12 Days of Charity Giving
Giving back ✨ is an important part of the holiday season, and this year the team at Rob Gray Asset Management (RGAM) will continue with our tradition of making donations to charities in lieu of sending out presents. The 12 Days of Christmas, will showcase a charity selected by each individual RGAM team member and will be paired with a $1,000 donation being made to the charity.
On the first day of Christmas charity giving, Vanessa Eagle, our Team Manager nominated: Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter
"The Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter has expanded to serve over 15,000 Calgarians annually. This is an incredible achievement and a testament to the strength of the Calgary community at large. I'm especially thankful because I personally had a positive experience there during a tough time in my early childhood. This Christmas season, we are grateful for Rob Gray Asset Management who has generously donated $1,000 to the shelter. This donation will go a long way towards helping those dealing with family violence and abuse, find safety, and better opportunities for themselves and their children."
On the second day of Christmas charity giving, Kurtis Wagner, our Senior Wealth Advisor, and Portfolio Manager nominated: Calgary Catholic Education Foundation
"Calgary Catholic Education Foundation is a charity that provides enhanced learning opportunities through classroom and school grants. I am proud to be in my second year serving on the Board of Directors for the charity and helping to fund additional educational opportunities for Calgary youth to have the best possibility to succeed today and to become tomorrow’s leaders. As a parent of three daughters who attended Catholic schools in Calgary, we continue to benefit from the education they received. I am proud to be a part of the Calgary Catholic Education Foundation. The Foundation relies on donations from individuals, families, businesses and organizations. This $1,000 donation will be used to support enhanced learning opportunities in their classrooms and schools. I am proud to be involved with a philanthropic organization that is making a difference in the lives of students in Calgary."
On the third day of Christmas charity giving, Maegan Allan, our Administrative Support Assistant, nominated: The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation
"For me, The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation is more than just a charity—it’s a personal journey. I have lost several family members to cancer, and it has been heartbreaking to watch them suffer and pass away too soon. This charity’s mission to conquer cancer in our lifetime resonates deeply with me, as I want to ensure that no one else has to go through what my family had to endure. Recently, there have been some amazing advances in cancer treatment thanks to the generosity of donors like Rob Gray Asset Management, who recently donated $1,000 to the foundation. The foundation funds world-leading research that is transforming how we diagnose, treat and prevent cancer. As a result of their tireless efforts, many individuals affected by this disease are now living longer and healthier lives than ever before."
🎄 On the fourth day of Christmas charity giving, Jacinta Hanily, our Senior Associate, nominated: Children's Cottage Society
"Every child deserves access to a supportive and stable family life, no matter their circumstances. Children's Cottage Society has been providing such valuable services in the Calgary community for years - whether it be through their crisis nursery, Brenda's House or family resource network. I'm excited that my $1,000 donation from Rob Gray Asset Management will help serve even more families by expanding the organization's reach with this new centre they are building. Together we can work towards creating positive change in our local communities!"
🎄 On the fifth day of Christmas charity giving, Chris Courtice our Wealth Advisor, nominated: Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids (BB4CK)
"Every child deserves access to the life-sustaining power of nutritious food. Despite 1 in 10 households experiencing food insecurity here in Alberta, BB4CK is making a huge difference! They are providing school lunches as well as grocery cards supports for those learning at home - all with one mission: eradicating hunger among children age K-12 right here in Calgary and its surrounding areas. To date they have successfully served over 220 schools already - reducing the crippling effects of poverty so every kid has what they need to thrive!"
🎄 On the sixth day of Christmas charity giving, Sierra Nunno, our Wealth Advisor, nominated: Fast and Female
"Sports fuel more than just physical health; research from EY and espnW revealed that participation in sports is a strong predictor of future leadership roles. But, sadly at the age of 14 girls are dropping out twice as fast compared to boys. To keep young athletes motivated on their paths towards achieving success outside their sporting career, Fast & Female hosts events to connect them with relatable female role models who have succeeded beyond sport - allowing these wonderful ladies to pass down what they learned over years competing or training so younger generations can continue moving forward! As an ex-athlete myself I deeply relate with this mission – when we're cheering each other on during alpine skiing and lacrosse tournaments unfortunately our numbers got smaller year after year... Quickly we realized how vital having access to powerful female figures was for staying focused and inspired. I believe if more girls had access to successful female role models – whether they be succeeding in sport or business – it would empower them to keep competing. After all, “you can’t be what you can’t see!"
🎄 On the seventh day of Christmas charity giving, Usman N. Afzal, CFA, our Investment Associate, nominated: Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter , this is our second nomination for this very deserving charity.
"Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter is a beacon of hope, steadfastly working to put an end to abuse and family violence. Since its establishment, more than 250,000 Calgarians have walked through their doors seeking assistance whilst in vulnerable positions - making this incredible organization one of the most heroic members of our community!"
🎄 On the eighth day of Christmas charity giving, Connor Woodworth our Assistant, nominated: Special Olympics Canada
"I have family friends on the East Coast who have a little girl with down syndrome. During my last visit, she competed in an event hosted by the Special Olympics. This was one of the most amazing days I have been apart of, and showed me the incredible Impact that the Special Olympics can have on these athletes lives. Growing up in a small town named Invermere, it was clear that special needs athletes did not always have as many opportunities as they would in a city. By supporting the Special Olympics in Invermere, I hope it helps to provide more athletes with the opportunity to learn new skills, build confidence, and experience some of the amazing activities that this beautiful area has to offer."
🎄 On the ninth day of Christmas charity giving, Janet Drage, CFP, BComm our Senior Financial Planner, nominated: Girl Guides of Canada
"Helping provide generations of girls a positive space where they can shine, stretch their limits, and explore a world of possibilities is important to me. I don’t have children of my own, and this is an opportunity to share my talents, help girls grow into their potential, and give parents a break. I’m proud to be part of the village helping these girls grow into independent women."
🎄 On the 10th day of Christmas charity giving, Leah D'Souza our Senior Associate, nominated: Inn from the Cold
"This year, Inn from the Cold celebrates a hard-earned milestone of 25 years dedicated to providing security and stability for Calgary's homeless population. Despite their momentous achievement, this is not a cause for celebration - rather we should be driven by an ambition to end homelessness in our city! A $1,000 donation will do just that; research conducted into social return on investment reveals every dollar invested into shelter programs creates nearly five times its value in economic and social prosperity."
🎄 On the 10th day of Christmas charity giving, Leah D'Souza our Senior Associate, nominated: Inn from the Cold
"This year, Inn from the Cold celebrates a hard-earned milestone of 25 years dedicated to providing security and stability for Calgary's homeless population. Despite their momentous achievement, this is not a cause for celebration - rather we should be driven by an ambition to end homelessness in our city! A $1,000 donation will do just that; research conducted into social return on investment reveals every dollar invested into shelter programs creates nearly five times its value in economic and social prosperity."
🎉 And on the 12th day of Christmas charity giving, Byron Bergren, our Business Development Specialist, nominated: Synaptic Neuro Rehabilitation Centre
"Located in Calgary, the Synaptic Neuro Rehabilitation Centre is a one-of-a kind organization offering integrated care to individuals of all ages living with neurological diagnoses and injuries. Guided by Uyen Nguyen who I have personally known for many years, this incredible clinic does much more than provide medical assistance; it restores dignity and confidence to those struggling through their condition. Making use of cost recovery models as well as ongoing support from generous donors over the past several years - including myself at times -Synaptic has had tremendously positive impact on countless lives!"