With a mission to inform, empower, celebrate and advocate for British Columbia's current and aspiring business leaders, BCBusiness go behind the headlines and bring readers face to face with the key issues and people driving business in B.C.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1159085
S p e c i a l F e a t u r e C R E A T E A L E G A C Y We grant wishes because wishes change lives. MAKE-A-WISH ® BC & YUKON www.makeawishbc.ca 604.688.7944 bcchapter@makeawish.ca I wish to go to Paris! Emily, 16, cys c fibrosis Leave a legacy of HOPE! CANCER.CA Leaving a legacy gift to the Canadian Cancer Society can make a lasting contribution. Help more people survive cancer in the future. Full legal name: Canadian Cancer Society Charitable registration number: 11882 9803 RR0001 Janice Williams, CFRE Manager, Estate & Gift Planning 604-675-7112 janice.williams@cancer.ca serve the families and assist with office work. (Also, community groups pitched in last year to serve 222 home cooked meals.) While the altruism of so many people is the fuel that fires RMH BC, it still costs the non-profit organization $125 per night to accommodate a family – and therefore generous donations are crucial in ensuring that nobody is turned away. "We've been very fortunate to have a large group of very dedicated donors and supporters, but as a stand-alone organization that is a catalyst for positive momentum, we're always grateful for new donors," Kidd says. "For those concerned about leaving a legacy, the money used to help loved ones stay together during one of the most difficult situations they will ever face has a powerful, lasting benefit." Towards a breakthrough Arthritis is more serious than you think. It's not just aches and pains associated with aging; it causes life-threatening complications like heart attack, stroke, blood clots and hip fractures. Over six million Canadians of all ages struggle with this debilitating disease. Arthritis Research Canada is focused on finding answers and saving lives. "Arthritis can have a serious impact on a person's quality and length of life," says the organization's scientific director, Dr. John Esdaile. As the largest clinical arthritis research institution in North America, Arthritis Research Canada's scientific team is currently conducting over 75 studies aimed at arthritis prevention, early diagnosis, better treatment and improved quality of life for those with arthritis. The team is addressing the more than 100 forms of arthritis via disciplines such as rheumatology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, biostatistics, pediatrics, and knowledge translation. Legacy giving plays an important role in advancing research. "By leaving a gift to Arthritis Research Canada in your will, you can make a big difference in the lives of those with arthritis for generations to come," says Esdaile. "You can help us create a future without arthritis for your children and grandchildren." Disrupting the cycle of illness The singular effort of granting sick children a wish via the Make-A-Wish Foundation has long lasting impact. A study by the Nationwide Children's Hospital recently examined quality of life and health-care utilization among patients who received a wish and a control group that did not. The study found patients who were granted a wish were more likely to have fewer unplanned hospital and emergency department visits. Stuart Chase, director, marketing and communications for Make-A-Wish BC & Yukon, points out that when children are battling a critical illness, so much of normal childhood is taken away from them. But a wish is something that gives children the opportunity to restore a sense of childhood and normalcy. "Contributing to Make-A-Wish helps children overcome illness and give them a future. It really goes to the heart of the intent of legacy giving," he says. Hope for those afflicted Janice Williams, manager, estate and gift planning for the Canadian Cancer Society BC & Yukon, points out that research funded by her organization over the years is changing the perception of cancer as a deadly disease. "The breakthroughs in research have led to enhanced treatments and vastly improved outcomes, to the point where although a cancer diagnosis may fundamentally change a person, it doesn't define who they are. That's why we say life is bigger than cancer," she says. Considering that legacy gifts and estate planning are the ultimate forms of forward thinking, Williams is grateful to Canadian Cancer Society's many donors who have included a bequest. "Cancer prevention and treatment has come so far even in the past few years that it's exciting to think what lies ahead," she says. "Cancer affects everyone in some way, but together we are stronger." ■