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Blakes and Gowlings compete in a friendly Family Feud
game to help raise funds for the United Way campaign. |
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Blakes teams across Canada take part in
the CIBC Run for the Cure. |
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Community
Supporting thriving and caring communities is important to Blakes. It begins with respect and care for those who work at the Firm. Blakes lawyers and staff support more than 135 charitable organizations, community agencies and volunteer boards through donations of time and money.
United Way
Through our partnership with United Way across Canada, Blakes is helping to create positive social change and have an impact in neighbourhoods where we live and work. Each year, our offices across Canada support their local regions through participation in United Way activities. In 2010, donations by Blakes and our employees totalled C$1‑million – our best year ever in terms of dollars raised. In recognition of this achievement, Blakes was awarded the distinguished Thanks A Million Award by United Way of Canada, acknowledging our commitment as a philanthropic leader among Canadian companies. Over the coming year, these donations will provide vital stability to frontline United Way agencies, helping them to assist thousands of lives in communities where we do business.
Family Services of Greater Vancouver
Since 2004, Blakes has donated C$10,000 annually to Family Services of Greater Vancouver's Stopping the Violence program. The program provides counselling for women who have experienced abuse and empowers them to improve the lives of their children in order to break the cycle.
CIBC Run for the Cure
The Firm participates annually in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure. This year, we had another successful fundraising campaign, raising over C$31,000 nationwide with the help of our team of 77 Blakes members.
Daily Bread Food Bank
Blakes students in Toronto annually participate in the Daily Bread Food Bank Law Firm Challenge during Daily Bread's Holiday Food Drive. In 2010, we raised more than C$13,000 in just three weeks with activities that ranged from a potluck lunch and 50/50 draw to an online raffle for an iPad. Students also sang holiday carols and held a silent auction.
Holiday Angel Program
The Toronto office has also been involved in the Holiday Angel program, which is run by New Circles. The organization works with families in neighbourhoods primarily made up of recent immigrants and refugees. The purpose of the program is to match donor families with families in need to ensure each family member will receive needed gifts during the holiday season.
Other fundraising campaigns we support include:
- AIDSbeat – Blakes sponsors Bay Street's annual rock 'n' roll benefit concert put on by CANFAR (Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research), which is dedicated to privately funding HIV/AIDS research.
- Bowl for Big Brothers – Blakes employees participated in a bowling event to raise money for Big Brothers. We also hosted a second fundraising event with a "Rock N' Roll Circus" theme. The event showcased a few performers that included Blakes employees and their bands. All funds raised through ticket sales and the event's silent auction went to Big Brothers.
- Festival of Trees – Each year, we decorate a Christmas tree at the Four Season's Hotel in support of the BC Children's Hospital. Our decorations are items that can be donated to a charity of choice. This year, we chose to donate to Big Heart Rescue, a local animal shelter. We had dog treats and toys and other items collected from employees at Blakes.
- Give-a-Day/Night – Students from Blakes raise funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation and Dignitas International's "Give a Day" campaign that aims to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa.
- Heat Wave and Ice Wave Volleyball Tournaments – Blakes summer and articling students participate in volleyball tournaments to support SickKids' search for a cure for childhood cancer.
- Out of the Cold Lunch Program – Articling students take shifts at the Metropolitan United Church to help distribute hot meals to the hungry.
- Raise-a-Reader – Blakes employees volunteer with the Vancouver Canucks, members of the Vancouver Firefighters and Vancouver Police and other local celebrities on downtown street corners to distribute special editions of The Vancouver Sun newspaper in exchange for donations to support children's literacy.
- Sporting Life 10K Challenge – A team from Blakes participates in this event every year in support of Camp Oochigeas, which provides camp programming year-round at their residential sites in Muskoka and Toronto, as well as seven days a week at SickKids Hospital to children who have been affected by cancer.
- Subway Blitz – Blakes takes part in this event in support of Fort York Food Bank and competes against other law firms to raise money. This organization provides low-income individuals and families living in our community with a three-day supply of groceries.
- Winter Hope Clothing Drive – Each year, Blakes organizes a week-long drive to collect clothing and monetary donations for Yonge Street Mission's Doubt Take thrift store, which provides quality and affordable clothing to low-income families, as well as jobs and retail training for community members.
Volunteer of Distinction Award
The Firm and staff members are frequently recognized for their charitable efforts. Most recently, three Blakes employees – Louise Guay, Jennifer Sargeant and Marianne Smith – were presented with the Firm's Volunteer of Distinction Award. The purpose of the award is to honour individuals at Blakes whose voluntary contributions, social commitment and ongoing endeavours have contributed significantly to the advancement of a social cause and the well-being of the people in their respective communities. The recipients also received a donation to the charitable organization of their choice. For more on the recipients, click here.
For more information on our community involvement, please contact Mary Jackson.
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