The Nanaimo Foundation has launched a Neighbourhood Small Grants program in the Harewood community and we are looking for residents to get involved.
Neighbourhood Small Grants are grants from $50 to $500 to support projects designed to unite Harewood residents through the sharing of stories, skills, and knowledge. These grants are awarded to individuals, rather than to charitable organizations. Projects can be anything from block parties, to potlucks, art making, storytelling, neighbourhood walks or cleanups, invasive plant removal, scavenger hunts, clothing or book swaps and much more.
We are seeking volunteers for the Neighbourhood Small Grants Committee. The committee will be comprised of neighbours living in the Harewood area who review the Neighbourhood Small Grants applications and make decisions about which ones are funded.
Click here for more information and the application details.
Executive Director Laurie Bienert and Foundation Chair George Hanson recently sat down with Coast Connections host Elizabeth Heinz to discuss the Nanaimo Foundation’s work within the community.
For over 36 years the Nanaimo Foundation has been connecting donors with causes, celebrating health, vibrancy, and resiliency in Nanaimo. Check out their interview for more on the Nanaimo Foundation’s ongoing work to make meaningful and lasting impacts in our community.
The MOMO Seafood Extravaganza is held each year in honour of Garrett Paquette—carrying on Garrett’s legacy of generosity. Garrett lived his life with humble kindness towards all those around him, be they best friends or someone who just needed a friend.
When Garrett passed away suddenly on November 11, 2011 at the far-too-young age of 30, he was passionately raising funds for Movember, an annual fundraiser that raises money and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer. His father, Roger Paquette, decided to carry on the torch for his son. The Garrett Paquette campaign raised $115,000, making it the largest Movember fundraiser in the world.
Now an annual flagship event in Nanaimo, the Garrett Paquette MOMO Seafood Extravaganza has raised more than half a million dollars. After a few years of raising funds for Movember, Roger Paquette decided this tribute to his son should focus on supporting local needs in our Nanaimo community.
To honour and continue Tom’s legacy as a family man and community leader in philanthropy, Tom Harris Cellular has created the Tom Harris Fund for Families at the Nanaimo Foundation. Every year, this Fund will give back to families in need in the local communities that Tom Harris Cellular serves.
Between March and June this year, the Fund aims to raise $25,000 through Tom Harris business partners, local community events, customer donations, and employee contributions. Large celebrations will be held at Tom Harris Cellular locations on June 29, 2018, where a portion of profits will be added to the donations raised.
The total donations will be given back to families facing financial hardship on Vancouver Island, Metro Vancouver, the BC Interior, and across Alberta.
Click here for the full details on this fund or to make a contribution.
The Yellow Point Ecological Society (Y.E.S.) has set a goal to raise $2,500 to assist young people from the Snuneymuxw First Nation to engage in sports and athletic activities including basketball, lacrosse, soccer, paddling, workouts and strength training. The funds will be given to the Snuneymuxw Recreation and Wellness Centre to help young men and women overcome financial barriers to participation in sports.
Suicide rates among First Nations are six to eleven times the Canadian average, but the Snuneymuxw have been suicide-free for six years. Bill Yoachim, a member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation and executive director of Kwumut Lelum Child and Family Services, credits the change to their determination to include youth in reviving traditional Snuneymuxw culture and to youth engagement in athletic programs, which make people feel alive.
It is for this reason that we want to contribute, to encourage continued engagement and success.
Help us raise funds to assist young people of the Snuneymuxw First Nation to engage in sports and athletic activities. Click here to make a donation.
This session has something for everyone – financial advisors, lawyers, accountants. Brenda is an estate lawyer and tax planning consultant who helps advisors develop advanced estate plans for clients in the business and affluent markets. In consultation with allied professionals, she develops proposals focusing on generational wealth transfer, tax-efficient investment and insurance strategies, asset protection and philanthropy.
As an estate and tax planning consultant with Canada Life’s national estate and tax (NEAT) planning team, Brenda develops and implements advanced estate and tax planning strategies, and helps advisors deliver value-added services to a select group of clients in the business and affluent markets.
