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| Path: Main Street : NewsWeek : Archive : NewsBytes : Article |
This is an archive of CharityVillage NewsWeek. To find a word on the page,
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at their publishing date, the quick-changing nature of the web means that some
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To view other articles in the archive, use our Chronological Index.
NewsBytes: May, 2005
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
Canada pledges more than $200 million for peacekeeping in Sudan
May 30, 2005
At an international conference last week, Canada pledged the equivalent of $134 million US to fund the African Union peacekeeping operation in the Darfur region of western Sudan. The Canadian pledge was by far the largest at the conference to raise money to stop the ongoing violence in the region. Other international donors brought the overall total raised at the conference to $200 million US. This latest donation from Canada is on top of a previous commitment of about $71 million US to promote peace in Sudan, bringing Canada's total pledge to about $205 million US. For more information, visit: www.news.gc.ca.
May 30, 2005
Imagine Canada, in partnership with the Foundation for Rural Living, announced the release of phase two of the Rural Charitable Sector Research Initiative. The project, entitled The Capacity Challenges of Nonprofit & Voluntary Organizations in Rural Ontario, includes the results of interviews with leaders of rural nonprofit organizations, as well as leaders of organizations in urban centres that serve or work with rural nonprofits. Challenges cited are similar to those facing urban agencies: many rural organizations are too dependent on short-term project funding; their funding has not kept pace with inflation or the demand for their services; they have difficulty accessing corporate funding; grant applications are overly complex and time consuming to complete; they have difficulty recruiting and retaining staff because they are unable pay competitive salaries; and they have trouble recruiting and retaining volunteers. For more information or to download the report, visit: www.nonprofitscan.ca.
May 30, 2005
Almost 15 years after launching a civil suit against a Roman Catholic diocese in Newfoundland, sexual abuse victims have accepted a compensation package. Thirty-six people will share $13 million in compensation for abuse inflicted upon them by a priest in the St. George's diocese. Rev. Kevin Bennett admitted his guilt and was convicted in 1990 of sexually abusing 36 boys over a period of nearly 20 years while he worked in the diocese. He served four years in prison and is now retired and continues to draw a church pension.
Fast Fact: Majority of Americans support charity alliances with corporations
May 30, 2005
A new survey finds that 70% of Americans are more likely to give money to a charity if they know it has partnered with a company to raise money and awareness. In addition, 76% said that such an alliance increases the positive image they have of the charity, and 79% said they would be more likely to buy a product to support that charity. More than 70% of respondents feel that corporations have an obligation to help charities. The top causes they believe companies should support are: education (81%), health (81%), and the environment (80%), followed by poverty (65%), crime and terrorism (65%), youth issues (59%), and housing and community development (56%). -- Cone
May 30, 2005
A new project of the Maytree Foundation hopes to address the imbalance between the proportion of immigrants and visible minorities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and their relative lack of representation in public agencies, boards and commissions. abcGTA has already recruited 100 qualified candidates from visible minority, immigrant, and aboriginal communities to be included in the candidate directory. Agencies are encouraged to visit the site when looking for new board members or to post board vacancies. For more information, visit: www.abcgta.ca.
May 30, 2005
The Ontario Women's Health Council (OWHC) announced $2.3 million in funding for three new awards programs in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) - Institute of Gender and Health (IGH). The Master's Awards will target students in the first or second year of their master's programs, while the Doctoral Awards will target PhD students. The New Investigator Awards will fund researchers who are within their first five years of becoming independent investigators. "The partnership that we have with IGH enables us to fund women's health researchers at different stages of their careers, and to legitimize women's health as an important area of research," said Jane Pepino, chair of the OWHC. "We are delighted to work with IGH to build even greater support for Ontario's most talented and ambitious researchers." For more information, visit: www.womenshealthcouncil.on.ca.
