GIVING BACK
Giving back to our community is important to us. We are devoted to supporting our local and international communities and hope to inspire others to do the same.
December 28, 2022
Giving Back in 2022
We wanted to put a spotlight on the many wonderful organizations we had an opportunity to support this past year in our clients’ honour.
If you are interested in learning more about these organizations or would like to donate yourself, please click on the links below.
November 30, 2022
Food Bank Volunteering
Our team had the opportunity to spend a half-day volunteering with Edmonton’s Food Bank on November 30.
The food bank provides food to over 25,000 Edmontonians in need each month. After the pandemic and increasing inflation, their services are needed now more than ever. It was an honour to play a small role in their program and to see their efficient operations first-hand.
In lieu of client Christmas gifts, we have sent our annual holiday donation to Edmonton’s Food Bank. If you are looking for a worthy cause to donate to this holiday season, you can donate to the food bank here.
October 27, 2022
Client Survey Donations
This October we completed another feedback survey amongst our clients. To show our appreciation and encourage as much response as possible, we have made a donation for each completed survey.
Donations were made to YESS (Youth Empowerment and Support Services), the Canadian Red Cross Appeal for the Pakistan Floods, and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. Learn more about these organizations below.
YESS (Youth Empowerment and Support Services)
September 14, 2022
YESS Scholarship Program: One Year Later
In September 2021, Blackburn Davis Financial partnered with YESS (Youth Empowerment Support Services) to create a $5,000 annual scholarship. The scholarship is designed to help a young adult further their education once they have completed a 15-week education and employment program through YESS.
YESS has prepared a year-end report sharing the impact of the scholarship fund in 2021 along with an inspiring youth story.
Please read the report here.
Note: Youth’s name has been changed for privacy reasons.
March 4, 2022
How To Help Ukraine
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been devastating and saddening to watch. With millions of people affected and so much uncertainty around what will happen next, many of us have been wondering how we can help and show our support during this crisis.
The Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) is a Toronto-based charitable organization created to “coordinate, develop, organize and deliver assistance projects generated by Canadians to Ukraine” (Learn More). They have established the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal which works with the local government ministries to provide aid directly to the Ukrainian people. They are using their donations primarily to provide food packages, medicine, and shelter to those in need.
Our firm has made a donation to this appeal.
You can support the Canada-Ukraine Foundation here.
Another reputable organization is the Canadian Red Cross, which has created the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal. They are accepting donations to help Ukraine here.
This Globe and Mail Article also provides several more legitimate fundraising campaigns to support along with some tips and resources.
Giving Back in 2021
We were honoured to support many meaningful causes close to the hearts of our clients in 2021. Here are some of the organizations we had the opportunity to support this past year:
- Calgary Humane Society
- Centre Street Church Calgary
- Lakeland Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Society
- Canadian Feed The Children
- YESS
- Alzheimer Society of Alberta
- Project All In
- Center for Suicide Prevention
December 8, 2021
2021 Holiday Donations
This holiday season, we have chosen two important causes to donate to in honour of our clients.
M.E. LaZerte High School in Edmonton holds a program each December to provide gifts and hampers to their teens in need. Teenagers are sometimes overlooked by holiday gift donation programs, and these teens would otherwise not receive a Christmas gift this year. We were given an opportunity to “adopt” a teen and provide a gift for them. We are sponsoring gifts for 10 teens in their school this Christmas.
We have also made a $1,000 donation to the Red Cross British Columbia Floods & Extreme Weather Appeal. We have many clients, family members, and friends in BC and felt it was imperative to contribute to the relief and recovery efforts from this devastating flooding. Learn more about the work the Red Cross is doing here.
September 17, 2021
Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS) Scholarship Program
We are committed to creating an enduring support for youth at risk in our city. When young people are experiencing trauma and crisis, there are many barriers that stand in their way. Through the meaningful and positive programs and resources that Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS) provides, these young people have a chance to realize their potential and push past the barriers.
Beginning in 2021, we are partnering with YESS to provide an annual scholarship for a young adult who has the desire to pursue job-training or post-secondary but does not have the resources to fund this goal. Our annual $5,000 scholarship will be distributed to a young adult who completes a 15-week education and employment program through YESS.
YESS has graciously prepared a short video explaining their program and how our contribution will be utilized. Please take a couple of minutes to watch it here.
June 18, 2021
BDF 20 Year Anniversary Donations
This May marked Blackburn Davis Financial’s 20th anniversary. In lieu of hosting a client event, we decided to donate our estimated event budget of $10,000. We selected six charitable organizations across Canada and asked clients to vote for one they would like us to support on their behalf. We then allocated the money based on the percentage of clients who chose each organization.
Donations were made this past week to YESS, United Way of Canada, Canadian Mental Health Association, Special Olympics Canada, Women’s Shelters Canada, and Edmonton’s Food Bank.
When discussing which charities our team wanted to support, the work of these particular causes felt very close to our hearts and to many of our clients. Many clients commented that it was difficult to choose between these wonderful causes. We have all felt the hardship of this moment in history, and we want to thank you – this donation effort was made possible because of you.
We received a touching thank you note from Special Olympics Canada with a link to their highlight reel series. We encourage you to watch. It will bring both tears and smiles to your face. Enjoy!
May 20, 2020
Giving Back
The Covid Health Crisis has changed our lives in many respects. At Blackburn Davis Financial Inc. we feel fortunate that we have been able to work remotely and although we greatly miss meeting our friends and clients in person, we have carried on without great hardship. Others are not so lucky.
