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This is an archive of CharityVillage NewsWeek.
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NewsBytes: April, 2002
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
Calgary philanthropist shows his gratitude to local college
April 29, 2002
The business school at Mount Royal College recently received a $5 million thank-you from philanthropist and local businessman David Bissett and his wife Leslie. Bissett considers it a payback for being hired by the school when he was first starting out in 1982. MRC hired his company as investment managers for its endowment fund. "It was our first big-name account and (the college has) stuck with us since," he said. "My wife and I have long been impressed with the quality of education provided by Mount Royal College, particularly through its business programs." The gift is the largest individual donation ever received by the college, which will use the funds for scholarships and to enhance programming in the Bissett School for Business. For more information, visit: www.mtroyal.ab.ca/news/april2002/schoolforbusiness.html.
Searching for Canada's best companies
April 29, 2002
Employers are invited to participate in R.O.B. Magazine's 2003 Best Companies to Work for in Canada study, which will determine the 50 best companies according to the opinions of employees. The study, designed by global outsourcing and consulting firm, Hewitt Associates, has three parts - the employee survey, the CEO survey, and an inventory of people practices and programs. Interested companies must have all elements of the study completed by June 30. The results will appear in the December issue of R.O.B. Magazine. For more information or to participate in the study, visit: www.hewitt.com/bestcompaniescanada.
April 29, 2002
After a lengthy battle with several big provincial lotteries, PEI-based Earth Fund was denied the right to sell lottery tickets online in support of environmental and charitable organizations. The PEI Supreme Court ruled that the Earth Future Lottery violates the Criminal Code, which currently allows lottery tickets to be sold only in the province of origin, unless there is interprovincial agreement. "While we are disappointed with the Court's ruling, we remain committed to supporting humanitarian and environmental charities through the Earth Future Lottery," said president and founder Maurice Strong. "It's a shame that [PEI] will lose the 20 or so full-time jobs and $6 to $9 million for environmental programs," he said, "but the biggest losers are the charities." The lottery planned to assist local environmental groups as well as international organizations such as Doctors Without Borders. For more information, visit: www.earthfuturelottery.com.
Fast Fact: Corporate giving still on track post-September 11th
April 29, 2002
A new survey reveals that 75% of Canadian corporations are maintaining the same level of community contribution and sponsorship as they did last year, despite the September 11th tragedy and the economic slowdown that followed. Only 13% of respondents saw their donations budgets reduced for 2002. More than two-thirds of the companies surveyed feel that employee volunteerism is the same or better than before, and 73% of the firms say their approach to employee volunteerism has not changed. The survey also found that 71% of respondents feel the recent upheaval will have no long term impact in terms of community spending and sponsorship. -- Investors Group
April 29, 2002
The Voluntary Sector Initiative's Advocacy Working Group has made available a report discussing the issue of advocacy regulation in the charitable sector. "Regulation of Advocacy in the Voluntary Sector: Current Challenges and Some Responses", by Betsy Harvie, provides background and context on the issue of advocacy from the perspective of the voluntary sector and establishes a framework for further discussion. It raises several issues, including the fact that there is practically no information collected in Canada about groups that engage in advocacy, and that more research is needed on the kinds of advocacy the government currently funds. The report also suggests reform options, such as altering the Income Tax Act to permit 'political activity' by charities. To view the full report in PDF format, visit: www.vsi-isbc.ca/eng/working_groups/advocacy/pdf/regulation_of_advocacy.pdf.
April 29, 2002
As part of a program that has been maintained for more than 50 years, Imperial Oil is donating $650,000 in 2002 to fund research projects at Canadian universities. A total of 46 research grants will be made to full-time faculty members who usually direct graduate students doing research in such fields as engineering, environmental, earth, chemical, physical, computing and social sciences. Each research project is also assigned an Imperial research professional who acts as both a mentor to the graduate students and a liaison between the research team and the company. For more information about Imperial Oil's university research grants, visit: www.imperialoil.ca/thisis/donations/research_grant s/mn_research_grants.html.
April 29, 2002
US-based nonprofit TechRocks is offering its powerful database software package, ebase 2.0, free of charge to other nonprofit organizations. The software was designed in collaboration with nonprofit staff, database developers, and volunteers to meet the unique needs of the nonprofit sector. It enables users to integrate data about community members in one place, manage and personalize e-mail lists, track "who knows who" to build deeper relationships, and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of campaigns as donors and volunteers move up the 'ladder of engagement'. For more information or to download ebase 2.0, visit: www.ebase.org.