May 30, 2005
Last week, TV Worldwide, a web-based global Internet TV network, announced a new Internet TV channel web site to serve the journalism community. The channel, which will offer advice and information on covering the nonprofit sector, is being launched in cooperation with The Fourth Estate and the Third Sector (FETS). "We went to TV Worldwide because of its understanding of how to use technology to bring about the understanding of complex issues," said Burnis Morris, founding director of FETS. "In the long run, a deeper understanding will improve news organizations' coverage of nonprofits." For more information, visit: www.fetsnews.com.
May 30, 2005
According to a recent survey of chief financial officers (CFOs), almost half said that cash bonuses were the most effective way to acknowledge a job well done. CFOs were asked, "Which of the following do you feel is most effective in rewarding your team after major projects?" and 43% cited a bonus, followed by time off (16%) or a departmental lunch or social gathering (6%). Almost one-fifth (19%) of respondents said they do not offer a reward after major projects. -- Accountemps
May 30, 2005
Twenty-seven participants recently returned home from Africa after scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro during the second annual CIBC Wood Gundy Climb for the Cure. Their efforts raised more than $295,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. "We are thrilled to have surpassed this year's goal by $45,000," said Tom Monahan, head of CIBC Wood Gundy. "Building on last year's contribution of $250,000, we are able to support important work undertaken by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. My congratulations to each of the climbers on their outstanding efforts to help create a future without breast cancer." For more information, visit: www.cibcwoodgundyclimbforthecure.com.
May 24, 2005
Last week, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) launched a new funding program designed to support compliance-related education and training projects for charities. Through the Charities Partnership and Outreach Program, up to $3 million in funds will be available to the voluntary sector annually for education and training on charities regulation. The main objectives of the program are to raise awareness among the charitable sector of its regulatory obligations under the Income Tax Act, to improve the capacity of the voluntary sector to develop and deliver compliance-based education programs, and to increase the capacity of the charitable sector in meeting regulatory compliance requirements. Any registered charity or nonprofit organization serving the charitable sector in Canada can apply to the CRA for funding under the new program. For more information and funding guidelines, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
May 24, 2005
Quebec professors and students in the natural sciences and engineering fields will receive $103 million in funding from Science and Engineering Research Canada (NSERC). This includes 657 new grants worth $81 million and 1,240 scholarships worth $22 million. "[This] investment announcement will contribute to building the research capacity in universities in Quebec," said the Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry. "In addition, this funding will support talented researchers in the province so that Canada can be recognized as a leader in the area of university research in natural sciences and engineering." The funding is part of a $510-million investment in Canadian research that was announced earlier this month. For more information about NSERC, visit: www.nserc.gc.ca.
May 24, 2005
The Canada Council for the Arts unveiled a new $3.5-million program that will change the way it distributes its visual arts grants. The two-pronged program will provide grants for independent artistic research and creation, as well as longer-term support assisting artists to develop their art and careers. "When the program was first established, the focus was largely on supporting creation because we needed to develop a Canadian visual arts identity. Today, a growing number of Canadian artists have developed international careers," said François Lachapelle, head of the council's visual arts division. "The new program is both more flexible and more targeted to assisting artists at important moments in their creation, research, production or career development." For more information, visit: www.canadacouncil.ca.
May 24, 2005
According to a survey conducted earlier this year, 28% of Americans with a personal e-mail account are getting more spam than a year ago, while 22% say they are getting less. At work, 21% of users are getting more spam than a year ago, while 16% say they are getting less. About the same amount (22%) say that spam has reduced their overall use of e-mail, compared to 29% a year ago, and 67% of e-mail users say spam has made being online unpleasant or annoying, compared to 77% a year ago. The survey also measured "phishing" or unsolicited e-mail requesting personal financial information. It found that 35% of e-mail users have received such e-mail, and 2% have responded by providing the information. -- Pew Internet & American Life Project
May 24, 2005
More than 395 M&M Meat Shops locations across Canada took part in the 17th Annual M&M Meat Shops Charity BBQ Day. Together they raised $1.55 million for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC), a new record for the fundraising event. The money will support vital research to find a cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, also known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To date M&M Meat Shops' franchisees, customers and volunteers have raised $10.7 million for the cause. For more information, visit: www.ccfc.ca.
