Weekly News Recap: April 24, 2020

Weekly News Recap: April 17, 2020

Captain Tom Moore, WWII veteran raises more than £28million for NHS in U.K. Photo: Emma Sohl

Honour is purchas'd by the deeds we do. -- Christopher Marlowe

VITREO FUNDRAISING ASK ANYTHING ZOOM CHATS

We have hosted three Ask Anything* Zoom chats over the last few weeks. The feedback on these sessions has been tremendous. So much so that we are now going to do them every two weeks. Our next one is on how to retool your case for support in light of COVID-19. Registration is free. Seating is limited. Visit our Ask Anything page to see times and dates. Register today.

FUNDRAISING IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

+ We are here to help. We are all in this together. If you would like to chat, reach out and schedule some time to talk. You can also call us at 403.210.3157 or, if this is still your thing, you can send us an e-mail. Stay safe. Stay sane.

+ Here is ViTreo's most recent blog post: NONPROFIT RECOVERY IN THE POST PANDEMIC RECESSION - Future implications for our sector

+ And a freshly updated (as at April 23, 2020) set of resources: Fundraising In The Time Of COVID-19

SOME GOOD NEWS

  • VIDEO - Prom 2020: Some Good News with John Krasinski Ep. 4 (YouTube) We have highlighted John's work over the last three recaps. Terrific. Every one. And this one is literally and figuratively...out of this world. "John Krasinski highlights some good news around the world (including weather from Brad Pitt), has NASA astronauts from the International Space Station stop by, and invites you to relive #SGNProm with special guests Billie Eilish, Jonas Brothers, Chance the Rapper, and Rainn Wilson."

  • COVID-19: Canadian stars and broadcasters unite to fundraise for Food Banks Canada (Georgia Straight) CANADIAN STORY Also in the good news category...this. "While numerous efforts have been made to support [Canadian] food banks, the nation’s biggest names and broadcasters are uniting to give a helping hand. Over 24 TV, radio, and streaming platforms from across Canada, including CBC and Bell Media, will donate their airtime for a one-hour presentation, free from commercials, of a star-studded show to raise funds for frontline workers and Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble will air at 7 p.m. on Sunday (April 26) on numerous English and French services, including CTV, CBC, Global TV, Virgin Radio, iHeartRadio, Citytv, OMNI Television, FX, National Geographic, ABC Spark, and more."

SOCIAL DISTANCING

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. Canadian hospitals join fundraising efforts to close COVID-19 'gaps' (CBC) CANADIAN STORY Brilliant! Kudos to all but especially to Caroline Riseboro for spearheading this. "Dubbed The Frontline Fund, the national campaign seeks donations on behalf of more than 100 institutions across the country for supplies, staff support and research. Organizers say the money would help hospitals source personal protective equipment and ventilators, fund drug trials and vaccine research and provide mental-health support to exhausted staff. Ten per cent of funds will also go toward the northern territories and Indigenous health."

  2. 'It's been quite staggering': John Fluevog says interest in Dr. Bonnie Henry shoe overwhelming (CBC) VANCOUVER STORY This was our cover story last week. And, deservedly so. Here is a bit of a follow-up (I secretly want a pair). "So far the interest has been overwhelming, and the shoes — which won't arrive from the manufacturer until August or later — are expected to sell out quickly, with would-be buyers contacting the company from across North America and around the world. 'It's been quite staggering, I have to say, how it is has just snowballed. There's been so much activity, it's kind of driving the staff who are manning our phones a little crazy,' says Fluevog with a laugh. 'I had no idea what a big deal it would become' The designer hasn't spoken with Henry directly, but he heard through his marketing manager that she's thrilled. 'It's win-win-win. It's a win for her and health-care workers. They get a bit of praise. We get to give money to something that is very worthy. And my staff are over the moon about it,' says Fluevog."

  3. Prince William's amazing donation and sweet letter to hero captain's NHS appeal (Mirror) UPDATE: Capt. Moore has now raised over £28million! On April 23, he was awarded the Pride of Britain Award on U.K. television. This guy. If they don't knight him, something is wrong in the world. We shared this story last week but the uptake over the last seven days has been amazing. "Prince William and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, have written to Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore, whose fundraising efforts have captured the heart of the nation. The Duke of Cambridge has also made an undisclosed donation to the 99-year-old's appeal, which has raised more than £16million for the NHS, Kensington Palace has said."

  4. The day oil was worth less than $0 — and nobody wanted it (CBC) ALBERTA STORY I wish this was a joke. It is not. From less than a barrel of monkeys a few week's ago to now having to pay others to take it. Incredible. "During these extraordinary times of the COVID-19 pandemic, a few hours can seem like a few days, and last week can feel like last month. For those in the oilpatch, the heady days of 2014, when oil prices were above $100 US per barrel, must seem like a century ago. The markets have been excessively volatile since the pandemic began, but [then] the truly unthinkable happened — oil prices turned negative."

