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2015 Chocolates for Charities

For every chocolate given out during the 2015 holiday season,  $1 will be donated to the agents Vancouver Downtown Eastside charity.
These are the charities we will be supporting in 2015:




Covenant House. The Covenant House helps to provide essential services for homeless and runaway youth aged 16-24.

Saint James Music Academy. Saint James music academy believes in social transformation through the power and love of music. Through the inspiration and joy of collaborative music making within the framework of their orchestras and choirs. They give young people of the Downtown Eastside the opportunity to explore their creative potential, gain self-confidence, get an academic head start, and become role models within their families and community.


Potluck Café. By choosing Potluck we're supporting a social enterprise who provides training and employment opportunities for the DTES residents. Potluck prepares 30,000 free meals per year for people in the neighbourhood in addition to a community kitchen program.


W.I.S.H. is a foundation that helps increase the health, safety and well-being of women involved in the survival sex trade in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES). Women come to W.I.S.H. to attend to their basic needs. A hot meal, showers, clothing or referrals for health care, shelter and detox support.

Movember

This week for Friday #WineDown all money is being donated to Movember.

Movember is all about men's health issues:

Prostate or testicular Cancer,

poor mental health and physical inactivity 

Beyond Hello - Ted Talks

What an incredible story from Kristi Blakeway.

The Principal from Harry Hooge Elementary (Maple Ridge) 

Poppy Fundraising for Remembrance Day

This week's Friday Wine down is to raise money for the "Poppy Fund" 

What does the Poppy Fund do ?

1.       What does the poppy represent?

The poppy represents the symbol of Remembrance.

2.       Why should I wear a Poppy?

When  you  wear a  poppy  you  honour  the  war  dead  and  help ex-service personnel and their dependents.

3.       How do I help needy ex-service personnel and their dependents?

The basic purpose of poppy funds is to provide immediate assistance to ex-servicemen and women in need. This may include food, shelter or medical attention for them or their families. Also, bursaries are granted to children and grandchildren of ex-service personnel.

4.       Are there any other uses for poppy funds?

Yes. Poppy funds can be used for low-rental housing and care facilities for elderly or disabled persons and their dependents, community medical appliances and medical research, day care centres, meals-on-wheels, transportation and related services for veterans, their dependents and the aged.  Donations may be given for relief of disasters declared by the federal or provincial governments.

5.       Does all the money raised through the distribution of poppies and wreaths go into poppy funds?

After expenses, such as the cost of poppies, wreaths and other supplies are deducted, all remaining monies are placed in trust to be spent on those purposes authorized in the General By-laws of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Longest Day fundraiser - 7th Annual

With no rain in sight, we did not even have to think of a "rain" plan. One day our luck will run out!

Heading into a long dry summer, we had an incredible day on June 21st, raising money for the Vancouver downtown eastside. Each year raising a little more money and getting a few more people to attend.

This year we added door prizes to the mix. Thank you to the sponsors: Air Canada, Lufthansa, Manulife Travel Insurance, Travel 2, The Travel Group, & The Western Beer Club for your great donations. And congratulations to all the winners!

Thank you to Marie from Insight to Wellness for coming to give us a pre-race stretch and thank you to Starbucks for your continued support in donating coffee every year.

To the surprise of Anne-Marie she took first place for the fastest runner, with a time just over 45 minutes.

Freddie & Dave came in at tandem for the fastest walkers at 51 minutes. Dave was also a wild hat winner, with a funky chicken hat. 

There were some fabulous hats, and we could not do just 1 prize. Corene was a runner up with her Mickey Mouse hat.

Enjoying the sun, food and fundraising we wrapped up our event at noon to spend the day with our Fathers on Fathers Day. 

Hope to see you next year !

~  The Travel Group

Nepal Relief - Friday #WineDown

This week for our Friday #WineDown was for

Nepal Relief Fund.

8th Annual BCICA Mesothelioma Golf Tournament Fundraiser

The BCICA (British Columbia Insulation Contractors Association) 6^th Annual Golf Tournament will be held on May 29th 2015. The Travel Group does not have any avid golfers to put up to the golfing challenge so we support with a door prize of a suitcase full of trinkets for the silent auction.

Date is set for the 7th Annual #LongestDay Fundraiser

#WeWorkOut

Research is the foundation of advancements for early detection and improved treatment options. BC is home to a world class research organization and with everyone's efforts, Workout to Conquer Cancer will enable major discoveries that will help revolutionize the way cancer is diagnosed and treated in the future.

Janna (former Travel Group employee) will be participating in a day long fitness fundraising event to help make a difference in the lives of over 24,000 British Columbians whom have been diagnosed with cancer this year.  In efforts to help her raise money, The Travel Group has donated a suitcase for her to raffle off at her fundraising event.

For more information visit her Team Page

A Time to Remember, 2015 Gala

Children are our future. And with a small donation of a suitcase full of travel trinkets for the silent auction. The daughter of agent Karin will help raise money for the preschool to grade 3 primary building and help create a better future ! 

Oscar Contest

 

And the winner is !

 

Each year The Travel Group has an Oscar contest.

Making the pick for "best picture, best director and best animated feature" to name a few.

 

For a  $2 entry fee, the pot is usually small but ever bit counts! 

The winner takes 50% and the rest goes to the Vancouver Downtown East Side.

 

Our generous winner this year donated her winnings!

 

Thank you Anne for your donation.