May 24, 2005
Ken Dryden, Minister of Social Development, announced a new national project to help Canadians understand the role of the nonprofit and voluntary sector in Canadian society. The government will provide almost $1.4 million for the Community Awareness Project, and "community conversations" will be held across Canada in the fall to help develop a nationwide awareness and communications campaign. "The Government of Canada works with the nonprofit and voluntary sector to strengthen our communities," said Minister Dryden. "The Community Awareness Project will encourage Canadians to talk about how nonprofit and voluntary sector organizations shape their communities. It will help all Canadians gain a better awareness of what the sector means to our country." For more information, visit: www.sdc.gc.ca.
May 24, 2005
The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) will receive $10 million from Bell Canada to create a Youth Telehealth Centre. The centre will be operated jointly by the two university-affiliated hospitals and will include a training and test centre that will help medical professionals deliver healthcare across Quebec. "Telehealth's potential is vast, not only in terms of scope but also geography. In essence, patients - regardless of where they live - can receive the care they need through expertise provided through a virtual hospital," explained Dr. Arthur T. Porter, director general and CEO of MUHC. For more information, visit: www.muhc.ca.
May 24, 2005
Eighty-one percent of employees believe that a person's work attire affects his or her professional image. Survey respondents were asked, "How much does a person's work attire affect his or her professional image?" and 46% said wardrobe significantly impacts how someone is perceived on the job. Thirty-five percent said it has somewhat of an impact, 9% said it didn't have much of an impact, and 9% said it had no impact. Wardrobe faux pas cited by survey respondents include political or cause-related T-shirts, midriff-baring shirts and low-rise pants, wrinkled or torn clothing, excessive or ornate jewellery and other accessories, and overpowering fragrance. -- OfficeTeam
May 24, 2005
McDonald's restaurants from coast to coast participated in the 14th installment of McHappy Day, the company's longest-running and best-known national fundraising event. By donating one dollar from every Big Mac, Egg McMuffin and Happy Meal sold on McHappy Day, restaurants raised $2.5 million to support more than 200 local children's charities across Canada. "I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our customers, our franchisees and our crew for making our fourteenth McHappy Day such a great success," said Louie Mele, president, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited. "This combined effort brings together our national restaurant network with local and professional athletes, business associates, politicians, suppliers, media personalities and other local VIPs, all for one simple cause - to help children in need. We want to thank all those who came out to show their support." For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities, visit: www.rmhc.ca.
May 24, 2005
A new website designed for fundraising practitioners was launched last week by Natasha van Bentum, CFRE, development director at the Victoria Symphony. "BequestGuide.org is a practical, navigational guide to the world of charitable bequests," said van Bentum. The site was designed especially for front-line practitioners and will serve as a resource for professional fundraisers specializing in gift planning, estate administrators and trust officers, and financial advisors and allied professionals. "I see it as an ongoing 'work-in-progress', which by no means encompasses the field in its totality but which is a good start," adds van Bentum. "There's really nothing out there that covers these topics in a way accessible to working fundraisers." The project was made possible by a grant from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Research Council. To view the new site, visit: BequestGuide.org.
May 24, 2005
Teck Cominco and BC's mining industry took part last week in the 8th annual "Mining for Miracles" Celebrity Pie Throw, raising almost $1 million for the BC Children's Hospital (BCCH) Foundation. "We're very proud of the results from the fundraiser and praise the people in our industry for digging deeper this year to help BCCH and their many dedicated doctors and nurses," said Don Lindsay, president and CEO of Teck Cominco. This year, more than nine industry leaders and supporters plus two doctors from BCCH took a pie for the kids. The event brought in a record $915,000, more than doubling last year's contribution of $354,000. Funds raised will go towards research, equipment, and education at the hospital. For more information about the BC Children's Hospital, visit: www.bcchf.ca.
