Archive for the ‘Community giving’ Category

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Year-End Reflections Filled with Gratitude

Friday, December 30th, 2011

As we say good bye to 2011 and look forward to the future with anticipation, I think it is important to say thank you to all those individuals and organizations who have contributed to BOWEN’s success this year. Simply put, 2011 was an incredible year. We are so thankful for the opportunity to work with many of Canada’s top companies, providing workforce solutions that contribute to their productivity and profitability. Whether it was providing recruitment services, flexible workforce management or outsourced human resources, our clients continue to look to us to provide innovative, effective staffing solutions, and we thrive on the challenge.

As the job market rebounded in full force, our recruitment team was privileged to work with talented candidates, placing hundreds of people into temporary and permanent roles across many different industries. We look forward to continuing to connect bright people with bright futures next year.

This year also saw BOWEN move into new offices in the Beltline district and refresh our corporate identity. However, perhaps we were most excited about the launch of our formal community investment program and SHINE Fund. While we have always been deeply committed to giving of our time and resources to make our community a better place, this year we kicked it up a notch by giving approximately $55,000 to help vulnerable families.

We gave the gift of food by supporting the Community Kitchen of Calgary. This means that kids who are going to school hungry received nutritious, delicious lunches, and had the chance to learn about proper nutrition so they can teach their families how to eat well and make wise food choices. Partnering with Boardwalk Equities and Parks Calgary Foundation, we built a fully accessible playground in the community of Alberta Park where kids of all ages and abilities have a fun, safe place to play and families have a beautiful playground to enjoy together with their neighbours. We also gave the gift of hope as a presenting sponsor of the Scott Smed Invitational Golf Tournament. In addition to supporting Community Kitchen and Parks Calgary, money raised at this tournament went to infancy and pregnancy loss programs that offer comfort and care to families who have gone through the traumatic experience of losing a newborn child.

On behalf of the BOWEN team, I would like to extend our deepest thanks to our clients, candidates and partners who made 2011 an incredible year. Happy New Year to all of you and we look forward to achieving even greater things together in 2012!

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Giving the Gift of Food, Play and Hope

Friday, October 14th, 2011

One of the things that we value most at BOWEN is giving back to our community. It’s part of our culture and a priority for our Executive and employees. Earlier this year, we proudly launched our Shine Fund, which is dedicated to raising funds to support organizations that help vulnerable families in our city.

On September 19th, BOWEN presented the sold-out 11th Annual Scott Smed golf tournament benefitting three amazing organizations/causes:

It was our biggest year yet and I am thrilled to announce that through the generosity of our sponsors and golfers, we raised $120,000, bringing our 11-year total to $760,000! This money will go to give the gift of food to hungry children, the gift of play to residents of Radission / Albert Park and the gift of hope to families who have gone through the tragic experience of losing an infant.

We believe that we have a corporate responsibility to help make our community a better place for everyone. Our employees feel a tremendous amount of reward and satisfaction knowing they have been part of something that is making a difference. As President of our company, I couldn’t be more proud of their hard work and dedication. Thank you to our golfers, sponsors, volunteers and all who contributed to a day of golf that will change lives.

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BOWEN Launches On-Line Just in Time for Twestival!

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

There are times when the stars seem to align and the perfect opportunity comes along at just the right time. Such is the case with BOWEN’s sponsorship of Calgary’s Twestival on March 24, 2011.

In my blog, I’ve written several times about how important an online presence is to your job search. As a workforce solutions company, BOWEN recognizes the huge potential for online recruitment opportunities as well. Over the past several months, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to prepare to introduce our new logo at the same time that we launch corporate Twitter, Facebook, Linked In and YouTube accounts and today is the day! While our new website isn’t quite ready for a reveal, it’s also coming soon.

When the opportunity to get involved as a sponsor of Twestival came up, it was easy to get involved and part of our social media rollout. If you don’t know about Twestival, please check it out at http://calgary.twestival.com/

Twestival was created by a woman from Calgary, and was born to bring Twitter users together in support of local and international initiatives. Since then, over 200 cities have participated in Twestival, raising close to $1.2 million for important global and local causes like clean water and education. This year, Twestival will be held on March 24th and the Calgary event will support Making Changes, a great organization that “empowers women by providing knowledge and a selection of work attire for their transition into the workplace”.

Giving back to the community by supporting organizations that help families in need is a priority at BOWEN and sponsoring an event that helps women enter or re-enter the workforce aligns closely with our community investment philosophy.

I’m excited about the event, about ramping up our online activities and about connecting with many of you through our social networks. Please take a minute and get connected with the “new” BOWEN!

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Women of Influence Award Nomination is a True Honour

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

I am deeply honoured to be nominated for a Women of Influence award. This award is presented annually in acknowledgement of women who are making a difference in communities across Canada. Giving back is something that is really important to me and my family. I love giving of my time and resources to worthwhile organizations that are truly making our community a better place for everyone.

