Read how George Garner, Vice-president of Business Development and Marketing, Manulife Securities, was inspired to take part in the Friends for Life Bike Rally in support of the Toronto People with Aids Foundation during his vacation this year.
Toronto is home to approximately one-quarter of Canada’s HIV-positive population. In addition to illness, people living with HIV/AIDS face discrimination, financial difficulties, isolation and long-term effects of the various medications that keep them alive. The Toronto People with Aids Foundation helps promote the health and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS and its main fundraising event is the annual Friends for Life Bike Rally.
George Garner, Vice-president, Business Development and Marketing took part in the Friends for Life Bike Rally from Sunday, July 24 through Friday, July 29, 2011.
So what compelled George to take a 660 km volunteer vacation by bike? “My son-in-law works with the key sponsor of the Friends for Life Bike Rally.” George said, “He’s been involved with the rally for five years and has participated four times.” In fact, soon after he married George’s daughter, his new son-in-law was leaving for the rally. George and his wife, Doreen, knew then that it was a worthwhile cause so they decided to join him this year. “People living with HIV/AIDS don’t get a lot of broad support from the public.” George said, “There’s still a lot of stigma around this group,” “They struggle. It’s a difficult disease to live with. It’s an expensive disease to live with. And they’re lonely.”
Bike rally facts
• 6 days
• 660 km route
• 400 participants
• $1.3 million raised
• $2,200 minimum pledge
• 75 support crew members
• 17 support vehicles
• Youngest rider: 17
• Oldest rider: 71
In preparation for the rally, George and his wife purchased touring bicycles and started taking one-hour rides on the weekends. They gradually increased the length of their rides until they were doing about 250 km a week in the month leading up to the rally. They rode throughout the Niagara Escarpment to get ready for the hills they would need to conquer during the 660 km ride from Toronto to Montreal.
The rally involved a veritable symphony of resources. There were police escorts out of Toronto, out of Kingston and into Montreal. There were cooking crews, break station crews and crews to set up and break down camp each day. There were also doctors, chiropractors and massage therapists ready to treat any riders who needed it.
Typical morning on the rally:
• Rise at 5:30 a.m.
• Pack up campsite
• Load camping gear into support vehicles
• Trucks leave for the next camp
• Breakfast and group session
• Riders leave at 9 a.m.
George explained that what started out as predominantly a physical challenge with some well-intended charitable giving associated with it, turned out to be so much different from that. There were many emotional moments along the way. “Queen’s Park, day one – you’re pumped – it’s 660 km, there are 400 people,” George said. “You’ve never done anything like this before, you’re a little afraid but really excited.”
"One of the problems for individuals dealing with HIV is that the drug treatments are very hard on their bodies.” George said. Tragically, this resulted in the death of one of the riders on the first full day of the rally. “His system had started to weaken over time and he suffered heart failure.” George said. The rider’s partner, who was with him that day, made the difficult decision to continue on the rally because “he was in an atmosphere where he had a lot of love and support” George said, “and his partner would have wanted him to be there.”
Red Dress Day took place on a short riding day in the middle of the week when the riders needed a break and some comic relief. “For those who wanted to – you could dress up in red dresses. Some wore high heels too.” George said. “About a third of the riders dressed up. One guy, who was an elite cyclist, wore six-inch stilettos with bike clips on them so he could ride.” He added, “We pulled into Queen’s University while they were having some sort of United Nations for high schools there. The kids and their supervisors are in the cafeteria for lunch and we arrive…” That must have been quite a sight.
On Poz Day, short for think positive, riders had the option to disclose their HIV status in a safe and welcoming environment by wearing a special t-shirt. One rider in George’s group chose to disclose his status. “Before that day, the only people who knew he was HIV-positive were his doctor, his partner and himself. That’s it.” George said, “He didn’t feel he was ever in an environment where he could tell anybody. So all of the sudden he’s in an environment where people accept it and support it and encourage him and that meant so much to him, how can it not mean something to you?”
George already plans to take part in the rally again next year. His daughter, son-in-law and wife were part of his team this year and his other daughter wants to join them next year. His third daughter isn’t yet convinced but “we’re working on it!” George said, “…and now that we know what to expect, we want to be more involved and much more engaged in all the activities next year.”
When it comes to volunteering, “If all you can do is give financially, then do,” George said, “but if you can somehow find a way to get involved, what you get out of it is so much more than what you put into it.”
Growing up in the only Asian family of Cordova Bay, B.C., Manulife Securities Advisor Annette Quan, wanted only to assimilate with her surroundings and close the cultural gap between her and the other members of her community. By the time she was a young adult, a change of heart opened a new world of opportunity to her and empowered her to embrace both her culture and the spirit of giving to those less fortunate.
