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ZC Pulse: Building a Movement
"It is part of an overall culture where you are looking for ways to support philanthropy with a non-traditional approach, and social enterprise certainly falls into that category. It's a more creative way to approach generating capital for the sector that extends beyond government grants and donations. We are encouraging others to ask the question - what is a broader way to support the sector beyond grant making?"
BRADLEY OFFMAN, Vice President
Strategic Philanthropy - Mackenzie Investments
This issue's ZC Pulse brings us the insights of Mr. Bradley Offman of Mackenzie Investments. Mr. Offman is a sought after speaker in the industry and gives companies of all sizes some good food for thought on the social benefits of thinking creatively with our social investments.
Creative Social Investments for Lasting Change
At Mackenzie Investments, we have two primary objectives with our philanthropic grants and activities from the Mackenzie Financial Charitable Foundation. The first is to create a lasting impact on the organization that we are supporting, and the second is to engage Mackenzie employees in a culture of philanthropy.
Creating a lasting impact can be challenging. (read more)
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Seasonal Spotlight - Espére Lunch Bag
Getting ready for summer events? Why not consider our newest product made by the women of Bois de Lance, Haiti. Part of the Espére Product Line from Haiti, (Espére is the Kreyol word for hope), this lunch bag makes a memorable and useful gift for your clients or employees and helps to provide ongoing employment for a very industrious group in Haiti.
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This lined lunch bag wipes clean easily
and makes the perfect gift for your
employees or clients this summer or fall.
Priced at $9.95 and available in a
broad array of colours, it includes
a 2" x 2" representation of
your company logo.
"Job creation is the defining challenge of Bois de Lance. In most cases the jobs created through the purchases of the lunch bag will be the only jobs created that month or quarter. And each time a woman learns how to sew, she can leverage that skill in other projects here and throughout her life." Brian Stout, US Director Open Door Haiti
Contact us at (647) 477-4377 or online at info@zoealliance.com with your next requirement and let our team quote a solution for your event.
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FROM THE FIELD: Haiti Update
Haiti is a place where there is hope, renewal and growth. These are three words that would not be the first to pop to mind when the topic of Haiti comes up. And yet this issue's update from Brian Stout, the US Director of Open Door Haiti, is filled with the evidence of all three.
For a little over a year, since the earthquake, we have experienced a mixed blessing in Bois de Lance, Haiti. The world has rallied to help the Haitian people rebuild their country in the wake of the earthquake. That support has created the opportunity for hope, renewal and growth on a scale that we have not seen in the almost 10 years we have been working in Haiti.
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Open Door reaches out to address the needs of thousands of people within the village of Bois de Lance each year through: the medical clinic; school for 550 children; orphanage being constructed that will support 50 children: and all the community members who access safe water daily from our wells. We are also the largest employer in the village and it is our goal to increase the amount of funding that we can generate locally through sustainable business models.
This year in addition (read more)
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You Can Take The ZOË Challenge Too!
In North America alone, $895 billion is spent on gifts, promotional items and donations each year. The ZOË Challenge to spend 10% of that on fair trade options represents an easy way to generate an $89 billion dollar investment that creates trade opportunities and dignity for indigenous business leaders. ZOË Alliance's message to achieve this change is simple. Think 1.1.1: 1 Event Choose 1 event each year where gift spending reflects approximately 10% of what is spent overall; 1 Approval Get executive approval to buy items produced in accordance with fair trade principles for this event's gifts from a reputable vendor; 1 Time a Year Repeat every year - make this a part of annual CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) plan. If you like the idea but don't know where to start, give us a call at 647-477-4377, or drop a line at info@zoealliance.com and if we can't help you, we'll recommend someone who can.
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Some Thoughts from Our Blog
Have you been following the ZOË weekly blogs? It's a great way to keep in touch with the current activities of both ZOË Alliance and our founder, Angie.
Here are a couple of her more recent blogs that we think you would enjoy:
Guest Blog - Julie McDowell - Founder of ClearlySo Canada
Tribute to Village Leaders
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Who is ZOË Alliance?
ZOË Alliance Inc. is a social enterprise that harnesses what we spend to help developing nations break the cycle of poverty.
ZOË Alliance helps people and companies transform impoverished villages with their regular purchases. We stretch each dollar spent on a personal or corporate gift three ways: to purchase a gift that tells the stroy of hope; to create jobs with dignity in villages; and to donate funds toward a school or village project.
We also help companies link their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives to the bottom line by making it easy to source high quality, profitable products from producer groups in villages around the globe.
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Contact Us
ZOË Alliance Inc.
15-75 Bayly Street West, Suite 279,Ajax, ON Canada L1S 7K7
(647) 477-4377 info@zoealliance.com www.zoealliance.com
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