Philanthropy

John Volken poses for a photo in Surrey on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. (Photo: Anna Burns)

B.C. author’s book demonstrates how to ‘Walk with a Purpose’

Surrey philanthropist John Volken’s autobiography shows how it’s done

 

Charlotte lives with chronic lung disease. Her wish was to go to her favourite theme park – a dream made true by Make-A-Wish Canada and generous donors when she was three-years-old.

‘Magic truly does exist:’ Creating lasting memories for children facing serious illness

Thanks to generous donors, Make-A-Wish Canada granted nearly 1,000 life-changing wishes last year

  • Dec 5, 2022

 

Through its Heart and Soul of the Community initiative, Black Press Media showcases the vital work of non-profit organizations here at home and throughout Western Canada.

Black Press Media gives back to the Heart and Soul of the Community

Year-long program supports vital non-profits hard at work in your neighbourhood

 

FILE - Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is seen on the sidelines before the start of an NFL football game on Sept. 15, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. A former housekeeper for Bezos says she and other employees suffered unsafe working conditions that included being forced to climb out a laundry room window to get to a bathroom. In a lawsuit filed in Seattle this week, a longtime housekeeper claims she was discriminated and retaliated against when she complained about a lack of rest breaks or an area where staff could eat. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

Jeff Bezos says he will give away most of his fortune

Amazon founder worth about $124.1 billion, according to Forbes

FILE - Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is seen on the sidelines before the start of an NFL football game on Sept. 15, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. A former housekeeper for Bezos says she and other employees suffered unsafe working conditions that included being forced to climb out a laundry room window to get to a bathroom. In a lawsuit filed in Seattle this week, a longtime housekeeper claims she was discriminated and retaliated against when she complained about a lack of rest breaks or an area where staff could eat. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Lily Lee is seen in this handout photo provided by the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation.

Ex-nurse donates $3.8M for health unit in Downtown Eastside where she worked in 1950s

‘It’s important if you have something that you should share with others.’

Lily Lee is seen in this handout photo provided by the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation.
The Triangle Woman’s Institute hosted a fundraiser for Angel Flight East Kootenay that took the form of a painting class, put on by Keltie Pion of The Tipsy Canvas South Country. The event brought in $750 for the air shuttle service. (Courtesy of Judy Lou McDonald)

Triangle Women’s Institute hosts fundraiser for Angel Flight

A painting class by Keltie Pion raised $750 for the charity

The Triangle Woman’s Institute hosted a fundraiser for Angel Flight East Kootenay that took the form of a painting class, put on by Keltie Pion of The Tipsy Canvas South Country. The event brought in $750 for the air shuttle service. (Courtesy of Judy Lou McDonald)
Angel Flight East Kootenay got a Cessna 414A plane in December, 2021, with funding from the Regional District of East Kootenay. The reliability of the new plane has been attributed to increased flight numbers in 2022. (Submitted by Brent Bidston)

‘We love doing it’: Angel Flight seeing increased need in the East Kootenays

The founder of the charity credits increased numbers to reliability of new plane

Angel Flight East Kootenay got a Cessna 414A plane in December, 2021, with funding from the Regional District of East Kootenay. The reliability of the new plane has been attributed to increased flight numbers in 2022. (Submitted by Brent Bidston)
FILE - A person walks by the headquarters of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on April 27, 2018, in Seattle. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, that it will commit $1.2 billion to the effort to end polio worldwide. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Gates Foundation pledges $1.2B to eradicate polio globally

Money will be used to stop outbreaks of new variants of the virus

FILE - A person walks by the headquarters of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on April 27, 2018, in Seattle. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, that it will commit $1.2 billion to the effort to end polio worldwide. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Alli Thompson and Sarah Thompson carrying bags full of school supplies, to be donated to kids across the Elk Valley and Crowsnest Pass as part of the 11th annual ‘Back to School Backpacks Campaign’, put on by the Women of Steel committee of the USW Local 9346. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)

‘Equal on the first day’: Women of Steel donate 99 backpacks full of school supplies

The supplies will be delivered to anonymous kids in the Elk Valley and Crowsnest Pass

Alli Thompson and Sarah Thompson carrying bags full of school supplies, to be donated to kids across the Elk Valley and Crowsnest Pass as part of the 11th annual ‘Back to School Backpacks Campaign’, put on by the Women of Steel committee of the USW Local 9346. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)
John Hillman, 103, with the judge presiding over the July 21 virtual citizenship ceremony where the British veteran became Canadian. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

B.C.’s John Hillman becomes Canada’s oldest newest Canadian at age 103

Oak Bay man takes his official oath in English and in French to earn his citizenship July 21

John Hillman, 103, with the judge presiding over the July 21 virtual citizenship ceremony where the British veteran became Canadian. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Honey needs new wheels after being found paralyzed on the side of a road. (GVAC/Facebook)

‘Honey needs wheels’: Island animal rescue fundraises for paralyzed, abandoned pup

The organization plans to try physiotherapy but says: ‘Honey needs wheels’

Honey needs new wheels after being found paralyzed on the side of a road. (GVAC/Facebook)
From left to right: Abbey White, Ian Benson, Monique Lee, and Len Gostick. The first three are organizers of the bi-annual Bearspaw Contracting ‘Community First’ Society golf tournament and gala event, and Gostick was an original co-founder and continual sponsor of the event. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)

Golf tournament fundraiser in Elkford and Fernie brings in large crowd, former NHL players

