Charity spotlight – Habitat for Humanity

Posted on By John Gregory
Opencity Inc., Habitat for Humanity, Milton Transitional Housing, ReStore, charity spotlight

Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful illustration of those at risk of poverty, the wider community, non-profit and for-profit sectors collaborating together.

Habitat for Humanity has expanded substantially from its roots in Georgia, USA, in 1976. It has become a worldwide recognized non-profit driving force both in providing much needed support one family at a time, while also advocating strongly for those at risk of homelessness. In 2011, Habitat for Humanity Canada completed its 2,000th home and has now helped 2,700 families. You can read the last Habitat for Humanity Canada Progress Report here.

Continue reading Charity spotlight – Habitat for Humanity

Charity Spotlight – Blue Sea Philanthropy

Posted on By John Gregory
Blue Sea Philanthropy, Coldest Night, charity spotlight, Opencity Inc.

The Blue Sea Philanthropy model appears quite remarkable to me. A why did I not think of that type brilliant idea.

The Blue Sea Philanthropy website captures this essence

“Blue Sea Philanthropy is a registered Canadian charity that exists to help other charities thrive financially by providing easy access to profitable turn-key fundraising events and services.”

Continue reading Charity Spotlight – Blue Sea Philanthropy

Charity Spotlight – Diabetes UK

Posted on By John Gregory
Diabetes UK, charity spotlight, diabetes, member advocacy, Walk in the Park, Walk for Diabetes, Opencity Inc.

I have long admired the sterling work of Diabetes UK in engaging their members in advocacy to raise awareness and funds.

As the quote below emphasizes, members (or customers for that matter) have a pivotal role as ambassadors, advocates and promoters of your cause and brand. Diabetes UK has been very effective creating a voice.

“Many charities go out and just ask people for money; We ask people for their voice”.  Scott Harrison CEO, charity: water speaking at Inbound2013

Continue reading Charity Spotlight – Diabetes UK

Charity spotlight – Sleeping Children

Posted on By John Gregory
Charity spotlight - Sleeping Children Around the World, Dave Dryden, SCAW, Opencity Inc.

Canadian charity Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW) exemplifies a model squarely focussed on helping children in need across the World.

The SCAW chair is legendary ice hockey player Dave Dryden. SCAW was established by his parents and remains a personal passion for the whole family. Such was the foresight of Murray & Margaret Dryden that they created a legacy that funds the operating costs. It is one of few charities who can guarantee –

100% of bedkit donations goes to bedkits and no portion of bedkit donations goes to cover operating costs.

Continue reading Charity spotlight – Sleeping Children

Charity spotlight – Soup for Syria

Posted on By John Gregory
Corporate Social Responsibility Soup for Syria

In this Remembrance week it seems appropriate to recognize those also affected by conflict. Soup for Syria was profiled in Waitrose weekend edition (5.11.2015) and is a great example of Corporate Social Responsibility.

I am certain everyone of us is moved by the scale of the humanitarian crises pouring out of Syria and into Europe. I can hardly comprehend the desperation of a person, maybe with children in tow, arriving at a border crossing into a European nation.

Continue reading Charity spotlight – Soup for Syria

Charity spotlight – Milton Transitional Housing

Posted on By John Gregory
Milton Transitional Housing, Homelessness, Affordable Housing

Given that I was one of the founders of Milton Transitional Housing it would seem remiss not for me to include this once early on. It may also help create the context for why I talk about acting with conscience and social responsibility.

In this Opencity Inc website there are also various references to pictures of homelessness and Milton Transitional Housing, including a previous post on a new type of social responsibility. I am honoured to have been part of getting this going through the Homeless in Milton Ontario blog I started in 2008 and which has now had 30,000 views.

Continue reading Charity spotlight – Milton Transitional Housing