Giving Tuesday is an international day of giving that has become a global movement where we all come together to give back to the community. Every act of generosity counts no matter what it is. It could be giving a compliment, helping a stranger, lending a pen to your coworker, giving your seat to someone on a crowded bus, or helping those who are less fortunate.
We are proud to be a BC owned and operated company, and as part of our Giving Tuesday initiative we are supporting the local communities where we live and work. We have donated $34,420 to the charities below.
This year, our offices across BC are sponsors of many local charities and organizations:
Kerrisdale and Vancouver Downtown offices donated to Save the Children. The organization helps children in nearly 120 countries around the world – including Canada. In Canada, they have programs such as, the national reconciliation, climate change, education, and health programs.
Surrey, Delta, White Rock, and Langley offices donated to Options Community Services for their Christmas Hamper Program. The charity provides social services and promotes a healthy community.
Tri-Cities, Coquitlam offices donated to Share Family and Community Services for their Holiday Food for Families & Holiday Toy Program as well as to Share Family and Community Services Imagine Gala. They provide leadership and programs for the Tri-Cities, New Westminster, and adjacent communities.
Langley office donated to Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Langley. Through mentoring, all children and youth are given the tools they need to realise their greatest potential.
Maple Ridge office donated to Maple Ridge Rotary. Their volunteers help members of the community who are in need.
Parksville office donated to District 69 Backpack Program where the donations contribute to helping feed one family for one year. Parksville office held a Pet Photos with Santa session to raise money for the cause.
Commercial and Property Management offices donated to several charities: Vancouver Chinatown Foundation (focused on revitalization of Chinatown and helping the less fortunate), Osteoporosis Canada (bone health education and awareness), and Dr. Peter Aids Foundation (promotes the well-being of people with HIV).
We’re #RealProud of our offices, agents and staff for their generosity and holiday spirit this season!
Almost two years have passed by since the pandemic started in the beginning of 2020, and today it is still greatly impacting many charity organizations across Canada. According to a study by Imagine Canada, “[in Canada], more than 4 in 10 charities are still facing declines in revenue [and] more than half are dealing with revenue declines of more than 40%.” With the high demand that charities are struggling to meet, they need our help now more than ever to continue their services.
As a BC owned and operated company, Macdonald Realty takes the opportunity to give back to the local community and across Canada.
In May 2021, Macdonald Realty and Macdonald Commercial were proudly the Presenting Sponsor for the 8th annual ARThritis Soirée held virtually. The event raised over $315,000 for arthritis research to help more than 6 million Canadians, young and old, struggling with the pain and disability of arthritis – Arthritis Research Canada provides life-changing answers and hope.
“As Presenting Sponsors, Macdonald Realty and Macdonald Commercial extend our gratitude to all sponsors who, like us, are committed to ensuring our support for life-changing arthritis research goes ahead. Despite these uncertain times, we must push forward and do all we can to accelerate discovery and find answers. My deepest appreciation for your generosity at this very crucial time.” – Dan Scarrow, President, Macdonald Real Estate Group
“Aside from its prevalence, I think it’s also important to let people know that arthritis is a serious condition that can have a very damaging effect on peoples’ lives. Part of why it is an ‘invisible’ disease is because people suffer in silence and some even feel shame about bringing it up because others think it’s not particularly serious. This needs to change.” – Dan Scarrow, President, Macdonald Real Estate Group
From Around Our Offices
Our offices across BC have also donated to charities to help their communities.
North Vancouver, West Vancouver, and the Sunshine Coast offices donated to the Red Cross
Surrey, Delta, White Rock, and Langley offices donated to Options Community Services for their Christmas Hamper Program
Tri-Cities, Coquitlam offices donated to Share Family and Community Services for their Holiday Food for Families & Holiday Toy Program
Victoria, Sidney, Salt Spring Island, and Parksville offices donated to The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre, The Victoria SPCA, The Royal Canadian Legion, and The Chief and Petty Officers’ Veterans Assistance Society
Squamish office donated to the Helping Hands Society in Squamish
We’re #RealProud of our offices, agents and staff for their generosity and holiday spirit this season!
To Benefit:
Arthritis Research Canada/Arthrite-recherche Canada
Arthritis Research Canada is the largest arthritis research organization in North America with centres in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec. With a dedicated team of more than 100 research scientists, assistants, and trainees – Arthritis Research Canada’s work in arthritis prevention, early diagnosis, better treatment, and improved quality of life is internationally recognized. Arthritis Research Canada’s patient-driven research is reducing the burden of arthritis and providing people with arthritis more timely and cost-effective solutions to address their healthcare needs, right now!
Dan Scarrow, Macdonald Realty President – ARThritis Soirée 2019
For more than 6 million Canadians, young and old, struggling with the pain and disability of arthritis – Arthritis Research Canada provides life-changing answers and hope.
The 8th annualARThritis Soirée is scheduled for Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 5:00pm PDT and will be presented in a new, virtual format. Bringing sponsors and guests from across Canada, for the first time.
The evening promises something for everyone – an exquisite prize draw, fantastic silent and art auctions, and great entertainment. This is an important event to benefit arthritis research and help improve the quality of life for millions of Canadians.
“As Presenting Sponsors, Macdonald Realty and Macdonald Commercial extend our gratitude to all sponsors who, like us, are committed to ensuring our support for life-changing arthritis research goes ahead. Despite these uncertain times, we must push forward and do all we can to accelerate discovery and find answers. My deepest appreciation for your generosity at this very crucial time.” – Dan Scarrow, President, Macdonald Real Estate Group
For more information and tickets to for the ARThritis Soirée please visit arthritissoiree.ca. Please join us in supporting arthritis research.