After relocating to Victoria, Annette was looking for an opportunity to become more involved in her community. She had a desire to help those who needed a helping hand and, at the urging of a client, Annette looked into the Victoria Chinatown Lioness Club. There, she found a community of like-minded women who were dedicated to serving their communities. The club members were also passionate about appreciating their Asian culture, which was an additional attraction for Annette.
Her enthusiasm for volunteering and socially responsible investing has taken Annette from a dedicated member of 15 years to the current position of club Vice-President.
The Victoria Chinatown Lioness Club was founded in 1991 and has been a charitable pillar of support for the community focusing on many fundraising activities. The club provides support for causes as well as individuals such as women and children in crisis. For example, every year for Mother’s Day, the women of the club put together over 150 gift boxes to give to single mothers at the Single Family Resource Centre.
The club consists of 35 women who are all dedicated to helping others, but recognize the importance of family first. There is no pressure to make heavy time commitments or sacrifice personal and family time. “One of the things I like best about the club is that the women are here because they want to be”. “A number of clubs and organizations tend to place a heavy emphasis on business and networking. Our club places importance on community issues and supporting valuable charitable causes”.
Annette has been committed not only to promoting community service but also to sharing her culture. The aim of fostering awareness of the Chinese culture has given Annette and the club some amazing opportunities to host some of the most well-known Asian artists in North America, allowing them to share their work with members of the community.
In May of 2010, the club held an evening with Canadian author Judy Fong Bates, the author of Midnight at the Dragon Café, China Dog and Other Stories and The Year of Finding Memory, and most recently, the club hosted Lisa See, award-winning and New York Times best-selling author of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, and, most recently, Shanghai Girls. Perhaps one of the most famous guests in recent history however, was Nancy Kwan, the first Chinese actress to achieve fame in western cinema.
“The true accomplishment is having these women come and share their life’s work with us. It demonstrates that a small group can be a powerful influence”.
Once a month, the women of the club get together to discuss the charity and community events they plan on participating in.
Here are some of the many fundraising events that Annette has been involved with:
Raised $20,000 to assist Chinese flood victims in 1998
Raised $35,000 to assist with tsunami relief in 2005
Raised $15,000 to assist with earthquake relief in Haiti in 2010
Annette has also been actively involved in raising money for Easter Seals, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Lion’s Foundation for the Training of Guide Dogs, The Kidney Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Victoria SPCA, Camp Shawnigan and many others.
Raising money for these causes gives Annette a great feeling of accomplishment, but it’s also creating awareness of the Asian culture in her community. That provides her with a feeling of satisfaction. “I lost a lot by rejecting my heritage when I was younger”, says Annette. “Now, I have recaptured the opportunity to learn more about the Asian culture, while providing help and support in the community”.
Manulife Securities Advisor, Norman Wiebe, is passionate about the sport of fencing and volunteering so that others may experience it.
With a name like “Swordsman Financial”, it should come as no surprise that Manulife Securities Advisor Norman Wiebe is passionate about the sport of fencing. For this Red Deer, Alberta native, it wasn’t all that long ago that Norman was first exposed to the sport. What started out as a fascination turned into an opportunity for Norman to step forward as a volunteer while creating a unique club for others of all ages to enjoy.
It was December of 1994 when Norman first witnessed a live fencing demonstration. Arriving early at a fencing open-house, Norman wanted to be sure he would have the best possible opportunity to get to participate in the demonstration. Not only did he get to participate, he spent five hours learning from the coaches. From that moment on, he was hooked!
By December of the following year, armed with the names of participants from the fencing open house, he was able to recruit a small group of excited fencers who formed the Red Deer Fencing club. Volunteering his time and with what little money they had, they pooled together to purchase some equipment and arrange for weekly training sessions in the basement of a church. For Norman, it was exciting to see his small club go from nothing, to something that was gaining interest and popularity in the city of Red Deer.
Over the course of the following years, Norman was spending almost every free moment practicing. He decided to take some coaching courses, which he advanced through quickly. The club had grown quite nicely during this time and was thriving. But the enormous amount of time Norman was volunteering began to become overwhelming. He realized they needed help.
"A typical day saw me leaving home before my wife awoke and returning after she had gone to sleep. I knew that I needed more help". 12 years after it was formed, the Red Deer Fencing Club was robust enough to be able to hire a full-time coach. By this point, Norman had also become actively involved as a volunteer with the Alberta Fencing Association, putting his business and financial skills to good use, serving first as their treasurer for three years and then as president for another six.
What really drives Norman’s intense passion for the sport is that it is highly technical in nature and appeals to a very particular type of person and athlete. The culture is very different from that of a hockey or baseball team and usually, both kids and adults alike who take up the sport, tend to have more of an aptitude towards academia and may not be as athletic as those who play in traditional sports teams. It is for this reason that Norman remains actively involved with the club and encourages those who think they may not have the athleticism, to give fencing a try.