April 29, 2002
A total of $100,000 is being distributed to 87 schools nationwide to help naturalize their surroundings. Through the Toyota Evergreen Learning Grounds program, schools receive grants of up to $1,000 each to start or expand projects. In addition, six schools earned the new Award of Excellence worth $5,000 each. "Many of our schools offer students cold, concrete schoolyards with chain link fences that make schools look more like prisons," says Geoff Cape, executive director of Evergreen. "By transforming the school ground to include nature, the learning opportunities literally come alive. These grants are key to helping schools redesign their play space to provide students with a healthy and safe place to play, learn, and develop a genuine respect for nature and each other." For more information about the Evergreen program, visit: www.evergreen.ca/ en/lg/lg-funding.html.
April 29, 2002
The Caledon Institute recently published a report on the outcomes of a pilot project started in 1997 to help nonprofits develop successful enterprise initiatives. Entitled, "Enterprising Nonprofits", the report highlights lessons from the Enterprising Non-profits Program, which recruited 10 nonprofit agencies and helped them develop small business enterprises. Findings of the report reveal that success depends in part on there being consistency between the enterprise initiative and the agency's mission, values and goals. As well, organizations must ensure full commitment and involvement by board and staff and dedicated staff must be made responsible for the business enterprise. To view the report in PDF format, visit: www.caledoninst.org/PDF/553820061.pdf.
April 29, 2002
When it comes to written communication, e-mail is now the method of choice in the United Kingdom. In January of 2002, households in the UK sent 550 e-mails, compared with 258 million letters handled by Royal Mail, the national postal carrier, during the same period. Thirteen million people use e-mail regularly and the UK leads Europe in e-mail usage, sending 170 million more messages each month than the French and 185 million more than the Germans. Active internet users, those who connect to the Internet an average of 20.7 days a month, send an average of 25.9 e-mails and receive 110.7. -- NetValue
April 29, 2002
This year, on November 20, 29,000 McDonald's restaurants around the world will host a simultaneous fundraiser to benefit children in their communities. During World Children's Day, the restaurants will engage in a variety of fundraising activities, including donations on product sales, community events such as car washes, walk-a-thons, and other cause-related initiatives. "McDonald's has a rich heritage and tradition of being a good community partner and neighbour," said chair and CEO, Jack Greenberg. "As the needs of the world's children have increased over time, so has the need for every company and every citizen to play a role in affecting positive change." Funds raised from World Children's Day efforts will support local Ronald McDonald House Charities(R) Chapters and other children's causes in communities worldwide. For more information, visit: www.mcdonalds.com/corporate/press/corporate/2002/04262002 /index.html.
April 29, 2002
When friends and classmates gathered for Michael Haskins 10th birthday, not one of them brought him a present, but he couldn't be happier. Michael asked that in lieu of gifts, his guests make a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. His friend Krystyna Bruce, age 5, has diabetes and Michael says he wanted to help out. "I want them to use the money to make something that can cure diabetes for Krystyna and my grandpa and my neighbour [who also suffer from the disease]." In total, the 31 classmates, hockey team members, neighbours and family friends brought $407 to support the cause. "It's been the best and the biggest party I've ever had," he said. "It's cool that we could have fun, but also get all the donations at the same time." Michael will use the funds as pledge money when he and his sister Jessica enter the Walk to Cure Diabetes in Waterloo on June 6. For more information about the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, visit: www.jdfc.ca.
April 22, 2002
Thanks to a new initiative led by Microsoft Canada and supported by Future Shop, 95 Boys and Girls Clubs nationwide will receive fully-loaded computers over the next four months. Can Tech will provide children and youth with access to the technology and tools they need to excel. "Through this program we are empowering Canada's youth and helping them develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed in today's digital world," said Bill Snowdon, national president of Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. The organization anticipates that this infrastructure will offer practical skills training to at least 200,000 children in the next five years. Can Tech is funded by a $2.2 million cash and software donation from Microsoft with hardware provided by Future Shop. For more information about Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, visit: www.bgccan.com.
April 22, 2002
For years the public has raised concerns that the Canada Corporations Act was outdated and no longer met the requirements of today's federally incorporated nonprofits. In response, the government held a series of roundtable discussions in 2000 and recently published a report, the Draft Framework for a New Not-for-Profit Corporations Act. The suggested reforms of the act were guided by four principles: that it is flexible and permissive; that it encourages transparency and accountability; promotes efficiency; and finally that it is fair. Industry Canada will now seek public input on these proposed reforms at an upcoming series of nation-wide public consultations in May and June. To view the draft framework and discussion paper, visit: strategis.ic.gc.ca/ SSG/cl00150e.html. To participate in the consultations, visit: www.strategis.ic.gc.ca/cilpd.
April 22, 2002
In response to the increasing public demand for corporate social responsibility, Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR) recently released a new tool to assist in the process. The GoodCompany Guidelines help companies to assess, improve and report on their social, environmental and financial performance. "[The guidelines] are a practical tool that enable companies to pinpoint their performance gaps, develop policies to address them and report back to their stakeholders. The result is clearer accountability and enhanced brand," said Adine Mees, executive director of CBSR. To view a summary of the guidelines, visit: www.cbsr.ca/resources/good_guidelines.cfm.
