Internationally, Make-A-Wish is the largest wish-granting organization, making wishes come true for more than 480,000 children since 1980.
When Children are battling a critical illness, so much of a normal childhood is taken away from them; it is exhausting, both emotionally and physically. A Wish is something that gives kids the opportunity to look outside their illness, it restores a sense of childhood back to the child and normalcy back to the family.
Emmanuel House Hospice was chosen by our Marketing Assistant, Stephanie Badour. During a difficult time for her and her family, her Nana stayed at Emmanuel House where she received excellent care and support. “I spend everyday and some nights at Emmanuel house for just over a month, and they treated us like family. No request was an annoyance, or too much. My Nana was treated with respect and compassion until her last breath. Nothing but appreciation and love for Emmanuel House Hospice. I also want to thank Carson Law for putting this incentive into place and having the staff feel so connected to something during the Holiday season.”
Our tenth day of giving is dedicated to Make-A-Wish Canada, chosen by our former Business Development and Marketing Assistant, Lisa Skipton. Lisa has seen the magic and difference that Make-A-Wish Canada can truly have. In high school, Make-A-Wish Canada helped her best friend’s wishes come true before she passed away, and Lisa can agree that this experience had helped her friend in fighting her disease for longer than doctors anticipated.
Our ninth day of giving was chosen by our Law Clerk, Joshua Goetz. He chose the Hamilton Foundation for Student Success by seeing first hand how too many children were going to school without lunches. With this program, no child has to feel embarrassed to ask for food or remain hungry. The Hamilton Foundation for Student Success provides lunches for these children in need. Any child going to school should have proper nutrition to aid in proper learning, and should never have a hungry belly. Thank you Joshua and thank you Hamilton Foundation for Student Success.
Our eighth day of giving has been chosen by our Business Development and Operations Manager, Chad Blundy. Unfortunately, cancer has been something that has impacted a number of Chad’s family members, in various ways. He has lost loved ones much too early as a result of this disease, and there are many important people in his life, both friends and family, who continue to fight. Recently, Chad’s aunt, Judy Kelly, was diagnosed with cancer and will require a full hysterectomy. Chad has selected Ovarian Cancer Canada since it supports the latest version of cancer to directly affect his family. “I am proud in knowing that my aunt will put up a strong fight, and I am also proud to work for a firm that will make a contribution to support her recovery … I encourage anyone and everyone to get to know all of the charities that the Carson Law staff have chosen and consider donating to whichever one they feel strongly about.”
*A donation to Ovarian Cancer Canada has been made in honour of Judy Kelly.*
For our sixth day of giving, we will be donating to the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society! This charity was chosen by our receptionist and brand ambassador, Kayla Wagstaff. She feels strongly about the work that CPAW does and hopes to preserve this country, that we are fortunate enough to call home, for future generations to cherish and enjoy. For over 50 years, CPAWS has been the only charity of its kind solely dedicated to protecting and preserving Canadian ecosystems and we hope they can continue on for many more years to come. Thank you Kayla and thank you CPAWS. “If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven't spent the night with a mosquito.” – Dalai Lama
On the twelfth day of giving, my law firm gave to me,
helping a hospice.
We have made it to the end of our twelve days of giving initiative, and we want to thank all of those who have followed along with us to learn about some worthwhile charities as well as why they are important to our staff. Up to this point, we have heard about many great causes working to help save lives or make things better for the future. The Ian Anderson House is a little different, because families who end up there are unfortunately faced with the impending loss of a loved one. The Ian Anderson House has been selected by our Operations & Business Development Manager, Chad Blundy, as in January 2014 Chad and his family suffered a significant event when his father lost his battle with colon cancer. His final days were spent at IAH, and words cannot express the gratitude that Chad’s family has for the facility’s medical staff and volunteers. The compassion, care, respect, and dignity that was provided certainly helped ease what was a difficult and gut-wrenching experience. The fact that IAH provides its services completely free-of-charge to six patients at a time, and grants families full access to the entire house at all hours of the day is a tremendously selfless operation.
On the eleventh day of giving, my law firm gave to me,
Counsel and support.