His infectious enthusiasm has brought out volunteer coaches from all over Alberta who give freely of their time to further the awareness of the sport. “Some were students of mine who I sponsored when they were doing their coaching training”. This pay-it-forward model is how he sees the sport perpetuating and growing.
In January of 2010, Norman was able to help get another club off the ground in the small community of Delburne, close to Red Deer. With the support of other fencing lovers, he was able to start out with a small group, not unlike that in Red Deer. “With good business planning, solid work and a lot of passion, my goal is to bring fencing to many more communities throughout Alberta”.
What is the benefit of all this? “After many years of volunteer commitment from myself and the coaching volunteers, we’ve built the club into a self-sustaining body; one that will continue to thrive and grow in the future”.
Fun Fencing Facts:
There are three different types of fencing “swords”; an Epee, a Foil and a Sabre
Fencing was one of only nine sports at the first ever Olympic Games in 1896
Fencing is conducted on a 14m x 2m "strip" or "piste" to replicate combat in confined quarters such as a castle hallway.
There was originally no time limit on a fencing bout, until a Masters Championship bout in New York in the 1930s lasted for seven hours. Thereafter, bouts were limited to 30 minutes. Today, the time-limit has been reduced to just 3 minutes for 5-touch bouts and 9 minutes for 15 touches.
Fencers wear white uniforms because before the advent of electronic scoring, touches were recorded on the white surface with a wad of ink-soaked cotton on the tips of the weapons.
Famous Fencers: Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer of Iron Maiden, Neil Diamond, entertainer, Prince Albert of Monaco, movie star Jerry O'Connell.
This Invermere, B.C. Advisor team may be small but they've had a big impact on their community through the simple act of volunteerism.
If good things really do come in small packages, then Brendan Donohue and Sara Worley are living proof of that. While their professional team may be small, these two Manulife Securities advisors are having a big impact on their communities through the simple act of volunteerism.
Brendan is an active volunteer within his community’s t-ball league for children. With three young sons of his own, Brendan has committed to coaching with the team, the “Pirates” for the next six years. Aside from the fact that it’s a great way for him to spend time with his young family and be active, Brendan also enjoys the social aspect. “It’s a great way to meet other people, and become more involved with others living in your community”, he says. “It’s also highly rewarding; you get to see the progress of these young athletes develop over the season.”
In addition to his many nights and weekends spent at the ball diamond, Brendan has also made it a priority to be involved with his local Lions community organization. The Lions club seeks opportunities to fundraise for causes which are invested back into the communities they are based in.
One of most significant causes that recently benefited from the Lions club was the purchase of a rescue vehicle. The community of Invermere in B.C. is nestled among the rugged foothills of the Rocky Mountains, two hours west of Calgary and eight hours east of Vancouver. Because of its location, trauma teams and rescue operations have a complicated task quickly accessing an accident scene on the local area highways. The Lions club assisted in fundraising for a rescue vehicle equipped with the latest technology for recovery and administering first aid which belongs to the community of Invermere and services the surrounding areas.
The rescue truck, a sort of super fire truck type of vehicle, is equipped with the Jaws of Life and other critical life saving equipment that can quickly come to the aid of someone who is trapped in their vehicle or requires acute traumatic care. This first-response vehicle came with a price tag of $250K which required a significant commitment from a town of just 4000 people. Putting his good business sense to use, Brendan was involved in the administration side of fundraising efforts and participated at the board level as the treasurer for the Lions club. Manned by local volunteers, this vehicle has been a true life-saver in their remote community.
Sara Worley, also an Advisor with Manulife Securities is actively involved with volunteering in her community and shares a practice with Brendan. As the youngest member within her local Rotary Club, Sara is the club secretary. She always knew she wanted to volunteer within her community, thanks to the example her family set for her, but she wasn’t quite sure where to start. As a youngster, she remembers her mom, a wife and homemaker, always participating in community causes. It was at the urging and suggestion of a former advisor in her office that she decided to investigate joining the Rotary Club. And even though she participates in a club at the local level, she is helping to make a difference internationally.
Some of the programs that the Rotary Club is associated with help to bring relief to communities half a world away. From bringing water to villages in Africa to helping build schools in Central America, the efforts of the Rotary club are aimed at helping those in need, wherever they may be. One cause that Sara is particularly proud to have been involved with is the Polio Plus foundation. Polio has been eradicated in all but four countries in the world; India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. Each year, the Polio Plus foundation hosts a fundraising dinner that supports the work of the foundation, to provide vaccinations and education, aimed at eliminating this terrible disease. The Rotary Club is a supporter of this foundation and makes significant contributions to their cause.
Sara also volunteers as the board President for the Lakeview Manor Society which provides housing to low-income adults and seniors. It’s both a challenging and rewarding role that requires Sara to be up to date on all of the latest B.C. housing standards and has furthered her understanding of how low-income housing meets an essential need for those that may be less financially fortunate in her community. “Without facilities like this, there would be a number of families, widowed seniors or those living on a single income that would find it much more difficult to afford the basic necessities of life.”