April 22, 2002
If your reputation precedes you, it probably has a lot to do with how you communicate. Almost half the full-time employees polled for a recent survey said a person's communication style has the greatest impact on his or her professional reputation. How employees conduct themselves while the boss is away was the second most popular answer, with 31% of the response. Fifteen percent felt reputation was determined by how often others consult that person for advice or information. Personal grooming garnered only 3% of the vote. -- OfficeTeam
April 22, 2002
It was 30 years ago that two young students fell in love on the University of Waterloo campus. Now Lincoln Wong is donating $350,000 to build the Luci Wong Library at the university's Renison College in memory of his wife, who died of lung cancer in January. It's the perfect gift to honour "the most important and influential person in my life," he said. It is also the largest in Renison's history, representing 10% of a $3 million campaign to improve the college's teaching and academic facilities. The new library will include a reading room and archival facility, an East Asian Studies Resource Centre, and two group study rooms. For more information about Renison College, visit: www.renison.uwaterloo.ca.
April 22, 2002
Now that the Nova Scotia Arts Council has been dissolved, a foundation that funds arts programs in Nova Scotia schools is searching for a new way to distribute the money. The J. W. McConnell Family Foundation has donated $100,000 annually for the last three years to support arts programming. It was the council that distributed those funds. The foundation still wants to make the annual donation but needs to find an alternative method of distribution. According to media reports, foundation president Tim Brodhead says they will not give the money to government. Nova Scotia's minister responsible for the arts, Rodney Macdonald, was informed of the foundation's decision. For more information about the J. W. McConnell Foundation, visit: www.mcconnellfoundation.ca/home.e/index.html.
April 22, 2002
Victoria-area nonprofit health and social service organizations working in the areas of poverty, substance abuse, family stress and breakdown, isolation, loneliness, and violence still have time to apply for a one-time community grant. The Victoria Real Estate Board and the United Way of Greater Victoria are offering grants worth as much as $10,000 to organizations fulfilling specific criteria. One of the main objectives of this initiative is to support collaboration and partnership among agencies, other funders, and United Way, while encouraging efficiency and effectiveness in responding to community needs. The deadline for submissions is May 14th. For more information, visit: www.unitedwayvictoria.bc.ca/whats_new.html.
April 22, 2002
As a leading television mogul in Quebec, André Chagnon once enticed people to spend time on the couch watching TV. Now he's trying to get them off of it. The Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation, a private foundation with reported assets of $1.4 billion, is working to stop the increasing prevalence of obesity, particularly among children. Chagnon, who sold Quebec's largest cable company, Groupe Vidéo, in 2000 says he is concerned about the fact that obesity among young people is going up by 30% a year. "We want to be dominant in prevention," he says. The Montreal-based foundation will contribute as much as $100-million a year to further its goals, which include breaking the cycle of youth poverty and preventing obesity.
April 22, 2002
A new multi-year sponsorship agreement between Bell and the Surrey School District will see Bell contribute $1 million over the next ten years to support Surrey's newest performing arts facility. The agreement also recognizes Bell as the exclusive telecommunications supplier to the largest school district in British Columbia and secures naming rights of the centre, now known as the Bell Centre for Performing Arts.
April 22, 2002
Anyone who as ever attended a fundraising dinner knows how fun they can be. Now KitchenAid and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) are inviting budding chefs to try the process at home. The recently launched Cook for the Cure Campaign encourages people to host parties for friends and family to raise money for CBCF. "Instead of guests bringing a bottle of wine or flowers to the occasion, they are asked to make a donation to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation," said Joanne Dunbar, foundation chair. "Most Canadians have felt the impact of breast cancer, either personally or through someone close to them. [This] is an opportunity for Canadians to rally around those living with the effects of the disease by sending a powerful message of hope and support." A free guide to hosting your own party can be obtained at www.KitchenAid-cookforthecure.ca or by calling 1-800-618-2873.
April 22, 2002
A Calgary law firm is making a dream come true for a single mother and her three children. Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer recently made a $100,000 donation to Habitat for Humanity, which will in turn construct the Brown family's first home. "It's an opportunity of a lifetime for us," said Geri-Lynn Brown. "I never thought I would own my own home, a place where my kids will grow up and my grandchildren will come to." The firm will also provide some volunteer hours to Habitat for Humanity to build the house this summer. "Many people are working hard, trying to raise a family but cannot afford housing. Habitat is doing something about it," said BD&P partner, Brian O'Leary, QC. For more information about Habitat for Humanity, visit: www.habitat.ca.
