News
2010/02/15 -
On Wednesday, February 10, 2010, United Way/Centraide Ottawa honoured recipients of its Community Builder Awards (CBA) at the annual Wall of Inspiration luncheon. Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien joined United Way volunteers and staff to thank the individuals and organizations for their contributions to our communities.
Innovapost was awarded the “Best Community Campaign” by the United Way/Centraide Ottawa for its annual Fall Festival fundraising campaign. Laura McBride and Graeme Innes from Innovapost attended the unveiling ceremony and were both proud to see Innovapost’s name added to the Wall of Inspiration.
This was hosted by three members of United Way’s volunteer recognition team, Michael O’Byrne, Karen Soloman and Suzanne Pinel (Sarah Onyango and Lucy van Oldenbarneveld are also members). Located in Jean Pigott Hall, the Scotiabank Community Builder Wall of Inspiration is a permanent display that lists all individuals who have received United Way CBAs. It is a reminder to residents and visitors alike of the enduring commitment that these individuals and organizations have made to Ottawa.
“This wall recognizes the unwavering commitment to this community that exists in each of the recipients,” said Dennis Jackson, United Way Ottawa Board of Directors Chair and District Vice-President, Scotiabank.
For more information on the CBA program and this year’s gala, please visit: www.unitedwayottawa.ca.
2010/01/15 -
A year after Innovapost partnered with the Ottawa 67’s Hockey Club in their Adopt-A-School program, the two organizations continue to support Ridgemont High School students. Thanks to a generous donation of computers from the Ottawa 67’s Administration staff, Innovapost was able to work with Industry Canada’s Computers for Schools Program (CFS) to refurbish them for use at Ridgemont.
Mary Bada, Ridgemont’s Principal, worked with her staff to create dedicated computer labs to help meet the need for computers in Ridgemont’s career and community counselling offices. Many of the students do not have computers at home and have come to rely on the school’s busy computer labs to access online career and community services. The new computer labs have given Ridgemont students access to these services inside the counselling offices, where they can work directly with the counsellors and ask for assistance when needed.
Graeme Innes and Paul Melsness from Innovapost and Calvin Amell from Ottawa 67s went to Ridgemont High School to meet Mary Badda and a small delegation of students to officially unveil the new computer labs. Innovapost is proud to support Mary Badda and the students at Ridgemont.
Innovapost’s involvement with Ridgemont High School began when the company joined Ottawa 67’s Adopt-A-School Program. Innovapost worked with the 67’s to identify a disadvantaged ‘Beacon School’ that was in line with Innovapost’s CCE cause—helping families and children in need. Innovapost adopted Ridgemont High School, located in South Ottawa, 2597 Alta Vista Drive.
Ridgemont has a diverse student body with 800 Grades 9 to 12 students from a variety of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
The Adopt-A-School program is designed to motivate students who exhibit improved academics, good citizenship, environmental awareness and extracurricular activity involvement. Adopted schools are given Ottawa 67’s home game tickets to reward students, staff and parent volunteers who demonstrate leadership at school and in the community.
For more information on the Ottawa 67’s Adopt-A-School Program, please visit:
http://www.ottawa67s.com/sponsor_adopt.asp
For more information on the Computers for Schools Program, please visit:
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cfs-ope.nsf/eng/Home
2010/01/15 -
Innovapost is stepping forward to help out the victims of the horrendous earthquake in Haiti, which took place this month.
Through 50/50 draws, Innovapost has raised approximately $1000 for UNICEF.
SoftMoc Shoes stores across Canada are collecting used shoes, which they will be sending to Haiti. Some Innovapost employees in Ottawa offered to collect shoes at two of our locations and dropped them off at SoftMoc. Approximately 200 pair of shoes were donated by Innovapost employees in one week.
As a proud supporter of Habitat for Humanity, Innovapost forwarded a request for emergency donations to help the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti to all employees. Habitat has worked in Haiti for 26 years, and they will be there for the long term to help families whose homes were lost get back into safe, decent and affordable housing.
For more information on how to donate, please read the call for donations from Jonathan Reckford, Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity.
Donations can also be made to the following organizations:
- www.redcross.ca, or by calling 1-800-418-1111
- www.unicef.ca or by calling 1-800-567-4483
- The Mobile Giving Foundation – To make a $5 donation, text the word “Haiti” to 45678. The charge will appear on your monthly cell phone bill (100% of the donation is forwarded to charity).
2010/01/4 -
Shelley Kuzma, Development Officer from the Ottawa Hospital Foundation, has sent Innovapost a note to thank us for all our fundraising efforts this year. In it, she says:
Thank you very much for your generous support of the expansion of The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre. Your contribution through the Fall Festival Campaign resulted in a donation of more than $15,500! Every year we are touched by the outpouring of support we receive from Innovapost employees. Your efforts this year will allow the hospital to purchase a blanket warmer and hi-lo stretcher for our new Chemotherapy Floor. As patients often sit for hours during treatment, a stretcher bed allows them to lie comfortably and warm blankets are a favourite request by our patients as chemotherapy drugs make them very cold. Please know your gift will give countless patients the opportunity to receive this lifesaving treatment as quickly and comfortably as possible.
