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Making an impact in our Toronto community
For over a decade, our Toronto studio (BDP Quadrangle) has been running its annual Community Impact Week campaign: a dedicated week of fundraising events that give back to the local community. Over the years, this week has become an integral part of the culture of the Toronto studio, bringing together our people in Toronto to engage in raffles, live auctions, trivia nights, bake sales, potluck lunches, and more; all in the name of raising awareness and funds for a good cause.
Organized by a team of dedicated volunteers, known as the Community Impact Week Team, a different organization is selected each year based on feedback that has been received from the broader studio to help serve the local community under the following 4 key areas: social issues, environmental, health and wellness, and education. While there are other ongoing efforts to engage in social value initiatives across the year, Community Impact Week serves as a concentrated effort that seeks to involve as much of the Toronto studio as possible.
The most recent Community Impact Week in November 2022 supported the SickKids Foundation, fundraising for their Creative Arts Therapy program. This program helps children at SickKids Hospital cope and express their emotions in a healthy and fun way, and demystifies frightening health subject matters, thus improving the overall hospital experience for children and families.
This year’s events included a trivia night, a Halloween costume competition, a contest to name the meeting rooms at the new Toronto Studio at The Well, and a Master Chef-style cooking competition. In advance of the week, representatives from SickKids hosted a Lunch and Learn session, to provide information about their efforts and answer any questions that staff might have. The team also organized a luncheon which included the draws for the raffle prizes, and a live auction at the end of the week.
“Community Impact Week is such an exciting time of the year! I love how our studio comes together with a common goal in mind. It’s a yearly tradition that truly reflects our culture and who we are as people.”
Abbigail Levy, BDP Quadrangle, Administrative Lead / Community Impact Week Team Lead
"I've been very impressed by the commitment and passion shown by Kaz Kanani and his colleagues to organize events for Impact Week to raise money for SickKids. We, at the Foundation, are very grateful for the generosity shown by BDP Quadrangle's Toronto employees who have participated in these events and donated to make an impact on child health. Thanks to your involvement in Impact Week, patients and their families will continue to have access to the Arts Therapy Program that incorporates art, music, clown therapy and virtual reality (a donor funded program). It provides an opportunity for expression and a unique source of comfort that helps make the hospital experience more child and youth friendly for our patients and their families. Thank you."
Angie Ciardullo, Manager Corporate Partnerships, SickKids Foundation
“BDP Quadrangle’s Community Impact Program not only raises awareness of the various causes and societal issues, but it brings our staff together in a unique way, where everyone is working collaboratively towards achieving a common goal, outside of project work and it instills the value of giving back to the broader community in our people.”
Kazim Kanani, BDP Quadrangle, Senior Associate, Community Impact Week Team Member
Thanks to the dedication and generosity of BDP Toronto employees, Community Impact Week in 2022 has raised $50,000 CAD to date and counting, benefiting the SickKids program. The week is a testament to their commitment to making a positive impact in their community. As the team continues to identify new opportunities to support charitable causes, the Toronto studio will undoubtedly continue to make a difference in the lives of those in need.
The Community Impact Week Team is led by Abbigail Levy and supported by a team consisting of Kazim (Kaz) Kanani, Peggy Creatura, Brian Prinzen, Venessa D’Costa, Magdalena Mroz, Rob Dyson, Greg Livingstone, and Elle Thomas.