May 16, 2005
In celebration of Alberta's 100th birthday, the provincial government announced $150 million in renovations for its provincial museum. Over the next five years, the money will be used to update and renew the museum, which will also receive a new name - the Royal Alberta Museum - during the Queen's visit to Alberta on May 24th. An additional $30 million in federal funding will come from the Western Economic Diversification Canada fund. For more information about the museum, visit: www.pma.edmonton.ab.ca.
May 16, 2005
Celine Dion dedicated a special Mother's Day performance of her Las Vegas show A New Day to raise money for the victims of the Asian tsunami. Proceeds from the May 8th show, totaling more than $1 million, were donated to UNICEF's Tsunami Recovery Fund to help with relief and reconstruction efforts in affected regions. For more information, visit: www.celinedion.com.
May 16, 2005
Statistics from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) confirm that there are now more than one million registered charities in the country. The most recent IRS count finds that there are 1,010,365 501(c)(3) organizations, while the total number of nonprofit organizations stands at 1,540,554. New charities are registered at a rate of about 40,000 per year. There were 865,096 501(c)(3)s in 2001, 909,574 in 2002, and by the end of 2003 there were 964,418 registered charities in the United States. -- Internal Revenue Service
May 16, 2005
Five cities across Canada have been chosen to take part in a two-year, $4 million Action for Neighbourhood Change (ANC) pilot initiative. Toronto, Surrey, Regina, Thunder Bay, and Halifax will participate in the ANC learning project, which will spawn local community development activities in collaboration with local residents, not- for-profit agencies, and private and public sector partners. Lead partners include United Way Canada and their local affiliates, and funding is being provided through numerous federal programs within Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Health Canada, and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. Action for Neighbourhood Change begins with all stakeholders coming together to identify assets and then develop a vision for neighbourhood renewal. For more information on the initiative, visit: www.anccommunity.ca.
May 16, 2005
More than 13,000 Calgarians took part in the 28th annual Forzani Group Foundation Mother's Day Run & Walk. Together a record number of participants raised almost $500,000 for the Calgary Health Trust - up 10% from last year. Forzani Group employees showed their support by raising $52,000 and providing 150 volunteers for the event. For more information about the Mother's Day Run, visit: www.mdrunandwalk.com.
May 16, 2005
According to Statistics Canada, the country's adult literacy rate has remained virtually unchanged in last decade. The average adult Canadian still reads at the level they did in 1994 but there was some improvement among those with the poorest literacy levels. In 1994, 17% of adults ranked at the bottom of the scale in literacy. By 2003, that figure had dropped slightly to 15%. However, an additional 42% of adult Canadians still lacked literacy skills considered necessary to cope in modern society. -- Statistics Canada
May 16, 2005
Bell Canada is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a graduate scholarship plan. Bell will offer $125,000 in ten one-time graduate scholarships to full-time Canadian students pursuing post- graduate degrees at universities across Canada. Each of the ten recipients will receive a one-time scholarship of $12,500 to continue their studies at a post-graduate level (Masters or Ph.D.). The scholarships will be awarded to students in areas of study such as telecommunications, communications, and IT innovation. Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate degree program in a Canadian degree-granting educational institution. Applications must be submitted by Friday, July 1, 2005. For more information, visit: www.studentawards.com.
May 16, 2005
Rob Follows, founder and chair of Altruvest Charitable Services, and his wife Katrina Sandling will scale Mt. Everest this month as part of an ambitious fundraising campaign. Everest for Altruvest is a one-year initiative to raise $1 million to launch the Altruvest Vision Fund. The fund will help ensure Altruvest's long-term sustainability to help charities improve their performance. "As Everest inspires people to stretch their performance, so too can Altruvest, through further funding, help charities improve their performance and strengthen communities," said Follows. The couple hopes that their climb will inspire other contributions to Altruvest. For more information, visit: www.altruvest.org.