As a board member, Sara is part of the process that selects eligible candidates and helps them through the application process. Her understanding and expertise of the financial industry also lends itself to her role, as there is no funding beyond start up costs, provided by B.C. Housing. “We have to rely on the income generated from rent and sound financial planning to ensure the ongoing maintenance needs are managed.”
With an ever-increasing gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’, “it’s so rewarding to be a part of a new beginning for someone who is truly grateful for assistance.” “There is a real sense of community among the residents of Lakeview Manor and I look forward to being a part of this organization for years to come.”
It doesn’t matter who you are, where you live or what community you belong to; volunteers can have great impact in small or remote locations. Both Brendan and Sara are fantastic examples of how the ripple effect of volunteerism can benefit others close to home, or someone on the other side of the world. It just takes one person to start something great.
May is Community Living month. See how advisor David Kirkup has made a “splash” volunteering in his community.
May is Community Living Month. For our feature this month, we selected an advisor who is both passionate and dedicated to serving his small community, has made significant contributions to the quality of life for those in his town and who has been instrumental in advocating volunteerism to keep rural areas vibrant.
Community recreational centres are at the heart and soul of many small communities across Canada. Hockey arenas, town pools and baseball diamonds bring together people from all walks of life, and all levels of ability, to provide an outlet for physical activity and social interaction.
For Manulife Securities advisor David Kirkup of Souris, Manitoba, the local community pool isn’t just a place to take a refreshing dip on a hot summer day, it’s a place where the members of his community are engaged, active and participatory. His story demonstrates how the fabric of a tightly knit community can unite and mobilize for the benefit of all.
As an ever-present volunteer fixture in his community, David has been actively volunteering his time for different activities for many years. Having been born and raised in Souris, his roots run deep. His belief is that small town life requires volunteer efforts to maintain vibrancy. And it’s passion for his town that has led him to be actively involved with the Souris Minor Hockey Association, Minor Baseball Association, the Youth Justice Committee and Souris and Glenwood Chamber of Commerce as past President.
Perhaps one of David’s most distinguished accomplishments was his position as Chair of the “Let’s Make a Splash” committee devoted to the development of a new pool and water park facility in Souris. After receiving the approval of the township and municipality, David was charged with leading a committee responsible for raising a hefty sum to partially fund construction.
The community plan to bring this facility to life was aptly named “Vision 2010”. The goal of this campaign was to not only build a new swimming pool to replace the existing antiquated facility, but to make the pool more of a destination spot for the community. With declining population in the surrounding areas, Souris has become a destination due to its infrastructure and superior amenities. The expectations for the pool and water park were high and anticipated to be a large draw for the local and neighbouring areas.
Of course change can be a challenge. Not everyone in the community supported the development of a new aquatic facility and not every fundraising effort met with complete success. Despite adversity, and as a true leader does, David never outwardly showed any disappointment when things didn’t go as planned. Throwing himself into his role as chair, he continually went above and beyond the call of duty to motivate his committee and keep them moving forward.
In addition to having a full-time and thriving financial planning practice and a busy young family, David was at the helm of numerous fundraisers and present on-site to ensure that construction ran smoothly. David oversaw each aspect of the development of the aquatic centre, taking it upon himself to ensure that the construction crew was looked after. He even rolled up his sleeves helping pour cement and roll sod. David was there day and night and on weekends too.
When all was said and done, after just under two years, David and his committee had raised $685,000 dollars. In a community of 1800 people, that is a remarkable accomplishment. The remaining $477,000 necessary to complete the $1.2 million dollar project was put forward by the township and municipality.
Not surprisingly, at the grand opening, David was the first one down the new slide. The new aquatic facility has proven to be a huge draw for the community of Souris, increasing tourism to the area in the warm summer months and underlining the value and importance that community spirit grants.
Interesting Souris Pool and Water park Facts
The pool and water park facilities cater to all ages and ability levels. The “beach style” entry is accessible to wheelchairs and those with physical disabilities
People are coming from as far away as Alberta to take advantage of the amenities and classes offered
The open flume loop slide alone cost $136,000, not including the foundation
The junior Olympic sized main pool features 5 lanes for lap swims
The “lazy river” is popular for use in water aerobics classes because of the resistance factor
The campaign for “Let’s Make a Splash” won the Product Development Award from a local tourism organization for new or expanded products aimed at increasing tourism in south-western Manitoba.
National Volunteerism week falls in April, making it an ideal time to feature an office team of volunteers; Aronovitch Financial.
“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?”
-Hillel
With National Volunteerism week falling annually in April, it is an ideal time to feature not just one advisor, but an entire office team of volunteers. For Winnipeg-based Aronovitch Financial, volunteerism is not just a casual, extra-curricular activity, it is a way of life.