April 15, 2002
Despite loud protests from organizations, municipal politicians, and even some members of his own caucus, Alberta Premier Ralph Klein says he won't consider resurrecting the province's Community Lottery Board grants program until he has a long-term view of the province's finances. The program distributed lottery proceeds to nonprofit community organizations and was cancelled in a surprise move last month. Government officials did, however, offer a glimmer of hope last week by pledging to adjust existing lottery initiatives to ensure that programs affected by the defunct board don't fall through the cracks. Late last week, Gaming Minister Ron Stevens issued a release saying he plans to review "the granting guidelines of the lottery-funded programs and foundations to see how groups affected by the elimination of the [CLB] program can be accommodated."Premier Klein said that a revamped community lottery board could be revived under new rules and a new name if oil and gas revenues remain strong. "If higher than expected revenues persist, funding for this program could be reconsidered at some time in the future under a different format," Klein said. The elimination of the board will save the government $51 million but lottery funds will still be used for such things as health care, a First Nations development fund, seniors lodges, and high-speed Internet connections for facilities across Alberta. For more information, visit: www.gaming.gov.ab.ca/Who/clb_grant_program.asp.
April 15, 2002
Just weeks after the Nova Scotia government dissolved the provincial arts council, Tourism and Culture Minister Rodney MacDonald announced that the province will create a new Arts and Culture Council. According to MacDonald, the new council will continue to offer funding support for individual artists and artistic projects but will have a broader mandate than its predecessor. It will also be under direct government control. To help shape the direction of the new council, the province has assembled a team of leaders from the province's arts community. The team will be chaired by Eva Moore who was part of the advisory committee that helped to create the original arts council.Meanwhile, the board of the now defunct Nova Scotia Arts Council is refusing to disband and is demanding that the government make clear what it plans to do with an endowment fund of approximately $600,000 that the council used to control. MacDonald stated that the endowment will still be used to fund artists in the province and that the government would reimburse donors who wanted their gifts back. For more information about the new council, visit: www.gov.ns .ca/news/details.asp?id=20020412005
April 15, 2002
Community volunteers looking to improve their local recreation facilities still have a few weeks to apply for assistance from the Molson Local Heroes program. The campaign, now in its fifth year, provides funding to individuals to improve existing sports and recreational facilities in their neighbourhoods. It offers recipients as much as $5,000 towards the purchase of materials and supplies to upgrade local facilities. To be eligible for funding, individuals must be of legal drinking age and are responsible for coordinating projects, supplying volunteer work groups, arranging additional funding, and securing necessary permits. All labour must be voluntary and completed projects should be free and accessible to everyone. The deadline for applications is May 3rd. For more information call 1-800-MOLSON-1 or visit: www.molson.com/loc alheroes/frame.html.
April 15, 2002
Last year, grantmaking by American foundations grew an estimated 5.1%, though it was much lower than the 18.2% increase experienced in 2000. Nevertheless, foundations gave the largest amount ever recorded. According to a report by the Foundation Center, approximately $29 billion in grants went to nonprofit organizations last year, an increase of $1.4 billion from 2000. Giving by private grantmakers rose 5.4%; community foundations, 4.6%; and corporate foundations, 2.6%. The report stated that grantmaking by corporate foundations increased only because of their response to the September 11 attacks. -- The Foundation Center
April 15, 2002
Growing from a kitchen table organization that ran camps for kids with cancer, the Kids Cancer Care Foundation reached a milestone last week when it announced a $3-million donation to a research chair in pediatric oncology at Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary. The eight-year-old organization, originally known as Kids Cancer Camps of Alberta, is funding half of the $6 million chair. The remaining funding for the new research position came from Burlington Resources Canada Ltd., the Alberta Cancer Foundation and the Steve Fonyo Fund. For more information about the Kids Cancer Care Foundation, visit: www.kidscancercare.ab.ca.
April 15, 2002
On June 26, the 2002 United Nations International Day in Support for Survivors of Torture, the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture (CCVT) will present awards to recognize individuals who are making significant contributions in the field of human rights. The Centre is now seeking nominations for awards in three categories. The Trevor Bartram Award will be given to individuals who have made a significant achievement in organizational development, particularly in setting up new community-based organizations, consistent with the human rights mandate of CCVT. The Amina Malko Award will go to a woman with refugee experience who has significant knowledge of policy, advocacy, and settlement services for newcomers, and the Youth Award will be given to youth who have made outstanding contributions in the area of human rights, community service, and academic excellence. For additional information and nomination forms call (416) 363-1066 ext. 25 or e-mail mabai@ccvt.org.