 

For the past 10 years, my husband, Peter and I have raised money for women and children in need in community, by hosting the Scott Smed Memorial Golf Tournament, in honour of our son. To date, we’ve raised over $600,000 with the help of incredible sponsors and friends. This has been one of the most amazing and inspiring experiences of my life.

 

I love reading stories about people who have a heart for philanthropy. I hope you will be inspired by what you read here: http://survey.womenofinfluenceinc.ca/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=l2LH874  and I encourage you to take the time to vote for the women you connect with…

 

Voting ends Oct. 15, 2010.

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Bieber Fever, Helping Kids and More!

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Today’s post is a personal one for me. On Monday, Sept. 13th my husband, Peter and I, will host the 10th Annual Scott Smed Golf Memorial Tournament. What started out as a golf game with friends in honour of our son Scott, has turned into a sold-out, full-day event that has raised over $500,000 for children and families in need, both right here in Calgary as well as Uganda. You can read more about our story at www.scottsmed.com.  

This tournament brings together friends, clients, volunteers and supporters for a day of celebrating Scott’s legacy and to offer hope to families who may have none. For our family, it has been a key part of our own healing journey.  

This year, we have many special activities planned to help acknowledge the 10 years of giving, kindness and support. These last few days will be filled with many details and not a whole lot of sleep! As another way to raise funds this year, we are hosting an online auction and have a couple incredible prizes up for grabs, one of them being a VIP Experience for Justin Bieber’s Calgary concert on September 20th. The show is sold out, but here’s a chance to really be a hero to your kids! The details are below and your bid will go towards helping families in our community. Enjoy and here’s hoping you are the lucky winner!

 Have Bieber Fever!

Do you know someone special who would love to see JUSTIN BIEBER live in concert? Here’s your chance to be a hero!

 justin

We have two fifth row VIP concert tickets for the sold-out September 20th show at the Saddledome for the highest bidder!

Here’s what this unforgettable evening has in store:My World - The Ultimate VIP Experience

Two amazing topMyprice reserved tickets in the front floor sections
Two entries into the preshow VIP sound check
Two entries into the VIP preshow party that includes catered hospitality
and a dedicated VIP preshow host
Two autographed photo books or programs
Two exclusive Justin Bieber VIP gift bags
Two limited edition VIP laminate & matching lanyards
Two commemorative souvenir concert ticket
VIP preferred parking (where available)
VIP priority check-in (where available)
Separate VIP entrance at venue (where available)
Value of two tickets is $700

Starting Bid is $600 Click here to place your bid!

 Bidding will end on September 12 at 5:00pm

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Doing Well by Doing Good

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

I am excited to unveil BOWEN’s new corporate social responsibility statement. After months of research of best practices, soul searching and inviting feedback from our employees, we can say:

BOWEN Workforce Solutions is committed to making our community a better place. Whether it is linking great employers with talented employees, incorporating sustainable practices into our day-to-day business, giving of our time to worthwhile organizations or donating funds to causes we care deeply about, we take our corporate citizenship seriously. We care about our environment and incorporate sustainable practices into our day-to-day business routines. We believe in sharing our financial success with the community where we live, work and play by helping families who need it most, and making our community a better place. Our desired legacy is a caring, successful company that truly makes a difference for our community.

As a company, we felt it was worth the time and investment to make sure we identified meaningful ways to give back to our community, while giving our employees, candidates and clients opportunities for engagement and involvement.

There are fantastic organizations that are on the front lines each and every day, caring for those who need help and hope. Whether it is a homeless family, a hungry child or a parent needing suitable work clothes to start a new job, we can reach out and help make our community a better place for everyone. Individuals and corporations all have a role to play and I am proud of our employees commitment to making a difference.

In the weeks ahead, I will share more about our vision and how you can join us on this exciting new journey!

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A New Year…A Fresh Start

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

I love New Year’s!  It’s exciting to symbolically leave the previous year behind and look forward to all that the next 12 months has in store! For many, 2009 was an extremely challenging year with the declining economy, job loss and significant corporate cutbacks. Looking ahead to 2010, there is cautious optimism that job market will start to open up with new opportunities as the economy starts its slow recovery. Rebuilding takes time, but change is good.

Over the past few years, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to various groups about change and thought it was very appropriate to share just a few of my favourite inspirational quotes as we look ahead to the new year with anticipation.

“Life isn’t just about what you can have; it’s about what you have to give. What kind of person do you want to be? Start asking these questions and thinking about the bigger picture-why you’re here, why the world needs what you have to offer. What I know for sure: You keep asking the right questions of yourself, and the universe and your own secrets will unfold in ways you never imagined.” - Oprah Winfrey

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. “ - Maya Angelou

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” - President Barack Obama

 Happy New Year!

