Giving Back
Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others. – Danny Thomas
As many of you know, I believe strongly in giving back. I contribute my time and money to a variety of organizations and I only hire associates who share that belief and actively contribute to any organization that they feel passionate about.
Recently I bought and watched An Inconvenient Truth again with dear friends who hadn’t yet seen it. Later that week I saw Blood Diamond for the first time. When I was asked what I thought I took some time to reflect before answering. I honoured the awareness that this movie had brought to the public’s mind, but the question that preoccupied me was this: “Is awareness enough?”
There are many ways to make a difference, grand or small. You can support an organization with your financial contributions, yet the best way to give back is always with your time. Whether it’s once a year during a certain holiday, once a month or on a board of directors, I encourage you to step out and get involved.
Over the years I have enjoyed working with several organizations in a variety of capacities. See Giving Back (PDF)
When looking for a volunteer opportunity in my new community on the Sunshine Coast, I chose Habitat for Humanity (HFH). I am thrilled to be taking on the role of Chair of the Volunteer Committee. Volunteers are the lifeblood of every non-profit organization, and HFH is no exception. Their infrastructure is highly dependent on volunteers from Recycling, ReStore, Construction Building, Site Selection, Financial Commitments, Fundraising, Family Selection and Mentoring, and much more. I look forward to the opportunities and challenges my new role brings.
Habitat for Humanity has designed a national print and broadcast campaign to help communicate the social importance of affordable housing, HFH needs to continue to raise funds and engage partners, at both the local and national level. The objective of this particular campaign, called “Choices”, is to provoke dialogue around the state of affordable housing in Canada, and to incite new audiences to join in addressing this critical issue. The advertising is considered to be a Public Service Announcement, which means that HFH does not pay for media time. Instead, they rely on television stations to air their advertising for free. I am very pleased to tell you that in the first week of distribution a number of national networks chose to air the ads in prime media spots, including CTV (during the Princess Diana Remembrance Concert), CBC (during the FIFA soccer championships), MTV Canada, The Comedy Network and The Weather Network.
You can view the NEW TV ads on the HFH National website at http://habitat.ca/electricityorrentp1104.php. I encourage you to forward this message and get the word out about the importance of affordable housing and the wonderful work that Habitat for Humanity does in communities across the country.
How You Can Start Giving Back
Many of us have the desire to donate our time and talents, but are unsure what skills we can offer or where to apply them.
Why not start in the workplace? Many companies need volunteers for event planning and for their own charitable initiatives.
Volunteering offers a tremendous opportunity to develop professionally and personally, and, most importantly, to help others. The rewards are endless, so get out there and give! You’ll be happy you did.
Contact Us
For more information please contact us at the numbers below or by e-mail at va@prophetcoaching.com or visit our Website at http://prophetcoaching.com
Visit our Leadership Coaching Division, Distinct Planning as it expands www.distinctplanning.com
416.463.3488 toronto
604.288.7494 vancouver
646.257.3892 new york
415.287.3892 san francisco