April 15, 2002
The Canadian Landmine Foundation recently announced an initiative to support mine action and recognize the achievements of Canadian peacekeepers. The first person being honoured by the Peacekeepers' Demining Fund is the late General Gordon Reay, who was killed in Croatia in December 2000 while serving as a special advisor to Canada's Ambassador for Mine Action. This new fund will support a variety of landmine-related activities including: minefield clearance, mine detection, dog training, and other mine action projects. "We are honoured to be able to both recognize great individual commitments in this most Canadian activity - peacekeeping - and to support the process that is ridding the world of landmines," said Remi Bujold, chair of the Canadian Landmine Foundation. At present, someone is killed by a landmine once every twenty minutes, twenty-four hours a day. For more information about the Canadian Landmine Foundation, visit: www.canadianlandmine.com/ english/home/home.htm.
April 15, 2002
Thieves recently broke into the grand prize showhome of the Surrey Memorial Royal Columbian Hospital Lottery and stole more than $20,000 worth of furniture and appliances. Police suspect that the thieves used a large truck to help haul away heavy items including an oversized refrigerator. Organizers plan to replace the stolen items and say that buyers have already snapped up 95% of tickets. The foundations have been running the lottery since 1994 and have raised more than $26 million during that time. For more information about the lottery, visit: www.smrchomelottery.com
April 15, 2002
Has your organization put information technology (IT) to good use in your community? If so, the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) wants to hear from you. The association is seeking nominees for its Community IT Hero Award to recognize individuals and projects that have assisted their communities in a significant way through the innovative use or application of IT. Heroes can be anybody including nonprofits and community volunteers. The deadline for nominations is April 29, 2002. For full details and a nomination form, visit: www.itac.ca.
April 15, 2002
Alcan Inc. announced a $1 million donation last week to McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. The company made the donation in honour of Alcan's retiring chairman, Dr. John R. Evans. Dr. Evans was the founding dean of McMaster's Faculty of Health Sciences from 1965 to 1972. The gift will support a new chair in health sciences at the university. For more information about McMaster, visit www.mcmaster.ca
April 15, 2002
The Maytree Foundation is accepting nominations for its fourth annual Leaders for Change program, a workshop and mentoring series that sets out to enhance participants' leadership abilities and to motivate them to take positive social change action. Twenty leadership candidates will be accepted into the 2002-03 program, which runs from September 2002 to June 2003. The application deadline is May 24, 2002. For full program information, visit: www.maytree.com/RefugeeImmigrantProgram/LeadersForChange/LeadersForChange.htm
April 15, 2002
With the help of a $750,000 gift from the Bank of Montreal, students at Ryerson University now have a mentoring program and a new scholarship fund to assist them. A third of the funds will go toward a new career resource centre and the remaining $500,000 will be used for scholarships. There are already more than 70 volunteer mentors linked to Ryerson students, providing support and career advice. Aside from matching students with mentors, the resource centre also offers electronic and print resources to enhance the career search of participants in the program. For more information about Ryerson University, visit: www.ryerson.ca
April 8, 2002
A proposal prepared by the Voluntary Sector Steering Group (VSSG) regarding the future leadership body for Canadian nonprofits is now available and organizers are inviting feedback. The VSSG provides strategic leadership and coordination for voluntary sector participation in the Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI). Members are now asking sector representatives to decide what kind of leadership body should succeed the VSSG to provide advocacy and leadership at the national level. Aside from these two functions, this body would also be responsible for capacity building and bringing together organizational representatives within the sector. To view the proposal, visit: www.vsi-isbc.ca /eng/pdf/vsssg_survey.pdf (Note: this file is in PDF format). Feedback should be sent to Brenda Cameron Couch at bcameroncouch@vsi-isbc.org by April 30, 2002.
April 8, 2002
Local residents and lawyers are invited to submit candidates for a new award created by the Law Society of Upper Canada. The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander Award will be presented later this year to a lawyer who has demonstrated longstanding interest and commitment to public matters and to the pursuit of community service on behalf of residents of Ontario. The award honours the Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Member of Parliament and federal cabinet minister.
"Lincoln Alexander has set a shining example of service to people and communities throughout Ontario, one that extends well beyond his role as a politician and statesman," said Law Society treasurer Vern Krishna. "This award is a tribute to the man and his works, and to honour fellow members of the profession who follow in his footsteps." Nominees must be members of the Law Society of Upper Canada and nominations must include reasons for consideration as well as letters of reference. The deadline for written submissions is May 1st. They should be sent to Deidre Rowe Brown, Treasurer's Office, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West, Toronto ON, M5H 2N6.