The employees of Aronovitch Financial each have a unique cause that they support and although their team is relatively small in size, the impact their collective efforts has had on the community is considerable.
Shawna Armstrong is a part-time bookkeeper for Aronovitch Financial who has a full-time job managing a computer helpdesk call centre. Shawna is an avid volunteer with the Girl Guides of Canada as a Pathfinder Leader and the recent recipient of a Silver Unit Guider pin and a Gold Thanks pin. Shawna works with girls from single parent families with limited incomes and girls growing up in challenging neighbourhoods. She even picks them up and drives them home after meetings. Shawna feels that these are the girls that need guidance the most so that they can become productive members of society.
April Stevenson has been with Aronovitch Financial for three years as a Marketing Assistant. What really distinguishes April is her volunteer work with Klinic, a community health centre specializing in traumatic counselling services. April’s involvement with Klinic resulted from her desire to volunteer with an organization where she would make an impact.
After completing an intense training course, April became a volunteer suicide and sexual assault counselor. As a volunteer counselor, April is on-call 24-hours a day, two nights a week. In addition to taking incoming calls on the crisis line, April also works on the front line with assault victims at the hospital. She’s there to explain the process, provide information about victim resources or to just hold their hand during medical exams or interviews. Despite the fact that this type of volunteer work can be intense and challenging, April is dedicated to helping those in times of great distress and crisis.
Colleen Armstrong is a 19 year veteran of Aronovitch Financial and has been a volunteer for as long as she can remember. And although she spends a great deal of time canvassing for both the Canadian Cancer Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation and is a volunteer for Scouts Canada, her passion is helping young girls in disadvantaged or lower-income areas to develop confidence and leadership skills through Girl Guides of Canada. Colleen is directly seeing the difference that her contributions make in working with young women. “Sports activities may be out of reach for lower income families, but Guiding is accessible to children from any socio-economic background” she says.
Colleen has even had the opportunity to work with her Girl Guides internationally, visiting Mexico to see first-hand, the poverty that some families live in. The girls visited with children born with birth defects whose mothers had been ashamed to be seen publicly with them. Spending time with these babies and children helped the Guides to develop compassion for the families of these children. By the end of the trip, the parents of the handicapped children had become much less reluctant to be seen publicly with their children. The parents were thankful for the kindness and acceptance they had been shown and they cried when the Girl Guides departed.
Donald Aronovitch, the President of Aronovitch Financial leads by calm example. In addition to his career as a Manulife Securities advisor, Don has taken on numerous roles in the community. Don has served on the board of the Forum Art Institute, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and he has been the recipient of numerous awards for community service.
Among his most cherished awards for volunteerism is the Sol Kanee Distinguished Community Service Medal that was presented to him in 2006. It is the Jewish community’s highest award and he was brought to tears when he was announced as the recipient.
In addition to his tireless efforts within the Jewish community, Don is also an avid arts supporter and has been part of a committee that developed one of the best Jazz Studies programs in Canada at the University of Manitoba. As the co-chair of an endowment fund that raised 1.3 million dollars for the program, Don is pleased to share that the program now boasts three full-time faculty members and full degree status.
Don says that volunteerism is not just a spare time activity at Aronovitch Financial, it is part of who they are. To learn more about the organizations that Don and his team support, please visit the links below.
For Manulife Securities advisor Andy Glavac, the inspiration to volunteer and help others has taken him to great heights - literally!
There are any number of reasons why someone may choose to volunteer within their community; the need to give back, helping others less fortunate, or maybe a personal reason, such as having been affected by something in a way so profound, that it inspires action. For Andy Glavac, a Manulife Securities advisor based in Welland, Ontario, those are all reasons why he chose to devote much of his spare time to worthy causes in his community.
From a young age, Andy was always involved with volunteering in some capacity. His love for sports and passion for leadership gave him great opportunities to volunteer whether it was coaching a local sports team, or getting involved with the Special Olympics. His involvement provided an immense sense of pride and satisfaction.
His athletic spirit, combined with his desire to have a positive and meaningful affect within his community has taken him to great heights—literally. In 2006, Andy took to the skies and completed his first skydive in support of the Niagara Peninsula Children’s Centre. His goal was to raise $1,500 dollars, but he well surpassed that mark raising $10,000 dollars. Once was not enough for Andy. In 2007, in addition to completing his second jump, Andy lead a team of other jumpers that collectively and successfully raised over $25,000 dollars for the Children’s Centre.
As an established professional in his community, Andy places significant importance on remaining involved with local charities and clubs that promote both community prosperity and leadership. As the president of his local Rotary club for 1999-2000, and a member for over 15 years, Andy had the opportunity to be a part of an international organization that is globally recognized for serving the communities they are based in. Their motto, “Service Above Self”, made it an obvious and natural fit.