May 16, 2005
Direct-mail appeals by big charities produced small gains last year, a new study has found. Large, national charities in the US saw response to direct mail rise by a median of only 3.5% last year, just slightly higher than the rate of inflation (3.3%). Twenty-eight million donors made 48 million contributions to big-name charities in 2004, totaling $1.2 billion in direct response giving. The average donation rose by a median of 4.1%, compared to 2.5% in 2003. However, charities reported that the total number of donors who gave to their organizations in 2004 decreased by a median of 0.5%, following a decline of 1.3% in 2003. -- Target Analysis Group
May 16, 2005
Strategic Leverage Partners Inc. and the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development are seeking input that will form the base of a national study of board governance practices in the Canadian nonprofit and voluntary sector. The results of the survey will be shared with organizations across the country in order to assist nonprofit boards in becoming more effective in their governance roles. The objectives of the study include: developing a current snapshot of the context in which voluntary organizations in Canada are working, with a focus on the implications for board governance; determining the current state of nonprofit board governance in Canada; identifying best practices in board governance; and determining the best way to measure the accountability of nonprofit organizations and the boards that govern them. If you serve on a nonprofit board of directors or work in an organization with a board of directors, you are invited to complete the 30-minute survey, which will be available online until May 17. English version: www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=83927925275. French version: www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=64565929861.
May 9, 2005
Ophelia and Mike Lazaridis announced last week that they will present the University of Waterloo with a donation of $17.2 million. This is in addition to $33.3 million that the couple donated last year. The funds will go towards the university's Institute for Quantum Computing and Nanotechnology Engineering Program, as well as an endowment to attract foreign graduate students involved in quantum studies. "Ophelia and I are grateful to be in a position to contribute and we are proud to see this important research happening within our community and country. We believe accelerated research and education in Quantum Computing and Nanotechnology Engineering will change the technological landscape and benefit mankind for generations to come," said Mike Lazaridis, who is the university's chancellor and the founder, president, and co-CEO of Research In Motion (RIM). For more information, visit: www.newsrelease.uwaterloo.ca.
May 9, 2005
Last week, the BC Liberals agreed to repay more than $38,000 to charities that gave money to the party during the past three years. The move comes after The Province newspaper revealed that the Liberals accepted the donations even though the Gordon Campbell government outlawed donations by charities to political parties in 2002. "We will return all of these donations immediately," said Liberal executive director Kelly Reichert. "We've had hundreds of thousands of donations," he said. "There's the odd case where something sneaks up." The Liberals will refund $38,061 to charitable organizations, including a Buddhist association, an arts festival, and a foundation that raises money for special-needs kids. Reichert acknowledged that it was a mistake for the Liberals to accept charity cash, but he also said the charities themselves must bear part of the blame.
May 9, 2005
A privately financed $15-million soccer facility will open on the Montreal waterfront in 2007, thanks in large part to a $7.5 million donation from Saputo Inc. "For some, this day is long overdue. For others, it's a dream come true," said Joey Saputo, president of the Montreal Impact soccer team. "For me, this is a legacy for all soccer fans, who like myself, often felt neglected over the years because they had no place to call their own." Saputo Stadium will include three practice fields, as well as headquarters for the Impact.