April 8, 2002
The number of Canadian women occupying board seats rose by 1.2% since 1998 but still stands at only 7.4%. The figures come from a report by the Catalyst Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit organization working to advance women's careers. Despite the low participation rate, the report states that this is still a significant increase, with women's advancement on corporate boards generally coming in steady but small increments. At present, approximately 48.6% of companies have one female director, up from 36.4% in 1998. Credit unions, food firms, drugstores, and publishing companies have the best track record for appointing women directors in the private sector. -- The Catalyst Foundation
April 8, 2002
Many nonprofits struggle with information and communications technologies (ICT) because they lack the necessary expertise. Nevertheless, some are finding ways to overcome these challenges. A new report by the UK-based Baring Foundation and the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists aims to identify what can be learned from these organizations. Leading the Way to ICT Success argues that the key to success is having senior managers who are well informed and confident about their ICT strategy. The report offers recommendations on how managers, board members, umbrella bodies, funders, and other agencies can support and develop the leadership needed to take advantage of the opportunities that ICT offers. To view the report, visit: www.baringfoundation.org.uk/publications.htm#ictsuccess.
April 8, 2002
A two-year project, involving representatives from the federal and provincial governments and the voluntary sector, will assess the quality of communication between the two sectors in New Brunswick. PolicyLinkNB, a $350,000 initiative funded by Human Resources and Development Canada (HRDC), is working to promote better understanding and a more efficient and relevant policy process at the government level. "We hope that it's going to identify ways that we can strengthen the voluntary sector to exact change on policy," said Cathy Wright, executive director of the Human Development Council, one of the project partners. For more information, e-mail: policylink@nb.aibn.com or call 506-458-8274.
April 8, 2002
Fortune magazine's latest Fortune 500 list is available on newsstands this week and online. Wal-Mart is tops this year, followed by Exxon Mobil, General Motors, and Ford Motor Company. Surprisingly, the now-defunct Enron Corporation rounds out the top five. The Fortune web site also includes lists of top female CEOs, leaders in diversity, and other custom rankings. Total profits for the 500 corporations fell 53% to $206 billion, compared to an 8.4% increase in 2000. According to the magazine's editors, it was the largest drop in profits since the magazine began compiling the list in 1955. To view the complete Fortune 500 list, visit: www.fortune.com/lists/F500/index.html.
April 8, 2002
The newly introduced Hilton Suites Toronto/Markham recently donated more than 1,000 pounds of linens and toiletries to ten York Region charities as part of the Hilton Random Acts of Service(TM) community outreach campaign. More than 600 sheets, 400 pillow cases, 100 blankets and 200 bath mats will go to various shelters, community centres, and housing services in the Markham and Newmarket areas. It was the first Hilton in Canada to participate in the program, which is part of Hilton's North American effort to encourage and increase volunteer efforts to support the local community in which they serve. The goal of the program is to collectively achieve one million random acts of service throughout North America by the end of 2002. For more information about the program, e-mail info@randomactsofservice.co m.
April 8, 2002
Thanks to a donation of more than $300,000 from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and an additional $250,000 from Rotary International and private donors, almost 1,100 poor entrepreneurs in Costa Rica will have the chance to improve their situation. Opportunity International Canada, which is heading the project, is a nonprofit organization that turns individual and corporate donations into micro loans. It is expected that approximately 6,200 family members will see their standard of living rise because of the new program. "This project means new hope and a new chance for a better life for hundreds of Costa Rica's poorest entrepreneurs who need access to credit, but have no collateral, says executive director Wayne Johnson, adding that Opportunity International Canada believes in offering a hand up, not a handout. For more information, visit: www.opportunitycanada.ca/itn_costarica.html.
April 8, 2002
Organized religion is on an upswing according to Reg Bibby, one of Canada's leading interpreters of religious trends and the author of the new book Restless Gods. For the first time in 30 years, overall attendance among the mainline Protestant denominations - Anglican, Presbyterian, Lutheran and United Churches - has remained stable instead of declining and the percentage of teens attending services at these churches increased from 17% in 1984 to 23% in 2000. Attendance by 18- to 34-year-olds also increased, from 9% in 1990 to 13% in 2000. Among Roman Catholic teens living outside Quebec, attendance rose from 27% in 1992 to 31% in 2000. The one anomaly was Quebec, where only 7% of Catholic teens now attend worship services.
April 8, 2002
One of Vancouver's top galleries played host last week to a charity auction for the local Ronald McDonald House. What made this auction unique wasn't the art or the cause, but the artists. Ballard Lederer Gallery showcased fine West Coast native art by 50 prisoners and parolees. Inmate Errol Hillis, who has been in prison for 17 years, says the knife is no a longer a weapon, but a tool to create beauty. "I'm not that person that committed that horrendous crime. I'm a 35-year-old who learned to love and create beautiful art." Lisa Bayne, a Vancouver parole officer who coordinates outreach projects such as this one, says most of the art has an aboriginal motif. "We do have considerably more native offenders than in the general population," she says. "But the style of native art is a popular one inside." For more information about Ronald McDonald Children's Charities, visit: www.rmcc.ca/en/index.html.