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Tis the Season - how are you celebrating?

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

It’s that time of year when companies begin to host festive events that celebrate the Holiday Season. For some companies, this is a time to thank clients and staff for their business and hard work throughout the year. In recent memory, many Calgary companies made the headlines for their extravagant parties, where they truly went all out. However, this year, celebrations will likely be much more subdued. If the 2009 Stampede parties were any indication, corporate Calgary is making different choices for acknowledging special occasions this year. Parties are simplified, guests lists are shortened and in many cases, companies are choosing to use their corporate events as a time to do something good for our community.

I think this sensitivity to the difficult year that many Calgarians are facing is a wonderful reflection of the true personality of our community. People do care. They are aware that there are those in our community who really need help. Just look at how sharply the demand for food bank services has increased. To borrow a phrase from the United Way of Calgary and Area, we do live in a “great city”. It’s a place where community helps community. I know this year at BOWEN, we have been more aware than ever that we need to reach out and lend a hand wherever and however we can. It is about encouraging candidates not to lose hope that they will find work again, offering support to companies as they deal with tough workforce decisions, and going that extra mile as a team to raise funds or donations for the many good causes in our city.

Whether you are considering your own personal Holiday Season celebration, or helping to organize a corporate event, I encourage you to think of how you can add in a element of giving back. I would also encourage you to share your stories. If you company is doing something different, or you have a great idea on how to give back, please share it! We can all learn from each other and discover new ways to help.

Happy holiday planning!

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A day to remember

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

The recent amazing success of the Scott Smed Golf Tournament has once again made my husband Peter and I so thankful for the generosity of our friends and colleagues, and quite simply in awe of their support.

We couldn’t have asked for better weather when 144 golfers teed off for the 9th Annual Scott Smed Invitational on September 14, 2009 at Cottonwood Golf & Country Club. Teams dressed in baby blue, as a tribute to our son Scott, and headed out for the day to help raise money for three very worthwhile
causes: Pregnancy and Infant Loss Program through Alberta Health Services, for two babies`orphanages in Uganda and Women and Children in Crisis programs through United Way of Calgary and Area.

What a day it was! Despite this past year being so difficult for so many, we raised nearly $100,000 for these very worthwhile organizations. What a difference this money will make to those in need, both here in our community and thousands of miles away in an Ugandan village.

To each of the people who swung a club, donated a prize, joined us for dinner or volunteered their time, “thank you”. It doesn’t seem like enough but once again, it is all we can truly say to acknowledge this remarkable opportunity we’ve been given to honour Scott and do something special in our community.

Visit http://www.scottsmed.com/ for photos and information on next year’s tournament!

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Chipping In for a Great Cause

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

On September 14, the BOWEN BrightLights Foundation is proudly presenting the 9th Annual Scott Smed Invitational. This golf tournament is a cause that is very close to my heart and is a special day for our family because it is a time when we honour our son Scott, who passed away as an infant in 2001.

For any parents who have experienced the loss of child, the journey of healing and hope is a long and very difficult one. However, we have been blessed by the support and caring of countless colleagues, friends and family members throughout the years.

As we grieved the loss of Scott, my husband Peter and I also realized we wanted to help other families in our community who would go through this heart-wrenching experience. We created the tournament as a way to raise funds to help provide grieving parents with comforting surroundings and resources to help them remember their child.

Over the years, the tournament has grown and evolved to also include support for babies’ orphanages in Uganda (our daughter is of Ugandan descent). Thanks to the generosity of golfers, sponsors, volunteers and donors, we have raised $430,000 for the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Program and for babies’ orphanages in Uganda. There are Scott Smed rooms at the Rockyview General Hospital and Foothills Medical Centre, as well as two more nearing completion at the Peter Lougheed hospital. The new Scott Smed Centre of Excellence will be part of the new South Health Campus and is the first of its kind in Canada, offering families the best possible care when dealing with the loss of a baby.

This year, Scott would be eight years old and the tournament is moving in a new direction to honour his legacy, while continuing to help women and children in our community. We are pleased to announce that the United Way of Calgary and Area has joined us as a partner, allowing us to continue to raise money for the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Program through Alberta Health Services, as well as for babies’ orphanages in Uganda through United Way Uganda. It will also give us the opportunity to raise money for women and children in crisis locally through United Way Calgary. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit these three very worthwhile organizations that are so dedicated to making a difference in our community and around the world.

This year has been an extremely difficult financially for many, and yet I am thrilled to say that our tournament has received a record number of sponsors and golfers! It’s an extraordinary accomplishment that shows just how remarkable our community is.

Giving back to the community has always been important to me personally, and I am thankful that at BOWEN, there are many colleagues who share this desire to make a difference to those who need it most.

I encourage you to think of what you can do too, whether it’s giving of your time, talents or financial resources, you can help us make Calgary a better place for everyone.

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