May 9, 2005
A new survey finds that the vast majority of Americans (90%) give money to charity each year. The largest percentage (42%) gave between $100 and $1,000 in 2004. Twenty-four percent contributed less than $100, and 18.5% donated between $1,000 and $5,000. Only 4.4% gave between $5,000 and $10,000, while just over 1% gave more than $10,000. -- Freelanthropy Charitable Giving Index
May 9, 2005
Social Development Canada is asking Canadians to provide information and share perspectives on the country's social landscape. "We want to hear what Canadians have to say about how we develop our policies and programs," said Ken Dryden, Minister of Social Development. "We want to make sure Canada's social policies and programs meet the needs and expectations of all Canadians, and to do that we need to hear the views of as many people as possible." Initially, visitors to Social Development Canada's web site will be invited to share their stories and work through a series of questions on the issues of "family/unpaid caregiving". Issues related to the social well-being of children and families, seniors, persons with disabilities, and communities will be added to the site over the next few months. For more information, visit: sdc-dsc.dialoguecircles.com.
May 9, 2005
Thousands of walkers gathered last Sunday to help raise $2.1 million during the fourth annual Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone. More than 40 communities took part in the one-day walk, which is the largest national fundraising activity for Kids Help Phone. "The funds raised by Canadians from coast to coast will allow us to continue to provide our professional counselling services so that young people can get the kind of help they want and need by phone or on the web," said Bill Saul, president and CEO, Kids Help Phone. This year's total of $2.1 million tops last year, when the event raised $1.7 million. For more information about Kids Help Phone, visit: www.kidshelpphone.ca.
May 9, 2005
The IM/IT Strategy of the Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI) has resulted in the creation of user-friendly technological tools and services to assist voluntary sector organizations in delivering vital services to their communities. The tools consist of:For more information, visit: www.vsi-isbc.ca/eng/imit/program.cfm.
- a voluntary sector portal
- a collection of online tools to assist grantmakers and grantseekers
- a Canadian directory to foundations and corporations, featuring funding resources
- IM/IT Canada, a pan-Canadian training and technical support network
- a national technology awareness campaign
May 9, 2005
Canada's oldest company recently marked its 335th anniversary by donating $800,000 to local charities across the country. "The Hudson's Bay Company has grown and changed with this country and we have been proudly serving Canadians for over three centuries," said president and CEO George Heller. "We are proud to be Canada's oldest corporation and as we light our 335th candle, we share with all Canadians the commitment to ensuring Canada remains the best country to live, work and raise a family." The company will distribute the funds through the Hbc Foundation in the communities where it operates. For more information about the Hbc Foundation, visit: www.hbc.com.
May 9, 2005
Almost 15% of Canadians, or an estimated 3.7 million people, were considered to be living in what is known as a "food-insecure" household at some point during 2000/01. As well, more than 40% of people in low- or lower-middle-income households reported some degree of food insecurity. While food insecurity was much less common in higher-income households, about 11% of people in these households reported at least some dimension of it. In middle-income households, almost 25% reported at least one aspect of the problem. -- Statistics Canada
May 9, 2005
Edmonton's science centre, the Odyssium, announced an $8.2 million, 20-year partnership with TELUS. The funds will help expand and enhance exhibits and programming at the facility, which will be renamed TELUS World of Science Edmonton. "This generous contribution by TELUS helps us immensely to advance our guiding principle of making opportunities accessible to everyone to learn about and enjoy science and technology," said George Smith, Edmonton Space and Science Foundation/Odyssium president and CEO. "This is a complete win-win situation. It is good for us, it is good for TELUS, and most of all it is good for our community as they will benefit from improved science and technology programming." For more information, visit: www.odyssium.com/new.html.
May 9, 2005
For the second year, the Vancouver Arts Awards will honour the work of Vancouver's established artists. The awards recognize the achievements of artists with a body of work pursued over a number of years. Nominations are open in seven categories: design arts, visual arts, performing arts, culinary arts, media and recording arts, writing and publishing, and philanthropy. Each honoree in turn selects an emerging artist in their field and presents him or her with a $5,000 commission. The deadline for nominations has been extended to Friday, May 13th. For more information, visit: www.vancouverartsawards.ca.