To benefit:
Arthritis Research Canada/Arthrite-recherche Canada
Arthritis Research Canada is the largest arthritis research organization in North America with centres in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec. With a dedicated team of more than 100 research scientists, assistants, and trainees – Arthritis Research Canada’s work in arthritis prevention, early diagnosis, better treatment, and improved quality of life is internationally recognized. Arthritis Research Canada’s patient-driven research is reducing the burden of arthritis and providing people with arthritis more timely and cost-effective solutions to address their healthcare needs, right now!
Make arthritis research a priority!
For more information and to learn how you can make a difference, visit Arthritis Research Canada.
SOURCE Arthritis Research Canada
For further information: Susan Le, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Arthritis Research Canada, 604-207-4010 or mc@arthritisresearch.ca, www.arthritisresearch.ca
This is the best time of the year, and despite being a bit different, we still want to make it special.
Christmas is all about family, kids, traditions, and although we all need to be safe, we all need to have some fun as well.
Photo by Jonathan Borba
Thinking of you all, we’ve selected a few ideas to help you bring more fun into your holidays while staying safe at home.
Bake Christmas Cookies
Christmas cookies are not only for Santa Claus.
We all love relaxing by the fireplace with hot cocoa in one hand and a homemade baked cookie in another, and yes, these Christmas Cookies for beginners are just so cute and look yummy!
Decorate Your Gingerbread House
Kids love to help in the kitchen, and holiday baking is just so wonderful, mainly if the baking includes gingerbread homes decoration.
If you’re dreaming of turning your gingerbread house into a trully gingerbread home this year, you will love these techniques.
Create Personalized Ornaments
Salt dough ornaments are a fun and easy DIY Christmas decoration.
Kids will love the idea of making their own. Kids’ creativity and imagination will go infinity and beyond.
Build Homemade Snowglobes
If your kids love snow, they will love to have a snow globe in a jar.
Everything is possible here, such as adding their own photo, small toys and tons of glitter.
Get Your Minimalist Gift Done
It’s easy to feel very stressed over the holiday season, especially this year.
Try to disconnect a bit and make time to prepare meaningful and minimalist gifts yourself. Your bubble will love it.
Have an Ugly Sweater Contest
How ugly can you make your sweater?
Hold a competition with your bubble and make it a very memorable family time.
Make a Santa Key
OMG! Do you live in a place without a chimney? No worries!
If you are wondering how to explain to your kids how Santa will get to your living room, invite them to make a Santa key.
Grow your MO or ladies, MOVE for a bro with us this November. Join our #MacdonaldMovember team to encourage your friends, family and clients to donate or make a one-time donation to support men’s health and suicide prevention.
We’re ambitious – help us reach our goal of $25,000 and bring awareness to testicular and prostate cancer. – Tore Jacobsen
Globally, men die 6 years earlier than women. In Canada, 3 out of 4 suicides are men. 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. And testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men.
Pretty shocking, right? That’s why Macdonald Realty is doing Movember this year: we are dedicated to changing the face of men’s health!
How you can support #MACDONALDMOVEMBER campaign?
Make sure to join our team #MacdonaldMovember, reach out to clients and family to support, if you’re part of our team all donations via your own page will go towards our team goal!
Ladies and other non-mustache folks can join the movement by taking part in the MOVE challenge walk/run 60k in November
Use the hashtag also to tag us on social media to check in throughout the month! #MacdonaldMovember
We’ll announce prizes for the best ‘stache, donation challenges, and motivating you to get moving 60km this month!
The money we raise this Movember will help fund life-changing mental health programs, groundbreaking research and scientific breakthroughs for cancer treatments.
VANCOUVER, B.C. – (April 24, 2020) – Macdonald Realty Victoria has committed to donating a portion of their agent’s monthly office fees to the Victoria Rapid Relief Fund which is raising money for coronavirus emergency relief in the capital region. The first monthly contribution of $1200 was delivered to The Victoria Foundation who chairs the fund, with a commitment to continue the monthly donations while Macdonald Realty agents work from home during physical distancing.
“We saw an opportunity to shift the focus and support our community during this critical time, ” says Ara Balabanian, Managing Broker of Macdonald Realty’s Victoria and Sidney offices. “Real Estate has been deemed an essential service by the BC Government so while the doors to our office are closed, we are fortunate to be able to continue offering essential services to clients from our homes. Our agents are happy to see a portion of their office fees redirected to support this worthwhile cause.”
The Victoria Rapid Relief Fund was established to provide funds to local Registered Charities and Qualified Donees providing front-line services to vulnerable populations whose staff, volunteers, programs, and operations have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Since March 21st they have raised over $5 million dollars.
Picture from The Victoria Foundation Facebook Page
_______________________________________
About Macdonald Real Estate Group: Founded in Vancouver in 1944, Macdonald Realty (macrealty.com) has grown to become BC’s largest full-service corporately owned real estate company, with over 20 offices, 1,000 agents and staff in the province, and nearly $6 billion in annual sales.
In addition to residential sales, Macdonald Commercial has over 40 dedicated commercial agents with a head office in Vancouver and a new Fraser Valley office in South Surrey; Macdonald Property Management currently manages over $5 billion in BC properties; and Macdonald Platinum Marketing has sold over $2 billion in luxury new construction.