We have estimated our cost savings from the remaining 7 un-played NHL games, conferences we were scheduled to attend, and travel and meals that we cancelled and have decided to donate this money to those in need. We have made donations to the Food Banks of Edmonton, Calgary, Bonnyville, Red Deer, Vancouver, and Victoria.
December 15, 2019
Referral Donations
We wanted to extend a warm thank you to those who have introduced us to friends and family over the past year. To show our gratitude, we like to make donations to a charity of the referrer’s choice. Here are a few of the charities we had the opportunity to support this past year:
- Little Warriors
- Hope Mission
- Alberta Cancer Foundation
- Riverland Recreational Trail Society
December 12, 2019
The Mustard Seed Volunteering
Our staff once again volunteered with the Edmonton Mustard Seed at their Family Gift Centre today. This is a meaningful initiative the Mustard Seed hosts each year to help those in need purchase gifts at a modest price for their children. We spent the day assisting their clients with selecting their gifts and wrapping them.
You can make a donation to the Mustard Seed here.
June 19, 2019
Survey Charity Draw Winner
In our recent client survey, we included a draw for a $1,000 donation to be made to a charity of the winner’s choice. We are excited to share that the winner of this charitable donation draw was Joe R. Congratulations Joe!
He has requested the donation be made to the Boyle School Parents Advisory Association. The funds will be used to help replace the playground equipment at the Boyle School.
Referral Donations
We wanted to extend a warm thank you to those who have introduced us to friends and family over the past year. To show our gratitude, we have made donations to a charity of the referrer’s choice. Here are a few of the charities we had the opportunity to support this year:
- Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
- Edmonton Community Foundation
- Zebra Child Protection Centre Edmonton
December 11, 2018
The Mustard Seed Volunteering
Our team spent this morning volunteering with The Mustard Seed Edmonton at their Family Gift Centre. This is a new pop-up store the Mustard Seed puts on every December for three days. The store is filled with donated gifts and gifts the Mustard Seed purchases with donations. Their clients can then shop in the pop-up store and buy gifts for their children for $2 per gift.
We had the opportunity to assist their clients in shopping for these gifts as well as wrapping them.
December 7, 2017
Food Bank Volunteering
As in years past, we have decided to make a charitable gift this Holiday Season in honour of our clients. This year we have chosen an organization close to home, Edmonton’s Food Bank. The Food Bank is a much-needed resource in our City for those less fortunate, not only around the Holidays, but throughout the entire year. They serve over 20,000 individuals per month and provide nearly 400,000 meals and snacks monthly through their affiliate agencies.
Our team had the opportunity to see this efficient organization firsthand, when we volunteered in their warehouse this December.
June 26, 2017
Update on Clayda
As many of you may remember, for several years we have sponsored a student, Clayda, through her studies in International Business Administration at the Khipu Institute in Cosco, Peru. She recently had her graduation ceremony from Khipu, so we wanted to share some of the photos we received. We’re sending her our warmest congratulations on her achievement and wish her well in her future professional career.
December 9, 2016
Mustard Seed Volunteering
Our team volunteered this morning with The Mustard Seed Edmonton baking some delicious treats to be served with their meal program.
The Mustard Seed assists citizens experiencing poverty and homelessness in our city. Their services include health and wellness care, employment and housing assistance, and reintegration support.
Learn more here.
December 18, 2015
Christmas Hamper Sponsorship
This December we chose to work with the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton to sponsor Christmas food hampers for 3 local families in need. Our team spent a morning shopping and putting together these hampers to help the families create a special, festive meal this holiday season.
December 2, 2015
Sponsorship of Clayda
As in years past, in lieu of a Christmas gift for clients, we are making a charitable gift. We continue to sponsor Clayda as she pursues her degree in International Business Administration at the Khipu Institute in Cosco, Peru. She is in the midst of completing her Curso de Actualizacion, which requires a substantial fee and this will complete her studies. She is excited to transition into her professional life; please join us in our heartfelt congratulations.
June 23, 2015
Free Footies Tournament
Kelley Doerksen spent the morning as a volunteer for the Free Footie finals. Free Footie is a free soccer league in Edmonton for children who wouldn’t otherwise be able to play due to costs or other barriers in their lives.
December 8, 2014
Santa’s Anonymous Volunteering
We closed our office today so our staff could spend the day volunteering with 630 Ched Santa’s Anonymous. This organization relies on volunteers and donations to distribute toys to over 25,000 children every year.
We had the opportunity to select toys from their bins and put together gift bags for children in our city who wouldn’t otherwise receive a gift this holiday season.
December 19, 2013
Education Sponsorship
As in years past, in lieu of a corporate holiday gift we have found a charity that needs our support. This year we are working with an organization called Mosqoy located in Peru. Mosqoy is a charitable organization that offers remote communities in the Peruvian Andes opportunities for economic development.
On our clients’ behalf, Blackburn Davis Financial has sponsored a young woman named Clayda. She grew up in the small town of Phiry located in the Ollantaytabo district of Peru and is studying International Business Administration. Once she has completed her studies at Khipu, Clayda is hoping to continue her education in university and complete her master’s degree. Our office has committed to support Clayda until she graduates in 3 years.
We recently received a letter from Clayda to let us know how her schooling is going. She has just started her second semester and already has hopes to open her own business.
December 7, 2012
Sleeping Children Around the World
This holiday season we have chosen to support Sleeping Children Around the World for our charitable gift. This organization is supported by Rotary members to distribute bed kits to children in 33 countries throughout Africa, Asia, and Central America. Since 1970 they have made a difference in 1.2 million children’s lives. This year, we are helping provide health, comfort, and education supplies to children in Nicaragua.