“As an advisor, we are givers first”, says Andy. “It is a natural instinct for someone in a service role”. “I’m both a business owner and a member of my community and it is critical to recognize that we prosper from our communities. It’s rewarding to demonstrate gratitude for that by giving back”.
When asked how his career as a Manulife Securities advisor impacts his desire to volunteer, Andy says that it is through his clients that he really sees where help is needed and where he can make a difference. Helping clients prepare for their future is a highly personal responsibility, one that has given him a backstage glimpse into the lives of those he works with. Taking that sense of responsibility one step further, he carries the principals of his business practice into the volunteer activities he participates in. “As a volunteer, one of the first things people ask you is ‘what do you do for a living’.” “I’m proud to say that I work for Manulife. Their signature cause, volunteerism, fits hand in hand with what I do, and supports my belief in being a good corporate citizen”.
When asked if Andy would be making another skydive jump anytime soon, he joked about having an insurance license and not being an ideal “risk”, so he’s planning on staying on the ground; however, he’s excited to have the opportunity to lead another team of jumpers in support of a worthy cause.
To learn more about the charities that Andy supports, click on the links below.
The third week of February is Junior Achievement week. This month's Advisor Volunteerism Profile features the compassionate work of advisor, Bryan Sommer, who's accomplished a lot in a short amount of time.
February is junior achievement month which makes it appropriate to continue our advisor volunteerism series profiling a young Advisor who has both entrepreneurial spirit and a strong moral compass.
At the age of 28, Surrey based Manulife Securities Advisor Bryan Sommer has already established himself as a driven professional and involved member of his community. The foundation of his conviction rests on his desire to give back and lead by example that focuses on helping others.
Outside of his busy day-to-day life as an Advisor, Bryan is closely involved with Navigate Apparel, a business he co-founded as a way to develop entrepreneurial skills and get involved with community charity fund-raising events. Navigate Apparel designs event apparel featuring strong messages with the proceeds going to the charities they sell clothing for.
Navigate Apparel supplied clothing for a 250 km Ride to Conquer Cancer, which Bryan himself participated in, that started in Vancouver and ended in Seattle. In addition to the t-shirt proceeds, Bryan was able to raise over $13,000 for the ride. He has also been involved with the design of a feature t-shirt for a member of his community who climbed four mountains in one day to raise money for the Canadian Mental Health Association; proceeds were donated back to the charity.
Word quickly spread about Navigate Apparel and soon they were providing t-shirts for Ontario Track 3, an organization that gives children with physical disabilities, the chance to learn how to downhill ski with Paralympian, Melanie Schwartz.
Helping others has been such an immensely satisfying venture that Bryan has taken things a step further. He and some members of his community began fundraising for a local rugby club that they had all been a part of, to build a clubhouse for members of each of the different leagues. “The rugby club has programs for all ages, but each of the leagues operates independently of one another. We thought it would be great if all members from each of the various leagues could have somewhere to meet and get to know each other”. As a result, Bryan was able to help raise over $17,000 for the club. “We still have a long way to go, but this is a step in the right direction”.
Most recently Bryan became involved with creating a group called Be World Changers. Still in its infancy, Be World Changers aims to provide leadership skills and opportunities to children who may be at a socio-economic disadvantage. Bryan has applied for a grant through Pepsi that could help him to further develop their program and create web video content and fun training activities for children and their parents to foster individual leadership.
Bryan has already experienced success taking his work in the financial industry to the web through the launch of his blog, www.kidsmoneymanagement.com. The purpose of the blog is to provide a more fulsome source of education to children and parents about the importance of financial responsibility and money management. “It’s not something being taught in school, so where does this important skill get taught”? Bryan uses www.kidsmoneymanagement.com as a way of sharing his knowledge and expertise as an Advisor with families in the hope that more of today’s younger generation will grow up better prepared to live free of financial worry and failure.
With a full-time career as an Advisor, it seems difficult that he could balance a full schedule of extra curricular charity and community events. For Bryan, giving back is a reward that he enjoys. “If I waited until I reached retirement age to give back or get involved, I would have missed out on the opportunity to feel fulfilled now, it’s important to make time to do things that are meaningful to you and can make a difference in the lives of others around you”.
Read more as Manulife Securities advisor, Kurt Rosentreter, shares his viewpoints with others in this Toronto Star article.
Manulife Securities advisor, Kurt Rosentreter, shares his insights on a personal finance scenario.
Learn more as you read The Globe and Mail article, Tackle Other Debt, Pay Down the Mortgage Later.
Our volunteerism profiles continue with advisor Josh Santa-Barbara. His message is particularly important at this time of year.
Drawing an obvious parallel between police work and financial planning may be difficult for most, but for Josh Santa-Barbara, an Advisor with Manulife Securities and part-time Hamilton police auxiliary member, it’s more evident than you would think. “It’s about helping people”, he says.