May 9, 2005
As part of its 150th anniversary, Brunet pharmacies recently wrapped up a fundraising campaign. Owner pharmacists, head office staff, and in-store shoppers together collected $152,000 for Diabetes Québec. "With the statistics on diabetes so alarming, Brunet decided to mark its 150th anniversary by making a real contribution to the cause. Our goal was to raise at least $150,000 to show our support for those suffering from diabetes and to back research on this disease that affects us all," said Brunet general manager Raymond Cloutier. For more information about Diabetes Québec, visit: www.diabete.qc.ca.
May 2, 2005
We're pleased to announce that Gail Ellsworth has joined the CharityVillage team as our new recruitment advertising account manager for Atlantic Canada. Based in the Halifax area, Gail currently works with the Military Family Resource Centre and has a long history of nonprofit ties. She's worked with the Bedford-Sackville Literacy Network, St. Leonard's Society, Dalhousie University, the Dartmouth Literacy Network, and the Society of Deaf and Hard of Hearing to name just a few. Gail will be helping our clients in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and PEI. Find out a bit more about Gail in this profile: www.charityvillage.com/cv/about/gail.html.
May 2, 2005
The Toronto International Film Festival Group is one step closer to building its new Festival Centre thanks to a $25 million commitment from the Government of Canada. "Our collective dream for a national - global - centre to celebrate film and the moving image has obviously picked up an enormous amount of momentum because of this announcement," said Piers Handling, director and CEO of the festival group. Scheduled to open in 2008, the new film facility will house five cinemas, a gallery, the festival group's film reference library, and an education centre. "Our goal is to provide more access to more films for more people, and to encourage the growth and celebration of Canadian and international cinema," said Handling. "Festival Centre is the expression of that vision." So far, the building campaign has raised $94.7 million of its $196 million goal. For more information, visit: www.tiffg.ca.
May 2, 2005
Harold Shipp, chair of the Shipp Corporation, recently announced a $6 million matching pledge to the Trillium Health Centre, which has hospitals in Mississauga and Etobicoke. If other donors step up the plate, the hospital will be $12 million closer to the $30 million needed to finance 13 capital projects. Shipp's donation will help build a better stroke centre. "I thought, wouldn't it be great to see the money being used, to see people enjoy the benefits, and have it in recognition of my wife, June C. Shipp?" says Shipp, whose wife died in 2001 after suffering a massive stroke. For more information about the Trillium Health Centre, visit: www.trilliumhealthcentre.org.
May 2, 2005
The Washington, D.C.-based Independent Sector estimates that the value of the volunteer hour increased to US$17.55 in 2004, up from US$17.19 per hour in 2003. The estimate is based on the average hourly wage for all non-management, non-agriculture workers from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Given the number of volunteer hours logged in 2004, this translates into US$272 billion of contributed service. Washington, D.C. boasted the highest value per hour at US$24.75, while the lowest value for one hour of volunteer time was in Puerto Rico, at US$9.10. In the past decade, the value of a volunteer hour has increased almost $5, from US$12.68 per hour in 1994 to US$17.55 in 2004. -- Independent Sector
May 2, 2005
With an $11 million donation, cable television magnate J. R. Shaw has secured naming rights for the new $175-million Alberta Heart Institute. It will be named for former deputy prime minister Don Mazankowski. "He really wants to contribute and he's a true Albertan," said Shaw, who raised the $11 million. "He's a great example of the kind of person we'd all like to be and that's why I really love the man and think we need more of him." The Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, part of the hospital complex at the University of Alberta, will be officially launched in early May. For more information about the Alberta Heart Institute, visit: www.albertaheartinstitute.ca.
May 2, 2005
To help fill the gap in knowledge about policy capacity in the voluntary/nonprofit sector, a directory of organizations doing public policy work is being developed. This directory is funded by the Muttart Foundation, the Walter & Duncan Gordon Foundation, the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, and the Maytree Foundation. Researchers are now seeking input from nonprofit, voluntary or community-based organizations or coalitions engaged in policy work that is:Organizations have until May 31st to complete a 10-minute survey, which can be found at: www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=484431023032.