Prior to joining the NEAT team in 2001, Brenda managed her own law firm for nine years before merging her practice with a larger firm in Vancouver. She worked closely with small-business owners and professionals, developing expertise in corporate reorganizations, estate freezes, family trusts and succession planning for both entrepreneurs and families.
On November 3rd, 2017, the Nanaimo Foundation will be once again participating in Random Act of Kindness Day®, recognizing simple acts of kindness and humanity throughout our community!
Last year, 260 communities across Canada championed this event. We invite you to help celebrate this special day this year!
Want to participate? Our Random Act of Kindness Day® cards are circulating around our community. These cards encourage the cardholder to perform a simple act of kindness for someone – a neighbour, a friend, a co-worker, or someone they don’t even know – and then hand the card over to that person – inspiring them to do the same for someone else.
Treat everyone to coffee and donuts in the morning.
Allow your staff to leave a half hour early on November 3rd.
Send an e-card to your employees letting them know how much you appreciate them.
Share your “to die for” chocolate chip cookies with your cubicle mates.
Offer to make the morning coffee run for everyone.
Make a point of thanking a co-worker for their help on a recent project.
Open and hold a door for someone.
Pay the parking meter for someone if you see it’s getting low.
Need more ideas? Check out 101 Random Acts of Kindness via The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation, which initiated Random Act of Kindness Day in 2008.
Random acts of kindness are a wonderful way to touch the lives of others, making our world a better place to live. Help spread the word and share your Random Acts of Kindness online through social media using the #rakday hashtag on both Twitter and Facebook!
Posters and cards are available at no charge. For more info or to get involved, phone us at 250.667.4292 or email laurie@nanaimofoundation.com.
Mid Island Gives is a GivingTuesday movement in Central Vancouver Island–founded by a team of local charitable organizations.
Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 is GivingTuesday.
We have many exciting events planned in Nanaimo this year.
Visit www.midislandgives.ca for all the exciting details!
GivingTuesday is a day dedicated to giving back around the world, across Canada and in our own community. It is an opportunity for charities, companies and individuals to join together and promote support for favourite causes. It is a new Canadian movement for giving and volunteering, taking place each year after Cyber Monday. The “Opening day of the giving season,” it is a day where charities, companies and individuals join together to share commitments, rally for favourite causes and think about others.
Join Mid Island Gives as a partner nonprofit organization to highlight your important work in our community.
Join Mid Island Gives as a supporter and pledge how you will make a difference.
Help us show Islanders Give More!
Join our movement to inspire giving.
Thank you Tom Harris for your enduring dedication to our community. Your generosity, volunteerism, and community spirit has forever enriched Nanaimo.
Thank you, as well, for serving more than 16 years on the Nanaimo Foundation Board of Directors. It has been an honour and a privilege to know you, work alongside you, and benefit from your guidance.
We feel a deep sense of loss for our community, and personal sadness in the passing of a dear friend.
You have left an indelible impact on us. We’ll do you proud, Tom.
Information on making a gift to The Tom Harris Community Endowment Fund can be found here.
On November 3rd, Doug announced the establishment of the Johnston Family Fund at the Nanaimo Foundation.
Doug has become one of the Foundation’s strongest advocates, in addition to joining the Nanaimo Foundation Community Engagement Committee.
My involvement with the Nanaimo Foundation began last spring when I was invited to a presentation by my long time friend and Nanaimo Foundation Board of Director, Tom Harris.
Although I was somewhat aware of the activities of the Nanaimo Foundation, I honestly did not fully appreciate how efficient this organization was. They operate out of donated office space and their administrative costs are extremely low.
I was also very impressed with their flexibility for the donors where they are provided many different alternatives on how their donations are spent.
There are numerous different endowment funds for a diverse number of purposes including the Nanaimo Museum, The Port Theatre and Legacy Funds from the BC Summer Games.
I noticed that all of these various groups are Nanaimo-based and the funds stay in the community.
What I really found exciting was the possibility of establishing my own personal family endowment with a donation of $10,000.
After listening to a presentation by Development Officer, Laurie Bienert, I was convinced and I am pleased to donate $10,000 to the Nanaimo Foundation to establish the Johnston Family Fund.