youth programs. Also notable, the beneficiaries of these services were four times more likely to be non-members than members of the congregation. -- Ottawa Citizen
July 4, 2000
Thanks to the donation of a refrigerated truck by Clearwater Fine Foods and DownEast Communications, Halifax's Metro Food Bank Society will soon be able to accept and distribute donations of fresh and frozen foods. Until now, the organization has only been able to accept donations of non-perishable items. For more information, call the Fresh Start Campaign at (902) 457-1900.
July 4, 2000
HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre in Waterloo, Ontario, raised $76,000 last month in their sixth annual Drive for Hope Golf Tournament. The Drive for Hope is dedicated to the memory of Dan Blasutti, a founding member of HopeSpring who died of cancer in 1995 at the age of 41. Dan was assistant vice-president of marketing at Manulife at the time of his illness. Dan's personal journal, in which he recorded his thoughts and reflections,was published with the financial backing of Manulife.The book, Spiritual Warrior, expressed how Dan chose to engage the world even as he prepared to leave it, and it became a source of inspiration for others. Proceeds from the sale of the book together with designated donations have so far contributed over $50,000 to the Spiritual Warrior Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance for high school students about to enter university and who have had a personal experience with cancer, either as a patient or as a care-giver. Information about the scholarship and copies of the book can be obtained by writing to Susan St. John, executive director, at susan-hopespring@home.com.
July 4, 2000
Last week in Ontario, the Superior Court awarded damages totalling $2.3 million to three hemophiliacs who were infected with HIV-tainted blood in 1985. The judgement criticised both the Red Cross and the federal government for its "bureaucratic lethargy " in handling of the switch to safer heat-treated blood. Blood officials knew in 1984 that some of the blood supply was unsafe, but didn't start using the treated blood immediately. The Red Cross has not announced whether it will appeal the decision.
July 4, 2000
Organizers in the United Kingdom are looking for presenters and participants to a new web conference about community networks. The conference Community Engagement and Empowerment will explore how to engage local people in community network projects and how to empower them to develop their own social and economic wealth. At the moment, presentation slots are open for up to 10 minutes per community network. For more information, please visit: www.harborough.org.uk/webcast/August2000Conference.htm.
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