The grants were generated by funds raised from the sales of Virgin Mobile’s limited edition Samsung Gravity 3 RE*Generation phone in 2011. Fifteen dollars from the sale of each phone, which was introduced by Branson and Monteith in Montréal last year, was donated back to the RE*Generation Movement by Virgin Mobile and Samsung.

Mayor Gregor was on hand, as were a bunch of the children from Project Limelight who sung us some sweet songs from their upcoming show Wonderland, which you can learn more about and get tickets for HERE!

The $50,000 was raised by the sales of a phone, and Virgin’s non-profit arm (Virgin Unite) continues to raise funds that go towards affecting positive change in different ways:

1. Change For A Dollar: Virgin Mobile Members can add $1 to their mobile phone bill each month. The monthly dollar will then be directly donated to Virgin Unite and the RE*Generation movement
2. Text To Donate: Canadians (members of Virgin and non-members alike) can donate $5 to Virgin Unite and RE*Generation by texting REGEN to 30333
3. Sign The Petition: They’re asking Parliament to recognize November 17th as National Youth Homelessness Awareness Day (NYHAD). Head to virginmobile.ca/regen to add your name to our online petition and help make NYHAD a reality!

Stay tuned for more Random Acts!

My memory of the original tour is one of my most fond – and crystal clear – from my childhood. I was ten years old and the entire elementary school that I attended in my hometown of Vernon BC was bussed out to the Rec Centre so that we could cheer Rick on as he wheeled through our tiny little community. As he rolled past me he looked me square in the eyes and, with that road-weathered and gloved hand of his, delivered the most awesome high five I’ve ever received.

I try not to flaunt my personal achievements here on the blog but today I’m going to risk walking the line of bragging because I’ve been given license to and because, hell, it’s time to admit to you and to myself that I’m damned proud of what I’ve done with V.I.A.. I ran in the relay as a representative of the army of folks who have helped bring this positivity machine to where it is today: it’s an award-winning, impactful and well-respected resource for people looking for all of the things that make them proud of their city and its residents. In that green room this morning the group of us were told that we’re difference makers, that we’ve contributed positively to our community, and that Rick launched this anniversary relay with 7,000 people like us running across Canada in order to showcase the power of many to bring about positive change. As we huddled before our run, Silken said that the best thing that Rick has taught her as a personal friend is that everybody is making a difference in one way or another, and that if we take the time to listen, that everybody has an awesome story with which to inspire us by.

I then went out and I ran my stretch down Broadway, with the medallion around my neck and Rick at my side, and I smiled from ear to ear the entire way. I thought back to that time when I was ten years old, and how incredible it was that I was actually “in motion” now. To say that it was a proud moment would be an incredible understatement. And when I got to the finale at BC Place where these kids (pictured below) were waiting there for all of the medal bearers, wanting to give us all a high five, just like I did to Rick so many years ago, I practically fell down and wept. But instead of weeping, of course I walked through this group of kids lined up and gave each and every one of them a very Awesome high five!

And as Rick so eloquently put it in his speech that followed his arrival, after he was introduced by Mayor Gregor and Premiere Christy Clark: the relay may be over, but the journey has only just begun. We here at V.I.A. are going to help keep the momentum going in order to realize the goal of a more accessible and inclusive world for everyone. Are you?

Over the past 9 months, 7,000 participants have been bringing Rick Hansen’s 25th Anniversary Relay medallion (which we told you about HERE) across the country celebrating the silver anniversary of Rick’s Man In Motion Tour which raised awareness and funds for spinal cord research. The relay has been all about the power of many, and it concludes tomorrow here in Vancouver.

Not unlike when the Olympic torch made its way to town, streets will be shut down as 65 of folks will pass the medallion on the very final stretch of its journey. The relay finale will be at the newly-updated Terry Fox Plaza at noon, followed by a large-scale celebration at the PNE Amphitheatre starting at 5PM.

Have a read through our interview with Rick HERE and be sure to show up tomorrow along the route to high five the relay participants! I’ll be running a leg of the relay at 10:15AM starting at the Boston Pizza on West Broadway.

Deja vu with Rick and VANOC’s John Furlong!

Tony Lourenco, a Vancouver Dairy Queen franchise operator, started Lindsey’s Cakes for Miracles three years ago after his daughers (Lindsey & Sadie) came up with the idea to give back to the charity that has helped his family through tough times. The campaign is named after his daughter Lindsey’s ongoing and courageous battle with cancer and it has sparked two one-week fundraisers taking place from May 6-13, 2012 and June 10-17, 2012. During these two weeks, one dollar from every DQ Cake sold at participating Dairy Queens across Canada will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network to help raise funds for local children’s hospitals across Canada. They’re hoping to raise $250,000.

