by Paul Wiersma
8. March 2010 16:50
On Feb. 24, 2010 I took part in this year’s GenNext GiveADamn Day for United Way at St.Christopher House. Upon arrival, there was a hustle and bustle about of children and people. I was intrigued to see them getting the help they needed, but most of all I was happy they were actually seeking it. It’s assuring people know there are places they can go to seek advice, participate in activities, and volunteer their time and efforts with others from their communities. I was happy to see selfless people helping those in need.
On our guide through the Ossington and Dundas location we were shown different rooms and facilities, some of which were in use. In the basement of an old church, patrons were assembling for choir practice. On the main floor,the church had been converted into areas for computer and language tutoring in order to offer a place to strengthen language and PC skills. As a whole the facility is huge inside and hosts a variety of programs offered to youths and seniors. The organization itself is quite large, with approximately 1400 volunteers and 100+ part and full time staff and they’re still recruiting!
As gentrification continues to increase in our cities, places like St. Christopher House will need people like you and I more and more.
Thank You GenNext and St. Christopher House!
by Denise Brunsdon
2. March 2010 16:35
Visiting St Alban’s Boys and Girls’ Club was by far the best part of my week. In retrospect, I’m embarrassed that I was so surprised at all the services – swimming lessons, daycare, preschool,a library for studying, a kitchen for bake sales, dance classes, and even a recording studio!
The only thing more impressive than the students taking time to make the most of their afternoons were the staff. It’s a truly dedicated group of people that are willing to put up indoor jumps for skateboarding night knowing the damage that it’s going to do to that floor.
There are lots of excuses not to go to events. It’s been a long day, you’re tired, you won’t know anyone, there’s so much snow you want to quit Canada, blah blah blah the list goes on…but when you go to a GenNext event, it’s always going to be worth your while.
by Harvey Acheson
26. February 2010 09:40
My first impression of GenNext is that it embodies what volunteering should be all about: a bunch of socially conscious people having a good time, developing connections, and making a difference in the community. The event was a United Way sponsored tour of St. Christopher House, a community organization with an incredibly broad offering that ranges from feeding the underprivileged to helping students prepare for college. For a volunteer like myself with a financial background, St. Christopher House serves as a venue to provide lower-income families with helpful tax-preparation advice and financial consultation. On our tour, a group of about ten volunteers were shown around the main St. Christopher House complex to learn about the various services the organization provides and the next steps to getting involved.
I was impressed by the professionalism of the organizers and by the enthusiasm of the participants. I am excited to participate in future GenNext events, and I look forward to volunteering at St. Christopher House.
by GADADMIN
24. February 2010 15:49
Department: Marketing
Role: Provide support to the Direct Marketing team
Report to: Associate Manager, Direct Marketing
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead Generation - make outbound phone calls on behalf of United WayToronto to prospective medium sizedcompanies, asking for their support
- Perform online research on allpotential donors
- Document and track all calls, responsesand leads in MS excel
- Follow up with potential companies ina timely manner
- Other duties as assigned
SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:
- Strong communication skills, written and verbal
- Excellent telephone manner
- Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships
- Effective time management and abilityto work under pressure to meet deadlines
- Proven customer service skills
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office
- Very good organizational skills
- Excel skills (e.g. sort, filter, basic formulas), an asset
- Previous experience with telemarketing or customer service, an asset
TIME COMMITMENT/DURATION:
- Calls are made from UWT offices during regular business hours.
- Hours are flexible – minimum commitment of 6 hours a week for 8 weeks OR a minimumcommitment of 48 hours over a course of 8 weeks
PLEASE CONTACT: provol@uwgt.org
by GADADMIN
16. February 2010 22:20
GIVEADAMN DAY
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 (6 p.m.)
Join us for the first GiveADamn Day of the year! Gather some friends and spend the evening learning about a local United Way Toronto member agencies and upcoming GenNext activities followed by drinks at the College Street Bar (http://www.collegestreetbar.com/ ) with fellow GenNexters.
Participating agencies include:
1) Sistering Inspirations Studio - http://www.sistering.org/
2) St Alban's Boys and Girls Club - http://www.stalbansclub.ca/
3) St Christopher House - http://www.stchrishouse.org/
If you’re interested in attending, sign up at :
http://giveadamndayfeb2010.eventbrite.com/
Space is limited and expected to fill up quickly!
http://www.uwgt.com/GenNext
Sincerely,
Kwame Daaku, Tim Poon & Chrishyami Sivaraj
2010 GenNext Cabinet Community and Agency Engagement Officers