My Story
Day 294: Founder of 365give Launches Early Detection Centre at Sunnybrook Hospital
Jul 25th
I have been on my first 365give hiatus for the past few days due to internet challenges but I am back and now have a list of “gives” I look forward to sharing with you this week. I may not have been able to write every day about my “gives” but I will still able to give every day. Today’s give is something I am very proud being a part as it will save lives every day. It’s a new Centre at Sunnybrook Hospital that will be able to detect cancer before it ever has a chance to take a life.
Did you know that 1 in 7 men in Canada will get prostate cancer in their lifetime?
Day 294: Give 294
I do have a day job for those of you that think I make my millions writing 365give. I actually don’t make millions at all but I love what I do for a living. I like to think of myself as a modern day Robin Hood – I take from the rich and I give to great charitable organizations. I have a small business in event production that specializes in fundraising. I made a very concious choice may years ago that instead of going after large corporate contracts and making tons of money I would instead use my expertise in my field to raise money for charity. I may not make millions but I have raised millions over the past 15 years to give to worthy organizations that need the funds in many different ways. The causes have varied from feeding the homeless in partnership with Second Harvest, to special facilities for schools, surgical suites at hospitals and the list goes on.
This past week I helped to complete a $500,000 commitment to Sunnybrook Hospital to build an Early Detection Centre.
It’s a Centre like no other making guests feel welcome and comfortable rather than being just another patient in a long line of “sick people” with a number in hand waiting for hours to see a doctor.
The Gelato Cup Golf Early Detection Centre has been built by raising funds through a charity golf tournament called The Gelato Cup. I work with 5 gentleman that are pillars in the
Toronto community when it comes to philanthropy. They have set the bar high for others to follow proving that we all can give whether individually or working together. I helped to create the Gelato Cup 13 years ago with the Board of Directors. The first year we raised $19,000 – we thought that was pretty good for our first golf tournament. This year we will have raised over $150,000 and to date over $1,200,000. Not bad for a little golf tournament. Not only have we built this new Early Detection Centre but we built 2 surgical suites and have purchased much needed research and educational tools for the hospital.
Our mission has been simple. We want to help be part of helping find a cure for Prostate Cancer. We support research, treat and now early detection of prostate cancer before it can take more lives.
This could be considered a “big give” because of the amount of money that has been raised but I couldn’t do it alone. I am surrounded but a community of very generous people that know and understand that together, if we all give what we can, a huge difference can be made in the world. Helping to find a cure for cancer is a big goal many organizations are trying to achieve. Whether it’s prostate cancer, breast cancer or any other type of cancer we are all touched in our lives by it. It may be our mothers and fathers, Aunt’s and Uncles, sisters and brothers or best friends.
What I do know for sure is the Gelato Cup Golf Early Detection Centre will save lives today and I am proud to partner with some amazing people that are changing the world one day at a time.
Time Commitment: A career choice 15 years ago to give
Day 293: It’s Easy to Give When It’s Hot Hot Hot!
Jul 21st
Do you know that song “Feeling Hot Hot Hot?” That is Toronto right now. I’m talking Canada. Since visiting here the temperature has only been rising. Today it felt like 40C and by tomorrow it will feel like 48C. Today I was running around trying to get some last minute work items completely in the downtown core and I found the perfect way to give when it is so hot you want you don’t even want to go outside.
Day 293: Give 293
I am in Toronto working on a large fundraising event I am producing tomorrow. It’s what I do for a living and event production is a high stress job. I work on this event for months in Vancouver than fly into Toronto a few days before the function and pull it all together. It means my phone never stops ringing, the emails come in faster than I can answer them and I have many last minute details to finish. Giving is not on my top 25 list of things to do the day before an event. It’s 10:30 at night and I am just getting my post done for the day. Only 14 hours behind schedule. Do you have days like this? Do you wonder how you will get it all done?
Today a give presented it self and I walked right past it. I had my “blinders” on as I like to call them and was so worried about my own little life I didn’t want to stop and help. But I did. I actully went back 10 minutes later to complete the give I had so quickly walked past earlier.
I was at a major intersection waiting to cross the road and a gentleman was sitting on the side walk asking for money. It was 40C out with the humidity and he was sitting there with his dog asking for help. I ignore them and just kept walking. I ran into a store to get my errand done and the image of this poor man and his dog sitting in the street haunted me. I couldn’t imagine having to sit there all day just trying to raise enough money for food or more importantly water on such a hot day.
I ran back to the corner where I had seen them and not only gave him some money but gave him the large bottle of water I was carrying. I could get another bottle but I didn’t know if he could.
Tonight I will sleep better knowing I took the time to help another human being in need and his dog. Sometimes we have or blinders on when it comes to giving. Sometimes we don’t find the time in the day to give. But I am living proof it can be done. You can give every day. Just open your eyes and your heart and give – everyday.
Time Commitment: Could have been 1 minute if I did it the first time.
Cost: A bottle of water and $5.00 cash
Day 289: Give a Message of Hope to Kids in Need
Jul 16th
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsVFp7QXup8
One organization I greatly admire is called The Note Project. Their movement is simple. They believe the world can be “a million times better” by sending one million notes of appreciation. On Day 166 I participated in The Note Project movement to help reach the “one million notes of appreciation” goal. Today Care2 inspired me to take The Note Project concept one step further and write a note of encouragement to a child in need.
Day 289: Give 289
Quoted by The Christian Blind Mission working in partnership with Care2:
“God loves all children, but too often, those with disabilities are overlooked by national health, educational and development programs. In many communities, children with disabilities are hidden out of shame or superstition and turned away by schools. The time and expense of caring for disabled children without any help locks their families in poverty.
In the poorest countries, up to 80 percent of children with disabilities die without help. All children are a blessing — regardless of their abilities to see, hear or walk. Sadly, too many children don’t hear this enough.
Send a prayer or message of hope to “forgotten” children and remind them that they are loved no matter what.”
Here is the note I have submitted to encourage a child that needs desperately needs to hear them.
“I believe we are all born on this earth with a purpose, with a light that shines brightly in or soul. We are all here to bring a message to others, to teach others about our light. To teach them the beauty that is in our soul. Find your light and share it with the world. Find the beauty in your soul and tell the world what you need to teach them. We all have things in our life we can’t do. Fear holds us all back at some time in our life. Find what you can do. Find the brilliance in you no matter what it is and live that brilliance so your light shines so brightly it changes the world. It changes they way people look at you from the outside and they see you for who you truly are on the inside. Know you are loved from corners of the earth you may never even imagine. There are people that care.”
Time Commitment: 10 minutes to write a note
Cost: 0
What Are you Saying?