@Real_EstateInfo Hilarious, but so very wise!
Giving Back:
Jason Dehni: Artbound
In Support of Free the Children
Jason Dehni is Co-Chair and co-Founder of Artbound, a group of young professionals who are out to harness the power of the arts to create a sustainable social and economic change in the lives of underprivileged children. We’ve been following the progress of Artbound since it was launched in 2010, and spoke with Jason recently after he and Artbound returned from their first, and successful, working trip to build an art school with Free the Children in Kenya.
Born and raised in war-torn Beirut, Lebanon, he migrated to the USA when he was 11, and arrived in Toronto at 18. “I have always felt so privileged in having an amazing family, that I wanted to be a contributing member of society. I also feel I have a duty to give back, especially to the children of any country.”
Jason worked with Habitat for Humanity to help build a home for a family in need. Realizing that the family for which he helped to build a home had less than nothing but were nonetheless full of happiness and contentment, this highlighted for Jason the difference between the things that he needed and the things that he wanted. From there his need to give back took hold.
“Arts and culture play a critical role in defining who we are as a people,” said Jason. “And when kids become engaged in the arts, it has a huge impact on them both personally and socially. In developing countries, the arts – whether performing arts, fine arts, or arts and crafts – can generate income for families, and empowers young people.”
Artbound was formed as a not-for-profit organization to work in partnership with Free the Children. “The whole premise is that the arts have the ability to transform lives. As well as raising money to benefit the students, the Artbound Committee wants to be engaged and to be part of the solution. We are a group of people who have been successful in our careers and have been engaged in philanthropy already. Engagement means so much.”
After founding Artbound with Amanda Alvaro, Katie Telford and Marcello Cabezas, the sequence of events to date has been forming the Artbound Committee, having Seamus O’Regan join as Honorary Chair and Dayle Haddon as Global Ambassador (both of whom have been featured in Tempo Toronto previously), creating an operating plan, holding a highly successful fundraiser in Toronto last Fall, which raised over $150,000 – enough to fund the building of a high school in Kenya and a full arts school – and organizing a trip as a personal cost to the Masai Mara region which resulted in the creation of an art school there, as planned.
“The entire team came to the conclusion that we were not simply part of a charity, we were part of the development of a sustainable community.” Highlights of the Kenya Artbound trip included more than working on building the school:-
There was an inspirational cultural exchange in which the girls for whom the art school was created performed along with Canadian notables, including Nelly Furtado – a living demonstration of how the arts can overcome barriers to communication.
Almost everyone who helped raise the $150,000 last year was able to be hands-on participants in Kenya. Most of the money went to having a high school and art school, built together working shoulder to shoulder with local people. There was also enough to operate the school, including paying the teachers’ salaries, for at least two years.
Artbound’s global ambassador, Dayle Haddon, started a dynamic ball rolling in Kenya by donating $2500 for tuition and room and board, which meant sponsoring two girls. A further $90,000 was pledged within 10 minutes by Artbound members, and a week later a further $100,000 came in from Ms Haddon’s connections in New York. $400,000 would support each of 41 girls through the high school and art school for four years, and is a reachable objective.
“There is nothing like going there and meeting the students,” said Jason. “The passion you bring back you can never experience by writing a cheque. Given the opportunity to be part of the execution, seeing where the money goes… it changes you.”
“Our new ‘tagline’ is ART DOES GOOD.”
Next stop for Artbound is India, specifically the Province of Rajastan. “Every country is different,” Jason reminded me. “We will have another fundraiser in the Fall. We are extending our mandate to include artists and anyone who loves the arts. We’d like to raise enough to build a full school, with complete arts program attached to it.”
In closing, Jason said, “Clearly, we could not have done this without support from generous donors. Some of our biggest supporters were Scotiabank, Horizons ETF, CTV, Globalive, Davis & Henderson and ETFO.”
by Editor
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Loading ...[Tags: Amanda Alvarez, Artbound, Free the Children, Jason Dehni, Nelly Furtado, pARTy, Seamus O'Regan]
The Kindest Man on Bay Street?
