Make it Count!

The Philanthropic Guru is what I am called.
It started back in grade school when I volunteered in the life-skills program to help the educational assistants with the ability challenged students. This opened my heart to their unique trials and daily struggles. In the eighth grade I did a project on HIV/AIDS which was an extension to my interest in helping those struggling on a daily basis. The stigma attached to HIV/AIDS stuck with me.

I guess you can say my selflessness is far reaching, and my passion for making a difference extends itself to Nine Circles Community Health Centre (NCCHC), located in Winnipeg, MB Canada. I began my volunteer journey with NCCHC in 2004; this is when I began to provide support and companionship to clients living with HIV or AIDS. I also have acted as a Training Instructor where I’ve facilitated informational classes for the volunteer training program.

In 2005 I decided she wanted to make my humanitarian efforts global. I organized my first “Kenya Mission Benefit Concert”, a concert featuring local bands inspired by this vision, that they, along with other organizations and individuals, donated time, energy and auction prizes to help send me to Kenya. This event raised over $2,500.00. I chose to travel abroad to Kenya through the Global Volunteer Network (GVN). The program I would be working in was the HIV/AIDS Program and I was ecstatic to experience this life-altering opportunity.

I arrived in Kenya in June 2005. This was the first time in my life I had traveled abroad on my own and I was a bit nervous not knowing what to expect. I arrived to such beautiful and welcoming people. Once in Kenya, I worked in several HIV/AIDS clinics in local slums, monitoring nutrition and medication intake as well as administering massages and stretching if needed. Witnessing the lack of resources first hand was emotional and frustrating and I knew from my first experience in Kenya, I would always return!

Upon my return I was overwhelmed by the interest that several schools and organizations expressed in regards to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and my experience. I then started booking speaking engagements and have spoken with local media as well as local organizations, elementary and secondary schools, universities, and conferences.

My second Kenya Mission Benefit Concert on New Year’s Eve December 31st, 2007, had local bands, organizations, and individuals donate their time and energy yet again to help send me to Kenya for the second time. This event now raising over $2,600.00. I held two additional fundraisers up until my departure January 2009, including a Spring Benefit Concert (raising over $2,800.00) and another New Years Eve Fundraising Event (raising over $2,700.00). When in Kenya I now volunteered in Kibera’s School of Hope teaching all subjects including general life skills: conflict resolution, health, sanitation, study skills, as well as extracurricular activities. Through my fundraising events for this trip I raised enough money to supply the Kibera School of Hope with much needed text books for every subject, as well as supplying Kibera’s Ushrika Clinic with a large shipment of basic medical supplies.

Through my global efforts to create change I had also acted as a sponsor for two boys in the Dominican Republic through Children International. It was important for me to make a difference in their lives by having their basic needs met. After approximately seven years, their families became self-sufficient. I made the tough decision at that point to make the change from acting as a sponsor to become a Global Parent by supporting an entire community and several children.

Continuing with my motivation to help those in need, I became an active volunteer with Siloam Mission a local humanitarian agency offering programs and services to those experiencing homelessness. I organize groups of volunteers to take on the responsibilities of prepping and executing dinner at Siloam, as well as cleaning the facility post dinner.

To finish off years of commitments to creating change, I used my energy to continue my philanthropic efforts by throwing fundraising dinners for a global campaign. “Eat So They Can” invites people to participate in one huge dinner party; where sharing a meal with friends can help stop child poverty in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and South Africa. I’ve taken part in every Eat So They Can campaign since it started, and I plan to continue to raise funds for this campaign every year to follow. Due to my new found ability to plan and execute events, I’ve been contacted by several individuals/organizations looking for event management, volunteer management, and raising funds for amazing causes.

My commitment to those in need will continue to remain endless.

I believe that you have to make every moment count and that when you have the dedication to creating change, you will! Not only will you feel the personal reward that comes from within, but your passion in what you do will create ripples and these ripples will spread to other individuals who will open their minds to creating change as well. When we work together, the possibilities are endless!