“The timelines are drastically different; as an Advisor, I help people prepare long-term financial plans for their futures everyday. As a volunteer auxiliary officer, I help people when every moment counts and a second can mean the difference between life and death”.
Always fascinated by police work, Josh decided to become a member of the Hamilton Police Auxiliary team 12 years ago. Being an officer of the law was not something he wanted to do as a full-time career, but as a single young man, he had the time to invest in volunteer work. Serving as a volunteer with the auxiliary unit is demanding. New officers are required to train one evening a week for 10 weeks and must participate in an intensive four-day “use of force” training course along with ongoing annual training. They do not carry firearms but must be trained to defend themselves physically.
Once the training is complete, auxiliary officers must commit to 12 hours a month of participation in the unit which could mean involvement with any type of activity from directing traffic at parades to high-risk takedowns.
Perhaps the most vivid recollection of an evening on duty for Josh was the evening of May 15, 1999. On that crisp, spring night, Josh was in a cruiser with a veteran officer when a call came in for a single vehicle accident with a fatality reported. Within seconds he was on his way to the call with lights and sirens blaring.
Not the first to arrive on scene, Josh approached a police officer and firefighter and volunteered to help in any way he could. The firefighter tossed him a flashlight and told him to hold it on the car as they worked feverishly for over an hour to free the two passengers trapped in the back of the tiny two-door hatchback. One teenage boy’s legs were shattered. The other teen in the back was unconscious, as was the young female passenger in the front seat. As Josh made his way around to the front of the car he knew instantly that the girl slumped over in her seat was dead. He found a wallet on the floor and located her identification. At that moment his heart dropped; she was only 17 years old. The driver of the vehicle, Heather’s boyfriend, was unharmed.
The details of that night were gruesome and overwhelming. Having only been an hour into his shift when the accident occurred, Josh accompanied Heather, the young girl who had been killed in the accident, to the hospital and waited for her family to arrive and identify her. He had never seen a morgue before, but that night, he waited in one with the pretty 17 year-old girl for hours, until he was relieved by officers beginning the next shift.
For the next week, Josh was shaken. He didn’t sleep and each time he closed his eyes, the details of the accident came rushing back. Most notably however, was the fact that the accident could have been prevented: the 17 year-old driver of the car had been drunk.
Since that night over 10 years ago, Josh married and became the father of two children. He built a successful business as an Advisor and works with clients to help them prepare for their financial futures. But since that night, Josh has also felt it incumbent to share his experience from that tragic evening and to speak to teens and parents about the dangers of drunk driving and how their futures can change in an instant.
Josh met Heather’s mom Lori, eight months after the accident and since then, they have become very close. Together, they are a dynamic force in advocating teens to have a plan for getting home safely. Lori is actively involved in MADD and has joined Josh during his speaking engagements to share the story of her daughter with other teens. They tell parents to have a pact with their teens so that they will never get into a car with a drunken friend and encourage parents to institute a no-questions-asked policy when calling for a ride home.
Today, Josh continues to be an active volunteer in the Hamilton Police Auxiliary and speaks to high schools, community centers and churches packed with youngsters and their parents. He begins his presentation, in uniform, with a slide show of Heather, the beautiful young girl who never made it home and recounts the horrific details of that night. And although the story is sad, the message is important. “By the end, you can hear a pin drop”, says Josh.
I’ve had the privilege of telling Heather’s story over 40 times to approximately 6,000 parents and teens. If I get through to even just one person and save a life, then I’ve made a difference”.
To read more on Josh’s story from the Hamilton Spectator, click here.
Manulife Securities sponsors advisor planning to complete Seven Summits released Nov. 23, 2010.
Manulife Securities is pleased to continue its series on volunteerism. This month's feature spotlights the extraordinary story and achievement of Francois Langlois.
On May 24, 2001, Montreal-based Manulife Securities Advisor, Francois Langlois, reached the top of Mount Everest and became the third-ever Quebecer to summit the world’s highest peak after a 60 day expedition on the mountain. As he stood there and observed the gentle curvature of the earth’s surface from 29,029 feet, Francois made a promise to pay it forward and leave this earth a better place than he had found it. For Francois, this profound moment was no ordinary miracle, and more than just the fulfillment of a dream. From that very moment, Francois has raised over $3.5 million for charities. His personal journey and commitment to volunteerism is an incredible story.
No stranger to overcoming challenges and fighting for survival, Francois, the youngest of five brothers, was born prematurely. Delivered by his father, a physician and weighing just four pounds at birth, his father cradled the tiny infant in his arms and performed a symbolic baptism for Francois on the spot, not believing he would survive the night.
Over the next few days, Francois’ condition continued to deteriorate but his fighting spirit and will to live prevailed. Dropping down to just two pounds after he was born, it was possible to see his lungs filling with oxygen with every breath he took. As the days wore on, Francois’ condition miraculously improved and amazed even the most skeptical critics. In time, he overcame the odds, growing big enough to go home to his family.