April 8, 2002
The traditional motto 'Be Prepared' now includes being financially prepared, as Scouts Canada introduces the Investing Crest in partnership with Canadian securities regulators. Scouts will earn the crest by tracking stocks, researching investments, calculating compound interest and interviewing financial planners. The Canadian Securities Administrators, which developed the initiative, will pay Scouts Canada $25,000 a year to help support the program across the country. "We're trying to raise the financial literacy of youth. They need to have the tools and resources to make good decisions," said Terri Williams, spokeswoman for the Ontario Securities Commission. For more information, visit: www.scouts.ca/press/press_investor.stm.
April 8, 2002
Walking 200 kilometres through blizzards and freezing rain might not be everyone's idea of a good time but for Billy Anderson it was six days well spent. After quitting a corporate advertising job in Toronto last June he began volunteering at Camp Oochigeas, a camp for children with cancer. It was his work at the camp that inspired a fundraising walk, which took him from his cottage near Gravenhurst to Toronto. After a well-deserved rest, he is happy to report that $15,675 was raised for the kids. To learn more about the camp, visit: www.fcco.org/CampOoch.htm. Billy can be reached by e-mail at: billyballgame@hotmail.com.
April 1, 2002
Last week, the government of Nova Scotia closed the offices of the Nova Scotia Arts Council, much to the surprise of council staff. Representatives of the Department of Tourism and Culture, lawyers from the Department of Justice, and security officers from the Department of Transportation and Public Works arrived at the NSAC offices, locked the doors, and proceeded to inform staff that the council was being shut down. A government press release states that a new Arts and Culture Council will be created consisting of 12 members: 10 from the cultural sector and community organizations and two from government. The release also states that the initiative will save $270,000 in administrative costs, though it does not outline how these savings will be realized. The arts community is responding to the action with a Save Our Arts Council campaign. For more information about the campaign, visit the Cultural Network web site at: www.culture.ns.ca. To view the government press release, visit: www.gov.ns.ca/dtc/press/view_NR.asp?DeptNumber=73&id=20020327002.
April 1, 2002
The Charles H. Ivey Foundation, which provides grants primarily to organizations in Southwestern Ontario, announced that its grantmaking activities have taken a new direction. The focus is now on arts, environmental, health, and community organizations that develop business plans which address the changing environment in which they operate. The majority of funding will go to organizations that want to implement new services or raise existing operations to the next level. For more information on funding guidelines or funding requests, contact Susan H. Rowbottom at 416-361-3615.
April 1, 2002
When Calgary businessman Daryl Seaman lost his father to prostate cancer he took action. In memory of his father, Seaman, chair and president of Dox Investments Inc., donated $500,000 to the Prostate Cancer Institute to provide five-year funding for a new research position. in his father's memory to help advance prostate-cancer research. "Prostate cancer was discovered too late for [my father] to have taken any remedial action," said Seaman. "This points to a need for research and awareness programs." Dr. Bryan Donnelly, a urologist, will become the institute's first clinical research chair. He will work on research programs across the country, and will act as a liaison between the Calgary institute and other research programs nationwide. "We've left prostate cancer research in the dust for a while and now it's time to push it forward." said Phyllis Kane, president of the institute. For more information about the Prostate Cancer Institute, visit: www.prostatecalgary.com/index.html.
April 1, 2002
A survey conducted for The Giving Campaign, which was established to increase donations to UK charities, finds that 60% of children give money to charity but that they are very selective about the causes they support. In the last six months 65% of children aged 7-16 gave money to charity and 97% expressed a preference as to where the money went. The most popular cause to support was animals (33%), with helping ill people and children at 19%, and homelessness at 7%. -- The Giving Campaign
April 1, 2002
As we mentioned last week, IMPACS - the Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society released the results of a national dialogue on advocacy in the voluntary sector. Consultations were held across the country to discuss the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency's (CCRA) "10 Percent Rule", which forbids charities from using any more than 10% of their resources annually for advocacy. Among the options outlined in the new report, entitled Let Charities Speak: The Charities and Advocacy Dialogue Report, were: clearly identifying what charities cannot do; broadening the definition of education; creating a new category of tax-exempt organizations; and creating a new legislative definition of 'charity'. The federal government, including Finance Minister Paul Martin and Revenue Minister Elinor Caplan, says it will meet with a representative group of charities in May to hear what the charities recommend on tax status for advocacy. For more information or to view the report, visit: www.impacs.org/policy/in dex.htm. To let us know your thoughts about an expanded advocacy role for charities in Canada, visit our SpeakOut! page.
April 1, 2002
Zellers is distributing $677,000 in donations to more than 100 grassroots organizations across the country. The donations come from money raised through Zellers' annual holiday gift box promotion in which holiday-themed boxes are given to shoppers in exchange for a one-dollar donation. All money raised is used by Zellers' charitable foundation, Zellers Friends of the Family fund, to support local and national organizations that focus on family causes in the areas of health, wellness and education. "Zellers is grateful to our shoppers for helping make our holiday gift box program and other fundraising activities such an enormous success," says Thomas Haig, president and chief operating officer of Zellers. "We believe every family has the right to basic needs and hope that by giving back to the community, Zellers can provide some assistance in improving the heath and well-being of Canadian families." For more information about Zellers Friends of the Family, visit: www.hbc .com/zellers/friend_family/guidelines.asp.