2009/12/12 -
A big thank you to all the participants and everybody who helped us raise funds for the Shepherds of Good Hope Challenge. Because of your generosity, $7,462 was raised, which will make a difference in the lives of 34 families in the Ottawa area this Christmas (which is $1300 and 9 more families than last year!)
Congratulations to the ‘All Things SAP’ Team for winning the Shepherds of Good Hope Challenge! They raised an impressive $1,915, which has been distributed to 10 families. On behalf of the Shepherds of Good Hope Charity Organizing Committee, Merry Christmas, and have a Happy New Year!
To learn more about the Shepherds of Good Hope, visit:
www.shepherdsofgoodhope.com
2009/06/8 -
Partnership rewards Ridgemont High School students, staff and parent volunteers who make a difference at the school and in their community
Innovapost is a proud sponsor of the Ottawa 67’s Hockey Club’s Adopt-A-School Program—a program designed to motivate students who exhibit improved academics, good citizenship, environmental awareness and extracurricular activity involvement. Adopted schools are given Ottawa 67’s home game tickets to reward students, staff and parent volunteers who demonstrate leadership at school and in the community.
“The Adopt-A-School Program enables businesses like Innovapost to connect with students and their families in a unique way,” said Pat Whalen, President and CEO of the Ottawa 67’s Hockey Club. “Innovapost is seen as a leader in the Ottawa community, and we are delighted to be working with them to reach out to the students of Ridgemont High School.”
Innovapost is a dedicated supporter of community and charitable organizations throughout Ottawa, Mississauga and Toronto where their 800 employees live and work. In October, the company announced it had raised 1 Million Dollars for charity since it was founded in 2002. Innovapost’s Community and Charitable Events Committee (CCE) began discussions with the Ottawa 67’s early in 2008 to find a community partnership that targeted young people in need.
“We worked with the Ottawa 67’s to identify a school that would be in line with Innovapost’s charitable cause–helping families and children in need,” said Jennifer Tomlinson, director of Growth and Strategy at Innovapost, and CCE director sponsor. “We look forward to developing our relationship with Ridgemont as well as developing relationships with other schools in the Toronto/Mississauga area to further our cause in all Innovapost locations.”
“Over the years, we have developed and maintained strong partnerships with our communities,” said Mary Bada, Principal of Ridgemont High School. “Our students and their families come from a variety of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds; therefore, a partnership like the one with the Ottawa 67’s and Innovapost goes a long way in helping us recognize students who might not otherwise be able to attend an event like an Ottawa 67’s hockey game.”
Ridgemont High School is situated in the south end of Ottawa and is a school within the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board with over 800 students from Grades 9 to 12. In addition to the university, college, and workplace courses, the school offers a number of programs: Education for Community Living Program, Pathways to Success, and Skills for Success, and English as a Second Language program. As a community school, Ridgemont is proud to host Continuing Education courses as well as many community events.
About the Ottawa 67’s Adopt-A-School Program.
The Adopt-A-School Program is a partnership amongst Ottawa-area businesses, local school boards and the Ottawa 67’s Hockey Club. The Ottawa 67’s currently partner with over 100 businesses to sponsor 140 local area schools. For more information on how your company can help the Ottawa 67’s reach all the schools in Ottawa, visit the Ottawa 67’s Program Web site.
2009/05/13 -
A bouncy castle, face painting, live music, lots of food, Spartacat and over 400 people focused on one goal. This describes the makings of a great event, which it was at the 2nd annual Walk/Run for Wishes, held on May 9th at Vincent Massey Park in Ottawa. The goal of the Walk/Run for Wishes was to raise enough money to grant three wishes to children with life threatening illnesses. Innovapost, with the help of title sponsors – Data Group, Virtuo, Vizou, Velux, and Gymboree – surpassed this goal to raise over $42,000. The event’s overwhelming success has led Innovapost to already commit to support next year’s race on May 8th.
The walk/run was broken into three distances, a 10 km, 5 km, and a 1 km. Over 300 participants lined up for the 5 and 10 km. A surprise appearance by Spartacat added to the excitement and thrilled the 100 or so families who were preparing for the 1 km children’s walk.
Participants who raised over $200 were recognized by having their names entered into a draw for one of 10 prizes, including a signed jersey by Jean Beliveau, Senators tickets valued at $325, and a Via Gift Certificate for two valued at $1500.
The day’s success could not have been achieved without the support of all the volunteers: Mary Durning, Julie Cummings, Erin Sarsfield, Sam Naim Carlos Zaidi, Christina Sutcliffe, Michelyne Léger, Michelle Dessenberger, Mark Abdelnour, Andy Morrison, Graeme Innes, Sib Waliullah, Kathy Norris, Jamie Oastler, Grant Bennett, Cindy Cooney, Kim Brereton, Christina Choueiri, Alya Al-Dhaher, Natacha Durand, Kimberly Cole, Angela Desiri, Jennifer Butara, Erika Mckeown, Justin Chin, Kelly Stockall, Jennifer Tomlinson, and Rose Ireland.