Blake Goldring
As CEO of AGF Management, Blake Goldring was honoured with the industry’s coveted Person of Influence Award at the 2007 Canadian Investment Awards. You’d be more likely to associate him with the glitz of Bay Street than with giving back to the community in oh so many ways, and creating a not-for-profit organization.
As one mode of giving back, Blake is Chairman of Canada Company. He founded this apolitical organization in 2006, to bring community leaders across Canada together to support Canadian soldiers in the work they do at home and abroad. Blake’s initiative provides practical help and hope to members of our armed forces, and to the families who love them. Since its inception, the foundation has created a $2.1 million Scholarship Fund. In a unique event on September 3, a frigate will be sailing into Toronto to act as an impressive backdrop to awarding scholarships to students who have lost a parent in active duty.
Blake holds an Honours BA in Economics from the University of Toronto and a Masters of Business Administration from INSEAD in France. Blake and his wife Belinda have three teenaged daughters and live in Toronto. He enjoys spending time outdoors and counts golf, tennis and fishing among his favourite after-work activities Blake is also an Honorary Colonel of The Royal Regiment of Canada, the second-largest Reserve Force Infantry Regiment.
How would others describe you?
I think they would say I am a fervent Canadian, who is passionate about different issues, and that I demonstrate leadership in different areas. I certainly don’t shirk away from a challenge; I’d rather engage in a difficult situation to work for a better outcome.
What do you think makes you unique?
I never consider myself unique. But I have a great passion to get involved in things I think are meaningful: the environment, education, and grooming the next cadre of leaders. I get a huge buzz spending time with young people because of their freshness of ideas. My grandfather was one of the first to sit on what is now the United Way, and my father had always been a major contributor to causes, so there is a carry-through from my family.
What is your biggest motivator?
I want to make a difference in the lives of others, both in business and in the community at large. A community works best when there is a spirit of sharing and openness, and each of us has certain strengths and capabilities that allow us to share and contribute. Those of us in business actively enjoy certain benefits which should be shared,. This could be time, experience and contacts as well as financial sharing. Sharing is always enriching because you learn so much. When I was younger, I was focused on getting the right career launch, home life, learning skills and supplementing my education. At a certain point when you have grown as a person and know yourself better, you are more focused on how you spend your time. With time and good health, plus a bit of determination, then toss in some experience, knowledge and other resources … you can do some incredible things.
When you hit 50, it’s interesting that you think about the amount of time you have and the number of things there are to do in this great world. To be giving and helping others in whatever capacity it might be – working in a soup kitchen in a hospital, financial contribution to the arts, active participation in something – it all helps to bring a sense of satisfaction.
What do you consider your biggest achievement?
Growing a small Canadian enterprise into an international organization brings a sense of accomplishment. I’m proud of raising a family. And I’m proud of being involved and helping make a difference in those areas where I’m an active contributor. I serve organizations to move them ahead, not simply to get my name on a letterhead.
What do you want to achieve in life now?
This is a time to bring real focus on some of the areas I have chosen to devote more of my attention to. With the military for instance, the link between the broader community and our armed forces is important. All that we appreciate reposes on the fact we enjoy safe, secure sound environment to go about our lives. Without it all bets are off.. Our military is populated by hardworking people who risk the ultimate sacrifice. Even though they chose this life and don’t ask for much, we owe a debt to them. We try to help through the scholarship fund, as well as a significant program for camps for children of deployed soldiers
How would you like your own story to inspire others?
I have great hope that people would get active in whatever way they can to serve the community. All of us have something to give, whether it’s background, experience, finance, contacts, resources, or a combination. Just being available. The sense of satisfaction from this is immeasurable.
What would you like to be remembered for?
As a good father, a good leader, who made a difference in whatever organization he was involved in and who made a lasting and positive impact on others. The things we do at AGF help others to achieve their financial dreams, which in turn helps them to put kids through college, be philanthropic and have a good retirement. I can feel good and passionate about what I do.
by Editor
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