- central to the mission of the organization or coalition,
- pro-active, and
- ongoing.
May 2, 2005
Local businessman Jim MacDonald announced a $1 million donation to his alma mater, University of Winnipeg Collegiate. The gift is the largest ever received by the university's collegiate program and will support the Dean's Bursary Fund in Memory of Lorne Tomlinson. "This gift is my way of saying 'thank you' for all that The Collegiate has done for me," said MacDonald. "The Collegiate is a remarkable place. It has the ability to bring out the best in everyone. By supporting this endowment fund, we are enabling those who may not have the financial means to also share in this educational experience that will undoubtedly stay with them forever." For more information, visit: www.uwinnipeg.ca.
May 2, 2005
The Chronicle of Philanthropy's sixth annual survey of gift funds found that a rising stock market contributed to rapid growth of donor-advised funds in 2004. Assets of donor-advised funds increased by a median of almost 15% last year among the 88 for-profit companies, community foundations, religious organizations, and other groups that provided figures for both 2003 and 2004. These organizations collectively held more than 80,000 donor-advised funds, 7,000 of which were set up last year. The total value of these funds is approximately $13 billion, with $2.6 billion being distributed to charities. -- Chronicle of Philanthropy
May 2, 2005
The CIBC World Markets Children's Miracle Foundation is now accepting submissions for its second annual Young Miracle Maker Awards program. The foundation will recognize up to 13 young Canadians (18 years of age or younger) for their contributions to the health, education, and well-being of children in their communities. Award winners will receive a $500 Canada Savings Bond and a $2,500 donation in their name to a qualifying children's charity of their choice. Nominations must include a summary of the nominee's contributions to children in their community, as well as three references to confirm their charitable involvement. The deadline for submissions is September 30th. For more information, visit: www.childrensmiracle.com.
May 2, 2005
Bill Peters, CEO of the Calgary Science Centre, announced last week that the facility is changing its name. A $9 million donation from TELUS means it will now be known as TELUS World of Science Calgary. The money, which is to be spread over the next 20 years, will go towards building a new and expanded science centre north of the Calgary Zoo. "TELUS' support will also allow new programs, which will encourage life-long learning in the field of science," said Peters. For more information about the Calgary Science Centre, visit: www.calgaryscience.ca.
May 2, 2005
According to the results of a recent survey conducted for Hewlett-Packard, 92% of Canadians say that the more socially and environmentally responsible a company is, the more likely they are to purchase their products or services. Almost all respondents (93%) feel that CSR should be as important to companies as profit and shareholder value. However, 50% of those surveyed say that Canadian companies are doing just average in the area of social and environmental responsibility, and 40% have punished a company in the last year by not purchasing their products or speaking critically about them because they felt those companies were not acting in a socially responsible manner. When it comes to employment, 91% of respondents say they prefer to work for a company that is socially and environmentally responsible. -- Hewlett-Packard (Canada)
May 2, 2005
Last week, the Trudeau Foundation announced the recipients of the annual Trudeau Foundation Fellows Prize. The Fellows Programme seeks out and promotes the finest thinkers in a range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. This year's Fellows are:Each Fellow will receive a $150,000 prize, paid over three years, plus a $25,000 annual allowance for travel and research expenses. For more information, visit: www.trudeaufoundation.ca/laureats_e.asp.
- George Elliott Clarke - E.J. Pratt Professor of Canadian Literature, University of Toronto
- Jane Jenson - Professor of Political Science, University of Montreal
- Will Kymlicka - Canada Research Chair in Political Philosophy, Queen's University
- Margaret Lock - Marjorie Bronfman Professor in Social Studies in Medicine, McGill University
- Philippe Poullaouec-Gonidec - Chair in Landscape and Environmental Design at University of Montreal's School of Architecture and Landscape
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