ADAPT is a non-profit and community-based agency in the Halton Region that assesses and provides treatment for addiction on an outpatient basis. This charity has been selected by one of our administrative assistants, Jan Christmas, as she has been witness to both the horrors that come with addiction and abuse, as well as the redemption that can be brought with proper and effective intervention. In Jan's own words, "I have chosen this charity as this organization has made a significant impact in the life of someone very dear to me who has been going through some very dark times. The counselors at ADAPT are providing the tools to help this person make significant change in their life … giving them hope for a brighter future. I believe they likely have a made a huge impact in the lives of many members of our community, both youth and adult. I’m sure they would be very grateful for any donation received.”
On the tenth day of giving, my law firm gave to me,
wilderness protection.
CPAWS considers itself a pretty unique charitable organization, and for good reason. For over 50 years, not only has the society been dedicated to protecting and preserving Canadian ecosystems, it has also been the only charity in the whole country to be solely focused on this specific endeavor. During this time, CPAWS has played an important role in protecting over half a million square kilometers of public land, water, and parks… equivalent to a space roughly larger than the Yukon Territory. Our receptionist and brand ambassador, Kayla Wagstaff, is very passionate about this cause and feels that the time to act is now, while the subject of climate change is a daily hot button issue in politics and the media. There needs to be a voice of strength and reason, and CPAWS has been volunteering to be that voice for over half a century.
On the eighth day of giving, my law firm gave to me,
Food for the hungry.
There have been plenty of charities on our list so far that have set their sights on the honourable, yet daunting, task of discovering a medical breakthrough that will cure some serious illnesses. Today’s selection may not have such grandiose aspirations as a national organization, but its presence is just as important and impact is just as large to those that it services.
Recently, Jim and his wife Joan acquired a home in Prince Edward County to give them an opportunity to escape the rigours of city life from time to time. They have enjoyed getting to know the ins and outs of the community, connecting with people, and making new friends. One way to build relationships in a new neighbourhood is to get involved in local causes, and that is what Jim is doing by supporting the Wellington & District Foodbank Storehouse.
On the seventh day of giving, my law firm gave to me,
Alzheimer assistance.
Established in 1978, the Alzheimer Society was actually the first organization of its kind in the entire world. With only $100 as an initial deposit in to the group’s bank account, forty-five people attended the inaugural meeting. Today, more than $53 million has been invested in research through society programs, and over 25,000 Canadians participated in the Walk for Alzheimer's fundraising event in 2017. Shannon Hussey, one of our administrative assistants, has identified this charity as the one she supports due to her family being intimately familiar with the effects of Alzheimer's. 1 in 5 Canadians have experienced or or currently responsible for caring for someone who is living with a form of dementia, and 87% of those caregivers wish that more people understood the realties of the responsibilities required to fill that role. Unfortunately, 1 in 4 Canadians admit that they would feel ashamed or embarassed if they were diagnosed with dementia. This stimga surrounding these types of diseases needs to change if there is to be any hope of getting proper help to those suffering.
On the fourth day of giving, my law firm gave to me,
Wishes for children.
This is an extra special selection for our fourth day of giving as two of our staff members have identified Make-a-Wish Canada as their charity of choice. Warren Gilmore, one of our real estate clerks, and Lisa Skipton, from our operations and business development department, both view the idea of making dreams a reality for a child who might need a reason to smile as a very worthwhile cause. In Lisa’s own words “I have seen first hand how bringing happiness to someone with a serious illness can inspire them to fight against their disease or condition. Make-a-Wish Canada has specifically helped a member of my family, and I am proud that the place where I work is willing to provide support to something I feel strongly about."
On the third day of giving, my law firm gave to me;
Support for Sick Kids.
While SickKids is leading the fight to save lives and provide world-class care, sometimes one’s best efforts are limited by the tools at their disposal. The building that the hospital occupies is 70 years old and in need of some serious upgrades, just to bring certain areas up to code. Erika Warren, our law student who has recently passed her licensing exam (more on that later), has made SickKids her choice for our giving initiative, and we couldn’t agree with her more. There have been other staff members who’s kids have had to take advantage of the great work the hospital is doing, so this selection hits close to home.