April 1, 2002
Clarica is requesting proposals for a new grant program that will fund projects which develop leadership. The program is designed to advance leadership skills among students at publicly funded Canadian schools with the goal of highlighting the importance of leaders for Canada's future. "Like other Canadian businesses, we look for people who bring a wide range of skills to their work. Technical skills are critical, of course. But we need a workforce of people whose superb interpersonal skills match their technical depth," said Bob Astley, Clarica's president and CEO. "These are the key qualities we look for in staff members, and we'd like to help students focus on developing both types of skills as part of their education." Students (sponsored by teachers up to the post-secondary level) are invited to apply on-line for grants of up to $7,000 for projects that will be completed during the 2002-2003 school year. The deadline for submissions is May 17, 2002. For more detailed information and instructions on how to apply, visit: www.clarica.com/e/about/commun/focus/education.asp.
April 1, 2002
Big Brothers & Sisters of the Okanagan has joined with local police in calling for the return of a significant amount of cash that was inadvertently included in a donation of used clothing. In early March a Kelowna resident dropped off a quantity of used clothing at the Rutland Value Village store and mistakenly included a pouch containing as much as $80,000 in cash. While $40,000 was returned, a significant amount is still missing.
"We are pleased that some of the missing funds have been returned and are asking that anyone involved in the disappearance of the money to come forward and return the outstanding amount," said executive director Leanne Hammond Komori. "Unfortunately the clothing donation was left on the ground and not placed inside the donation bin where staff would have been able to discover the pouch." For more information contact Leanne Hammond Komori at 250-762-2442.
April 1, 2002
The Canadian Conference of the Arts is now accepting nominations for two prestigious awards. The Keith Kelly Award for Cultural Leadership is presented to a Canadian who has made a significant contribution, ranging from local to international in scope, to the arts through advocacy, public discourse or leadership. The Diplôme d'honneur is awarded to an individual who has made a sustained contribution to the cultural life of the country, whether through volunteer activity, mentoring, patronage, individual arts practice, or other recognized support. The deadline for nominations is September 30, 2002. An awards ceremony will take place in Edmonton on November 21, 2002. For more information, visit: www.ccarts.ca/eng/03 do/03_01awd.htm or contact Julie Carl at julie.carl@ccarts.ca.
April 1, 2002
Alex Lytwyn, of Winnipegosis, Manitoba, was recently presented with the first-ever Youth Volunteer of the Year award, established by Reader's Digest. The award honours young Canadians who have made special contributions to their communities and, in the process, inspired others with their determination, fortitude, and kindness of heart. "We felt it was time to recognize the many young people across this country who are making genuinely important contributions to their communities," said editor-in-chief Murray Lewis. Chosen from among dozens of nominees, Alex Lytwyn represents the very best of Canada's young people. As an infant he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and after attending a Variety Club telethon to raise funds for special needs kids at the age of 10, he vowed to help out. Since then he has raised more than $10,000 for charity. "Canada is one of the biggest countries in the world and to be chosen as the first recipient of the award from among all the volunteers in the whole country is amazing," said Alex. "I'm really proud of this honour."
April 1, 2002
Although markets were down last year, not everyone lost money in the investing arena, which is good news for the BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre Foundation. Four investing firms battled for top honours in the 2001 Invest in Women's Challenge, raising $21,000 along the way. Coast Capital Savings, Odlum Brown, HSBC, and Raymond James Ltd. each anted up $100,000 in capital to invest for one year, with the year-end gains going to the Women's Foundation in support of programs and services at the hospital and health centre. "Because of the market, the 2001 Invest in Women's Challenge was much more challenging for our competitors than in previous years," says Jane Hennessy, executive director of the Women's Foundation. "We're so appreciative of each team's continuing determination, they really had to fight for these gains." Since 1997, the Invest in Women's Challenge has raised more than $300,000 for the foundation. For more information on the foundation, visit: www.bcwomensfoundation.org/index.cfm.
April 1, 2002
Youth One recently launched a unique Global Youth Service Day project and they hope many other communities will join in. The Volunteer Web-A-Thon asks youth, up to age 30, to submit a pledge of volunteer hours which they plan to contribute to the community during the next 12 months. The more youth who make a pledge, the better. The total tally of hours will serve to inspire others to start volunteering as well. Youth One encourages any youth who has ever thought of volunteering or would like to renew his or her commitment to the community, to participate in the web-a-thon by making a pledge. For more information, visit: www.youthone.com/webathon.
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