'TIS THE SEASON
The Richmond Christmas Fund Returns for Another Year
The Countdown
At Volunteer Richmond, around the end of August, we begin counting the days. "The Christmas Fund is almost here," we say, even though it's technically three months - or a quarter of the year - away. And the same thing always happens: time flies like Santa's sleigh and we find ourselves, like we do right now, at the beginning of November.

So here we are. The Christmas Fund is a month away. The official countdown has begun. And we have updates galore.  


Volunteer Recruitment 
We started recruiting volunteers in September. That process will continue, along with volunteer training, through mid-November. There's no denying that it takes a lot of time, but for us, it's one of the highlights of the entire program. We get to meet (and in many cases, welcome back) the people at the heart of the Christmas Fund: the registration assistants, the gift wrappers, the toy sorters. This year, like every year, we're confident that our volunteers will make the program a success. If you'd like to join them,
the final day to apply is November 8

Registration
This year, Christmas Fund registration begins on Saturday, November 30, concludes on Saturday, December 14, and will once again be held at the Richmond Caring Place. Dates, times, and eligibility criteria are all up on our website. Since early October, we've been doing our best to get this information to those who need it, and will benefit from it. But if you know somebody - anybody - who lives in Richmond and could use a little help over the holidays, please pass the word along. It's what we're here for. 
 
Events
The Christmas Fund events season got off to an early start this year with the inaugural Steveston Beer Fest. Organized by O'Hare's GastroPub and Liquor Store, the event took place October 5 at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, and wound up raising over $10,000 for the Christmas Fund. It was a spectacular evening (these photos are proof), owing to the incredible work of Erinn and Grant Bryan, whom we can't thank enough.

 

Steveston Beer Fest (Photo by Jade Wang) 

 

Looking ahead, the week of November 25 is shaping up to be rather busy. First, there's the Richmond Auto Mall's Windows of Hope, on Tuesday, November 26. Then, on Thursday, November 28, we return to Lansdowne Centre for the 3rd Annual Richmond Christmas Fund Drive-Thru Event. As if that weren't enough, Christmas in Steveston Village (proceeds from the carriage rides benefit the Christmas Fund) happens on Sunday, December 1. 

 

Looking even further ahead, the 2nd Annual Christmas Fund Dinner & Dance is set for Friday, December 13, at Continental Seafood Restaurant. Tickets are $50 each, and can be purchased by calling 604-278-3551. 

 

Finally, throughout December, we'll have gift wrap stations in Richmond Centre and Lansdowne Centre. Is a beautifully wrapped gift worth a donation to the Christmas Fund? We think so!

 

Stay in the Loop
To keep up-to-date on all things Christmas Fund, we recommend three sources: our website, our Facebook page, and our Twitter feed

 

Tourism Richmond's Day of Giving
On Thursday, November 28 (yep, the same day as the Christmas Fund Drive-Thru Event), Tourism Richmond will lead the 2nd Annual Day of Giving. Participating restaurants and hotels - all Tourism Richmond members - will each be donating a percentage of their day's sales to the Christmas Fund. To see who's taking part, visit the Day of Giving website
The Richmond Christmas Fund Roundtable

Jason Roberts, General Manager at Colliers International, with Lansdowne Centre Marketing Manager and Christmas Fund Roundtable Member Bronwyn Bailey, at the 2012 Christmas Fund Drive-Thru Event.

In 2012, Wayne Duzita became Community Chair of the Richmond Christmas Fund, taking over from Greg Halsey-Brandt. Among Greg's many accomplishments was the creation of the Richmond Christmas Fund Roundtable, a group of community and business leaders who used their influence and resources to build support for the Christmas Fund. Wayne immediately saw the potential in the Roundtable; he knew the impact it could make. And so he embarked on a three-year project to grow its ranks, to turn it, in his words, into a Christmas Fund "army." In Wayne's first year, the group expanded to 25 members. Between September and December, their efforts helped to raise nearly $200,000.


In 2013, the second year of the project, Wayne wasted no time in getting started. He began recruiting new Roundtable members, people with backgrounds ranging from marketing to retail, media to transportation. He recruited lawyers and Realtors and professionals from every sector he could think of. By the summer, his army had doubled - it was now 50 strong. 

This fall, Roundtable members will once again be raising awareness and dollars for the Christmas Fund. Learn more about who they are and how you can offer your support
Volunteer Richmond Tops Readers' Poll
Well that was unexpected. We haven't even prepared a speech! Turns out we were voted the number one community organization in the Richmond News Readers' Choice Awards. Considering the dozens and dozens of non-profit organizations doing amazing work throughout our community, this really is quite an honour. A big thank you to the Richmond News, and of course, to everyone who voted!
The Fine Art of Discipline and Dismissal
It wasn't easy finding a stock photo for our Learning the Art of Discipline and Dismissal workshop, coming up on November 14. We went with an axe because, well, it gets the point across: in some instances, it's necessary to part ways with a volunteer, to give them the axe, so to speak. If you want to know how to make the best of difficult situations surrounding volunteer discipline and dismissal, this workshop is for you. 
A New Website for the Community Foundation
Back in April, Volunteer Richmond signed a collaborative agreement with the Richmond Community Foundation. You'll be hearing a lot more about that in the coming months, but, in a nutshell, it means that we'll be working more closely together and sharing resources, so as to broaden our organizations' overall impact. One of the things we're helping the Community Foundation with is communications. Take, for example, their spiffy new website, which we played a part in developing (and now, in maintaining). And that's just the first of many projects to come: a Community Foundation newsletter is on the horizon, as well as an increased social media presence. Stay tuned - there are exciting times ahead!

Programs
Funders
  • Child Care Resource & Referral Centre
  • Information & Volunteer Centre
  • Leadership Richmond
  • Richmond Christmas Fund
  • Seniors Community Support Services
  • United Way of the Lower Mainland
  • City of Richmond
  • Province of British Columbia
  • Ministry of Children and Family Development
  • Vancouver Coastal Health
  • The Government of Canada


Opacity Design Group | The Richmond Review

Richmond Centre | The Richmond Chamber of Commerce
The Milan & Maureen Ilich Foundation | Innovation Networks
Ashton Service Group
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190 - 7000 Minoru Boulevard, Richmond, BC
604.279.7020 | www.volunteerrichmond.ca


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