It wasn’t until he was 12 years old that his father told him about his ordeal as a newborn. The conversation had a profound and lasting impression on him, pushing him to consider his brush with mortality and inspiring him to live each day to the fullest.
In his early twenties, at a Tony Robbins seminar, Francois made a decision to live his dream to climb Mount Everest. There, on a piece of paper he wrote down that dream.
Years later, an email seeking volunteers for an expedition to Mount Everest became Francois’ opportunity to realize that dream. Never giving it a second thought, Francois eagerly expressed interest. It wasn’t until he was preparing to leave on his journey that he found that long-forgotten, yet fateful piece of paper from the Tony Robbins seminar with the word “Everest” scrawled across it. It was a sign that his goal had a purpose.
An expedition to climb the world’s most notorious peak does not come without cost; in order to achieve this goal, Francois had to sell his home and move into a one bedroom apartment. Training and equipment costs were expensive but never deterred his determination to live his dream of standing on top of the world.
Reaching the summit and looking out from the peak of Everest, a destination that some of the most skilled climbers never attain; Francois pondered his achievement and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. His belief that every child should have the chance to live their dream the way he had lived his, is what drove him to begin raising money for local children’s charities as well as local charities of the countries he visited during climbing trips.
Over the last ten years, that vision has flourished. Francois has raised $3.5 million for the following charities:
Child Haven International a foundation inspired by the ideas and philosophy of Mahatma Ghandi that assists children and women in developing countries, who are in need of food, education, health care, shelter and clothing and emotional and moral support.
World Vision Francois sponsors a child in each of the countries of the Seven Summits His monthly contributions provides food and education.
On average, Francois has raised half a million dollars for charity on each of his climbs. He even had the opportunity to revisit Everest in 2009 for a charity trek to base camp.
In a few weeks, Francois will take to the trail again and complete his seventh ascent up Mount Vinson, Antarctica’s highest peak. This trek will be especially symbolic as it will be the final peak in the Seven Summits series (the seven highest mountains on each continent). Once again, Francois will be climbing to raise money for Fondation Centre de cancérologie Charles-Bruneau benefiting children who are battling cancer.
Stay tuned for more details on Francois’ next climbs. To read more about his past adventures, please visit www.francoislanglois.com
What’s on your horizon? Globe and Mail ad published Oct. 4, 2010.
Manulife Securities congratulates Holmlund Financial serving Fort Frances and the Rainy River District for 30 years.
Holmlund Financial has been serving Fort Frances and the Rainy River District for 30 years. What started 3 decades ago with one person has grown over the years to a team of five whose goal is to provide a superior level of service and solutions to meet the financial planning needs of our clients. Click here to read more.
Manulife Securities congratulates the Timmins Branch on their 10th Year Anniversary!
Manulife Securities recognizes Bruce Templeton, for his volunteer efforts in St. John's Newfoundland.
Manulife Securities congratulates Bruce Templeton on being awarded the Harvey Webber Commemorative Award by the Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce earlier this year. This annual award is presented to a chamber volunteer in Atlantic Canada who has made a unique contribution to his or her community chamber.
Bruce, with son Jim, is co-owner of JBT Financial Team based in St. John’s, Newfoundland. JBT Financial Team provides financial planning advice to families and businesses in the St. John’s area. Although his practice keeps him busy throughout the day, Bruce has always found the time to volunteer. His community activities have included:
Provincial Commissioner Scouts Canada
Founding chair of the Bowring Park Foundation
Former president of Rotary Club of St. John’s
2009 Chair of the St. John’s Board of Trade
Current Campaign Chair United Way of Newfoundland & Labrador, and
Santa’s “special assistant” since 1978
While Bruce has thoroughly enjoyed all of the ways in which he has been able to give back to his community, he has been most touched being Santa’s special assistant for over 30 years. Bruce has many cherished memories of the more than 1000 visits he has made during the Christmas season to children in hospital. He fondly remembers a 5-year old girl whose father had died in a car accident months before asking, “Will my daddy’s spirit be with you on Christmas Eve in the sleigh?” On another visit, Bruce quietly tucked a teddy bear next to a boy who had fallen asleep waiting for Santa to come. A photo was taken and the mother later wrote, “I will treasure this photo forever. It is the last one ever taken of my son alive”.
Bruce summed up his philosophy on life and volunteering with the following: “What I have learned from this is that we all worry about the wrong things, some trivial and many we can’t control. Hug someone you love and do something special for someone else.”
This Christmas will be Bruce’s 32nd year as Santa’s special assistant.
Bruce has been married to Paula for 42 years. They have three children and five grandchildren.
Congratulations Bruce from all your friends and colleagues at Manulife Securities.
To read more about Bruce and his work at the Board of Trade:
Click here for his bio. Click here for Harvey Webber Commemorative Award press release.
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