Thank you to everyone who came out and participated in this great cause!
CTV News Ottawa coverage:
http://innovapost.com/wp-content/uploads/ctv_makeawish2009.flv
2009/05/8 -
Innovapost came away a winner at this year’s United Way Community Builder of the Year Awards Gala – we both received an award and gave away an award at this prestigious event.
The Community Builder of the Year Awards Gala, the United Way’s signature event, was held on May 28 at Ottawa’s Westin Hotel. 800 of the United Way’s patrons, including government officials, corporate executives and community leaders, joined together to celebrate the achievements of the organizations, partnerships, agencies and neighbourhood groups that helped shape Ottawa communities in 2008.
Much to the surprise of those Innovapost employees and guests in attendance, it was announced that members of United Way/Centraide Ottawa had nominated Innovapost for the Best Community Campaign in 2008. Brendan Timmins, Chief Executive Officer of Innovapost, accepted the award on behalf of Innovapost employees and their families, who together raised $290,000 for United Way during the company’s annual Fall Festival campaign. The award acknowledged Innovapost’s continued dedication to strengthening the capacity of agencies, neighbourhoods and charitable organizations in the communities where its employees live and work.
After delivering his acceptance speech, Brendan returned to the stage to present the award in the New Canadians and Immigrants category. This award, which Innovapost has sponsored for the past two years, is presented to an organization who works to reduce barriers and increase engagement for new Canadians and immigrants through services or initiatives that contribute to the cause of multiculturalism, understanding and tolerance. The ‘winner’ turned out to be a jubilant crowd of 30 women from the City for All Women Initiative (CAWI)—a partnership of women from community organizations, academic institutions and the City of Ottawa, who together work to promote an inclusive and women-friendly Ottawa.
Innovapost sponsored two tables at the event with members of Innovapost’s management team joining members of Innovapost’s Walk/Run for Wishes organizing committee—who were there to celebrate recently raising over $40,000 for Make-A-Wish® Eastern Ontario.
The contributions of Innovapost will help United Way/Centraide Ottawa invest in frontline programs and services to help organizations make a difference in our community. Despite these uncertain economic times, the United Way/Centraide Ottawa will be investing $26.8 million in the community in 2009—exceeding its 2008 investments by $1.3 million.
CTV News Ottawa coverage of Innovapost’s 2008 Fall Festival Campaign:
http://innovapost.com/wp-content/uploads/fallfestivalctvcoverage_f6_md.flv
2009/05/8 -
At a ceremony on January 25, 2007 the Ottawa Hospital Foundation honoured Innovapost for its successful workplace fundraising campaign that has raised more than $20,000 over two years.
Thanks to Innovapost, the Hospital has been able to purchase a new trauma stretcher, a fluid warmer and an infusion pump. The fluid warmer was recently put to use in helping save the lives of Ottawa Firefighters. You can read about how a fluid warmer helped save the lives of five firefighters on the Ottawa Hospital Website.
Dave Allum, Innovapost’s Senior Vice-President for Growth and Strategy commented, “It’s great to see our charitable campaigns are making a difference. Through Innovapost employee and corporate donations we have been able to directly help the Ottawa Hospital save lives, and that is very gratifying.”
For more information on the Innovapost fundraising campaign, visit the Ottawa Hospital Foundation website and read “Ottawa Employees Supporting Health Care.”
2009/03/2 -
By the Numbers: How Our United Way Campaign Will Help Our Community
Innovapost raised a total of $247,460 for the United Way/Centraide Ottawa in our last fundraising campaign. That money will go a long way in our community. Here are some examples of how we’ve helped:
- 528 people with physical disabilities can get the support they need to cope with daily living challenges — enhancing their quality of life.
- 211 youth living in a family shelter can receive structured activities such as a homework club and recreation opportunities — helping them to stay in school and maintain as normal a life as possible.
- 177 single mothers can receive parenting, housing and training support while struggling with emotional issues — providing a stable environment for their children.
- 132 seniors who live alone can connect with a volunteer helper— by lending a hand with basic household tasks, the helper is ensuring the senior can continue to live independently.
- 211 immigrant families can get the tools and education they need to understand their children’s school system and be involved in their education — enhancing their level of engagement in the community.
- 317 volunteers can benefit from orientation and staff support to deliver recreational and social programs for children and youth living in poverty.
- 453 young adults with intellectual disabilities can learn valuable skills to contribute to their community — role-playing, recreational activities, business mentoring and using municipal transportation are just some of the many activities that help these adults become more self-reliant and confident.
- 1395 people with disabilities, mental health issues or addictions can get involved in a furniture repair and refinishing program learning marketable skills in a supportive environment, which they can use to find future jobs.
- 66 francophone children struggling with math can join an after-school homework program — through educational games, they are learning how to master numbers while experiencing success.
- That’s a total of 3,490 people in our community directly affected by our donations.
For more information about the United Way, please visit www.unitedwayottawa.ca.