  5. Lethbridge College announces digital “all-day celebration” in lieu of conventional Convocation (Lethbridge News Now) LETHBRIDGE STORY I heart this. Brilliant move Lethbridge College! "While students graduating from Lethbridge College this year will not have an in-person ceremony to attend, the school wants to do its part to recognize them. Convocation was originally set to take place [...] at the Enmax Centre, but due to mass gathering restrictions in light of COVID-19, the college was forced to come up with an alternative plan. They will be holding an all-day celebration on their website as well as their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. Graduating students will also receive a 'special Convocation package' in May that will include a save-the-date card to attend the 2021 Convocation, their parchment, a Convocation program, a congratulations card, and a special alumni pin."

  6. Calgary not-for-profits adapt their fundraising in the age of a global crisis (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY Nice work Andrea! "'The reality is charities and arts organizations still need to raise money. (It’s) about more than asking for it. It’s really about the relationship you have with donors. There’s a lot an organization can do to be reaching out and letting them know what they’re doing, about changes to programs. We’re seeing a lot of creative stuff happening online,' said Andrea McManus, a partner at the consulting firm ViTreo Group which provides strategic advice to groups as diverse as the new cancer centre, Calgary Opera, the Central Library and Lunchbox Theatre."

  7. Alberta custom sock company creates timely new design to help food banks (Daily Hive) CALGARY STORY This came to my attention when we were discussing a client engagement and how a partership with these folks might make sense. I, of course was enamoured immediately and ordered six pairs of socks including some for my sweetie (shhh...don't tell her, she never reads the recap anyway). "Calgary-based mismatched sock designer Friday Sock Co. unveiled a new sock design [...] with all of the proceeds from sales going to Canadian food banks [...]. Friday Sock Co. Owner Adam Thompson said, in an email to Daily Hive, that he wanted to do something that would both help out those who are doing good for Canadians, as well as bring some joy to an otherwise bleak situation."

  8. Don't surrender your pet, we'll help you feed it, Alberta SPCA urges (CBC) ALBERTA STORY This is such an important service. Thank you Alberta SPCA! "If you are struggling to pay for pet food during this COVID-19 pandemic, the Alberta SPCA has a message for you. They would rather help you feed it, than have you surrender it. The provincial agency launched Help for Animals this week to do just that. 'It's to help people having trouble feeding companion animals or livestock due to illness, self-isolation issues or economic hardship,' communications manager Dan Kobe told CBC News."

  9. Internal city document details grim financial impact of COVID-19 on non-profits, social services (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY Ugh. "The city could need nearly $400 million over the next year to protect social services and non-profit organizations, according to an internal document prepared by city staff to plan for the COVID-19 emergency. The document, obtained by Postmedia, outlines an estimated $376.4 million needed to help affordable housing providers, shelters, social agencies and non-profits make it through a period of emergency response and recovery until projected sustainability after one year."

  10. The COVID Crisis Is Reinforcing the Hunger Industrial Complex (MIT Press) This is a somewhat of a controversial piece and it comes from a bit of a moral high ground. That said, it's an important article. "Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, normal wasn’t so great for the working poor in America. Despite a 10-year recovery, 12 percent of the nation remained food insecure in 2018. The minimum wage stagnated at $7.25 in 21 states. Low wages, unstable schedules, soaring rents in many cities, and limited or no health benefits all added up to a precarious economic situation for tens of millions of Americans. The state of affairs was so economically unsustainable that food banks doubled their distribution from 2009 to 2019 to 5.25 billion pounds, serving 40 million people."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. 5 Low-Tech, Time-Saving Ways to Teach Online During Covid-19 (Chronicle of Higher Education) If you teach or present online, this is for you. I have and I wish I had read this before. It's really good.

  2. Losing the 'rhythm of life': Pandemic's disruption of routines affects our sense of self, experts say (CBC) CANADIAN CONTENT I know that I have lost the rhythm. Some good advice on how to get it back. Well, except for the not drinking wine with every online movie. That is just bad advice.

  3. A Therapist’s Simple Rule Transformed My Marriage (Forge) As many of us are living in much closer quarters with our spouses and partners and for extended periods, this is a must read. Are you committed to 'Full Respect Living'?

  4. Productivity Is Not Working (Wired) Give yourself a break. Trying to be uber productive, even before the pandemic, often resulted in the opposite. Now, with the blurring of business, personal, family, and community as we work from home, it is a recipe for poor mental health.

  5. The History of the Hawaiian Shirt (Smithsonian Magazine) These shirts inspired my love for colour. They still do.

  6. 6 Apps to Help You Thrive in 2020 (Luminesce) If only for RescueTime and Clockwise. The other four are great as well.

  7. The Logistical Hell of Postponing the Olympics for One Year (Slate) Curriculum reading for all event planners and Olympic host city wannabes.

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

Welcome to our recap of the week's news, articles, and information of note. ViTreo Group Inc. provides this information for the benefit of our clients, associates, staff, partners, and stakeholders. The content is collected and curated by ViTreo partner Vincent Duckworth. If you would like to submit a link for consideration, please send an email to info@vitreogroup.ca

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