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March 12, 2008
This last month I have heard some great speakers, some very
motivational speakers - The empowering Pinball Clemons with his
spiritual messages and inspirational and encouraging stories and
another gentleman Ari Schonbrun who told us a compelling first hand
account of survival. He worked in the World Trade Towers and survived
the devastation of 9/11.....Life changing speeches.... Truly hits
home.........
I realize that we are blessed to be Canadians.
Life is too short not to take responsibility for your actions, and we must play the cards we are dealt.....
In the words of Pinball Clemons - "LIVE LIFE"
For those of you who don't know, STADIA has always had a soft spot for
charity work, and this year is even more special. My staff and I chose
to give up our Christmas party in hopes that we could do some good for
people that need help now.... Our "Help the Homeless" project.
Homeless people in Toronto cannot be dismissed, we cannot just send
them out onto the cold street. I know they're not always good for
business.( God bless them) So your security guards move them along from
a warm spot they have found in your concourse, in great hope that they
will intrude on some other landlords property. ( It's tough, business
vs morality)
Two winters ago on a cold night, minus 15, I was working at night,
around 2am, outside an Oxford building at 111 Richmond Street changing
some windows (yes I do work with my hands) and several meters away from
our truck was a homeless person covered knee deep in blankets over a
grate, trying to keep warm. When along came a group of young men,
bar-hopping, loud, full of piss and vinegar. As they happened upon this
homeless man they proceeded to kick his belongings down the street and
ripped his blankets from him, awakening him from his quiet slumber.
These thugs began screaming profanities and laughing at his hardship.
It was an awful thing to watch and it tore my heart out. I couldn't
just stand there and watch the inhumanity of this act. My five
technicians and I decided to stop them in there intoxicated tracks. Two
of my guys helped the homeless man and the rest of us decided to face
the other problem head on. Not that I'm outspoken or anything....Angry
words were exchanged on all sides and finally the young men dispersed.
That evening has stayed with me all this time and brought about a shift
in my thinking.
A year later I thought it was important to try a new charity
initiative. We could have given money to any number of great
charities but I was concerned that 100% of the money wouldn't make it
to the cause.......So how do we get a ROI on our charitable efforts???
Homeless people regardless of age, gender, illness or race need
immediate assistance. They are not going away and we cannot hide from
the problem we face everyday. Homelessness is an epidemic in Toronto
and throughout North America. We need to make it better even if it's
just for the moment, even if it's just in our own backyards. They are
cold and hungry, we need to do something.
So we went out and bought 1000 blankets, granola bars and bottled
water. I made contact with a part-time student that works for us named
Tim Moore. Living downtown, Tim works on and off in TV and film crews.
The next Francis Ford Coppola perhaps?
(I hope Tim Moore remembers me when he is on Jay Leno, lol)
Tim was over the top with enthusiasm. So all winter, each night since
January 1st, when we have a cold weather alert, Tim Moore drives around
downtown in a pink Smart Car giving out blankets and food, shaking
hands, encouraging them to head to a shelter and letting them know we
are here to help. Even if its only one night, one snap shot in time -
it's worth it.
This project was financed by my staff giving up their Christmas party.
I am extremely proud of my employees and the selflessness they show.
We don't get a charity receipt and no one says thanks. We get
satisfaction and inspiration from helping others. Thanks team.
I'm telling you this in hopes you can make your own charity efforts
personal. No-strings-attached philanthropy means giving and asking for
nothing in return . Giving offers you a sense of being a part of a
cause larger than yourself and of making a difference in others' lives.
Just do it - make a difference today.
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You want to hear something cool? I heard our competitors have been
visiting our web site. Sorry it's not finished yet. Anyone who has
worked on building a website knows it is always a work in progress.
With Ontario Building & Fire Code downloads, Green Initiatives,
specs & details, pictures of current and past projects, Health and
Safety, Consultant reports, job postings, Quality Assurance Program,
and of course silly stuff like horoscopes and weather reports, it is a
ton of on-going work (never stops). My brother Mike and I are going to
open up an area on the website where our employees can send in
pictures, ideas, and comments regarding projects we are involved in.
We have a great team and I think it will add a great deal to our site.
We really want our Stadia website to be a usable tool, something you
can get data from all the time. We want to be a real reference guide,
and if along the way we can have some fun and set a benchmark or two,
even better!!
As an old friend, Richard Francis once said.... "lead, follow or get out of the way....."
Stadia wants to lead..........
To my 6 readers...Have a good March....... and to all my Irish friends and family, "Happy St. Patrick's Day!"
Tim
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