Money raised will go to the Elkford Women’s Task Force Society and Angel Flight East Kootenay

From left to right: Abbey White, Ian Benson, Monique Lee, and Len Gostick. The first three are organizers of the bi-annual Bearspaw Contracting ‘Community First’ Society golf tournament and gala event, and Gostick was an original co-founder and continual sponsor of the event. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)
Victoria student Levi Budd won $10,000 for Habitat for Humanity in a writing contest. (Courtesy Lucky Budd)

B.C. 6th-grader who started the #levidrome drive wins $10K with his writing

Sixth grader’s essay funds Habitat for Humanity Victoria

Victoria student Levi Budd won $10,000 for Habitat for Humanity in a writing contest. (Courtesy Lucky Budd)
Left to right: Sharon Strom (Teck), Steve Fairbairn (Director, Elkford Housing Society), Bill Macdonald (Director, Elkford Housing Society), Richard Whittington (Teck), Tammy Ogden (Teck), Denise Bertrand (Director, Elkford Housing Society), Duncan McDonald (President, Elkford Housing Society), Kim Bauer (Vice President, Elkford Housing Society - holding her granddaughter), Robin Sheremeta (Senior VP, Teck), Dean McKerracher (Mayor of Elkford), Joanne McKerracher. (Image courtesy of Teck)

Teck donates $1 million for senior’s housing project in Elkford

The donation will allow the project to proceed following a funding shortfall

Left to right: Sharon Strom (Teck), Steve Fairbairn (Director, Elkford Housing Society), Bill Macdonald (Director, Elkford Housing Society), Richard Whittington (Teck), Tammy Ogden (Teck), Denise Bertrand (Director, Elkford Housing Society), Duncan McDonald (President, Elkford Housing Society), Kim Bauer (Vice President, Elkford Housing Society - holding her granddaughter), Robin Sheremeta (Senior VP, Teck), Dean McKerracher (Mayor of Elkford), Joanne McKerracher. (Image courtesy of Teck)
Red Apple store manager Stacey Bickford alongside employee Olivia English. The store’s Christmas Toy Drive wrapped up on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)

Fernie Red Apple Christmas toy and gift drive wraps up, kids see the Clauses

The annual toy drive concluded on Saturday while families took pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Claus

Red Apple store manager Stacey Bickford alongside employee Olivia English. The store’s Christmas Toy Drive wrapped up on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)
Dr. Rebecca Deyell, pediatric oncologist at BC Children’s Hospital, with Ellie, treated for a rare childhood cancer at BC Children’s Hospital. Thanks to vital donor support, researchers can explore uncharted paths and treatment options for children like Ellie.

Ellie’s journey: Rare condition points to critical research need

BC Children’s Hospital shares need for increased research for childhood cancers

  • Dec 13, 2021
Dr. Rebecca Deyell, pediatric oncologist at BC Children’s Hospital, with Ellie, treated for a rare childhood cancer at BC Children’s Hospital. Thanks to vital donor support, researchers can explore uncharted paths and treatment options for children like Ellie.
Jillian Harris and Team Jilly have joined with Do Some Good to engage the community, support local causes and amplify the many amazing stories that non-profit organizations share. Join her for the 12 Days of Christmas campaign, Dec. 1 to 12.

Jillian Harris joins Do Some Good to drive more community impact

Team Jilly’s 12 Days of Giving campaign runs Dec. 1 to 12

  • Nov 22, 2021
Jillian Harris and Team Jilly have joined with Do Some Good to engage the community, support local causes and amplify the many amazing stories that non-profit organizations share. Join her for the 12 Days of Christmas campaign, Dec. 1 to 12.
The Fernie Fox Hotel donated $4,000 to the Fernie Senior Citizens Drop-In Centre for their annual Community Appreciation Initiative. From left: Marina Pauw (Fernie Fox Hotel Owner), Dindin Dimayacyac (Fernie Fox Hotel Front Desk Manager), Jim Booth (Seniors Centre Board of Directors), Paul Eckstein (Seniors Centre Board of Directors), Jeremiah Pauw (Fernie Fox Hotel Owner), and Nici Blackwell (Seniors Centre Board of Directors).

Fernie Fox Hotel donates $5,000 to seniors and community programs

The donation recipients were decided via selfies from Fernie locals

The Fernie Fox Hotel donated $4,000 to the Fernie Senior Citizens Drop-In Centre for their annual Community Appreciation Initiative. From left: Marina Pauw (Fernie Fox Hotel Owner), Dindin Dimayacyac (Fernie Fox Hotel Front Desk Manager), Jim Booth (Seniors Centre Board of Directors), Paul Eckstein (Seniors Centre Board of Directors), Jeremiah Pauw (Fernie Fox Hotel Owner), and Nici Blackwell (Seniors Centre Board of Directors).
Through fundraisers like Jean Up, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation supports the hospital's world-leading experts who are working relentlessly to improve the lives of children like India.

A family navigates childhood cancer through the pandemic

Jean Up this May and help kids get out of their hospital gowns and back into their jeans

  • May 24, 2021
Through fundraisers like Jean Up, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation supports the hospital's world-leading experts who are working relentlessly to improve the lives of children like India.
Susan Martin and Peter Gook are sharing their experience on the dementia journey to raise awareness for the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s.

Couple share their story to bring more visibility to dementia

The IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s will help families at any stage in the dementia journey

  • May 17, 2021
Susan Martin and Peter Gook are sharing their experience on the dementia journey to raise awareness for the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s.