“My family was on the receiving end of the great work done by Children’s Miracle Network, so I know how important these fundraisers can be for families with sick children”, said Tony Lourenco. “We will forever be indebted to Children’s Miracle Network and I am so happy that Dairy Queen is such a huge supporter of this non-profit organization.”

Learn more in this video below and buy a cake in support of this super awesome campaign!

Pictured below is Arlo, the youngest member of the V.I.A. team, wearing his favourite jeans (his “fast jeans” as he calls them), eating a Jeans Day cookie and sporting multiple Jeans Day buttons. As the father of this kid who has actually spent time in Children’s Hospital I know how important it is that they are able to continue their work, investing in the latest tools and technologies that not only help sick kids now but allow them to research specific diseases in children so that they can better address them in the future.

Buy a button for $5 or a lapel pin for $20 from one of THESE RETAILERS then wear your jeans and show your support for BC Children’s Hospital and, specifically, kids like Arlo here.

Stay tuned for more Random Acts!

The way it works is that you put a toonie and a penny into the slot, choose one of the four designs by Vancouver artists, then crank the wheel and you get your penny back, squished, and with artwork on it! All of the proceeds go to charity as well as towards arts and culture grants.

Pop in to Salt Tasting Room at 45 Blood Alley in Gastown and smash some pennies!

Also, visit PennySmash.ca to learn more about the project.

Click HERE for more info and to nominate your top difference maker. Let them know what makes that person/business so awesome, or show them with photos/videos by April 2nd, 2012. The top five nominees will be announced on April 9th and invited to an event presented by The Flats on Georgia at Café Brixton on April 11th, where the winner will be announced by a panel of local judges and given $2000 to a charity of choice!

For more information visit them ON FACEBOOK and follow them on twitter at @FlatsonGeorgia using the hashtag #HeartofChinatown.

Stay tuned for more Random Acts! ]]> http://vancouverisawesome.com/2012/03/16/random-act-of-awesomeness-the-heartofchinatown-by-the-flats-on-219-georgia-east/feed/ 0 http://vancouverisawesome.com/2012/02/28/a-little-more-awesome-beauty-night-society/ http://vancouverisawesome.com/2012/02/28/a-little-more-awesome-beauty-night-society/#comments Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:31:58 +0000 A Little More Good http://vancouverisawesome.com/?p=118016 A Little More Good is a Vancouver-based company for, and about, the little things. The small changes that anyone can make in their everyday life. The articles we write, the events we run, the causes we support and the people we reach are all part of our quest to make it easy to create positive change.Each month from here on out we will be making a monthly guest post on Vancouver Is Awesome shedding light on our featured Charity Of The Month!

On occasion, things can overlap in the best of ways. Peanut butter for example, is fantastic with both jam AND nutella. Similarly, there are a lot of organizations in Vancouver that are both awesome AND adding a little more good to the world. We’d like to introduce our February Charity of the Month: Beauty Night Society. We got a chance to chat with Executive Director Caroline MacGillivray on what makes Beauty Night awesome, life makeovers and her favourite way to a little more good. 

ALMG: In case someone hasn’t heard of you guys yet, what makes Beauty Night awesome? 

CM: Beauty Night is a community initiative that builds self esteem and changes lives for women and youth living in poverty through wellenss, life skills development and makeovers. In 11 years we’ve given over 16,000 Life Makeovers thanks to over 500 volunteers. We exist because we believe no one should ever feel isolated or on the outside looking in.

ALMG: What is a life makeover?

CM: When someone is able to believe change is possible and through incremental change is able to evolve one’s life by becoming part of a community.

ALMG: What is your favourite part of Beauty Night?

CM: Too many awesome moments. What I see all the connections between our participants and volunteers – their eyes light up.

It reminds me of kids at Christmas but we get to experience that 365 days a year.

ALMG: What happens to the women who receive life makeovers?

CM: Many reconnect with friends and family, access services through our community partners, in some cases find housing, become volunteers, and move forward through life.

ALMG: How can someone get involved with Beauty Night?

CM: Spread the word, volunteer or contribute to our cause.

ALMG: It sounds like there’s something for everyone. Lastly, what is your favourite way to do a little more good? 

CM: Doing what I am doing and mentoring future change makers – participants and volunteers.

Photos: Alexis Desaulniers-Lea

In support of the late Randy Ponzio’s children, they’re throwing a benefit concert at the Commodore on February 17th. With more than 20 artists and 40 sponsors on board so far this will be an unprecedented showing of support for the 3 kids left behind after Randy’s untimely death this past November.

Photo courtesy Kelsey Klassen

HERE is a link with all of the info. We really hope to see you there.

Stay tuned for more Random Acts!