Foundation staff featured in National Philanthropy Day section

The following articles appeared in a special Philanthropy section in the National Post Nov. 14, as a joint venture of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Post. The section included several stories featuring members of the York University Foundation.

• Fundraisers serve societal role
  “National Philanthropy Day is one way we develop the profession,” said Susan Mullin, vice-president of development for the York University Foundation, in a story about AFP activities. “This day allows us to publicly acknowledge the work that is accomplished in our communities thanks to philanthropists – individuals, corporations and foundations –  volunteers and professional fundraising staff.”
   
  
• Celebrating philanthropy
  The Association of Fundraising Professionals (Greater Toronto Chapter) is celebrating National Philanthropy Day Nov. 15 with a luncheon honouring recipients of its Philanthropy Awards. Among the winners who will be feted is Paul Marcus, president & CEO of the York University Foundation, who was recently named the year’s Outstanding Fundraising Professional. 
   
  
• Bill of rights sets standard
  “Philanthropy is based on trust,” said York’s Paul Marcus, a member of the AFP’s International Ethics Committee, in a story on the Donor Bill of Rights and other measures designed to protect that trust. “Having an enforceable code of ethics is the cornerstone of any profession,” he added.
   
  
• Fundraising aims for diversity
  “There is no such thing as the typical donor in Canadian philanthropy today,” said Marcus. “Leaders from different communities are stepping up to invest in Canada.” He also noted that such donors must be approached with sensitivity. “No one person can understand every community, nor can we assume that a single individual from a particular commuity represents everyone to whom we are trying to reach out. Draw on the experience of others to guide you as part of a longer-term plan.”
   
  
• Code of conduct protects integrity
  In a story about ethics and professionalism in fundraising, Jennifer Clarke, associate director of development at the York University Foundation, said she began studying for her CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) certificate as soon as she was eligible, five years after she entered the profession. “I found it really motivated me to learn all about the aspects of the profession,” Clarke said.

The easy part is now over for Mayor David Miller, wrote the Toronto Star Nov. 14 in its post-municipal election editorial. Indeed, the next four years promise to be exceedingly difficult as this city struggles to address problems that loom ahead. Among priorities the Star cited was: With gridlock choking the city, the Toronto Transit Commission needs more effective leadership, new money and support from Ottawa for a proposed subway expansion to York University and beyond.

More than 21/2 hours after David Miller had been declared winner of Toronto’s mayoral race, all of the votes still hadn’t been counted in Vaughan’s 130 polls, and supporters of both candidates agonized as they watched television screens, reported the Toronto Star Nov. 14. Joe Levy, an unsuccessful candidate for Ward 4 councillor, said late last night he was baffled why Vaughan’s votes were taking so much longer to count than those in Toronto. “If this is all computerized, how come it’s not done?” Levy asked. Levy, a retired York University professor with experience in city planning, said he found the race invigorating and healthy, even though it was painful to wait late into the night to see winners announced. “The culture of corruption will go,” Levy said. “I’m very happy I ran. I’m thrilled.”

It was anyone’s race last night in Scarborough Rouge River, Ward 41, as 10 candidates competed for a seat at City Hall, reported The Toronto Sun Nov. 14. But it was York alumnus Chin Lee (BA ‘90), 53, who came out on top. Lee, who graduated from York University and Ryerson with computer degrees, plans to hit the ground running as soon as he gets to City Hall. “I’m looking forward to getting to work and picking up where the previous council left off,” he said last night before heading to his victory party. Lee, a technical and project manager in the computer industry, was the Chinese Community Liaison for the Toronto Police Service 42 Division.

I sat next to a smart young woman named Venessa, wrote Toronto Star columnist Joe Fiorito about taking the post-election pulse of voters in various city locations. She had a bagel and a cup of tea. She is a sales clerk and a student. She said, “I think the subway system should be cleaned up. There are a lot of stations you don’t want to go into. And it would be great if there was a subway up to York. Yes, there are buses, but the level of service drops at night and you have to wait.” New councillors, wrote Fiorito, I have used the bus from York University. The wind sure can blow cold up there at night. Venessa’s right about the subway. Dig, we must.

Gary J. Smith, (BA ‘68, Glendon), a former vice-president of advancement at York, won the Electoral District 1 council seat in Central Frontenac Township’s municipal election Nov. 13. Smith has owned property on Big Clear Lake, with his wife Laurielle, for the past 17 years, wrote The Frontenac News (Sharbot Lake, Ont.) in its Oct. 26 edition. Five years ago the Smiths became permanent residents on the lake. Before moving to Horseshoe Lake , Gary had a distinguished career. He attended university at York University and Harvard, joined the Canadian Diplomatic Service and eventually became an ambassador. The Smiths have established themselves as active seniors in Arden, Ont., joining the Glee Club, the Happy Gang and the United Church. For the past two years, Gary has been active with the township’s Economic Development Committee.

Dusk falls in the East

A bit of advice from the star of the show: if you’re going to see York alumnus Matt Dusk (BFA ‘02) later this week, make sure you have a few drinks beforehand, wrote the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal Nov. 14 . The Canadian crooner likes his audiences to be a little loosened up before he hits the stage. “I’m serious dude, I joke not, I don’t like crowds that are intimidated by, ‘I don’t want to draw attention to myself,’ because that’s not what music has ever been about. Music has always been about sharing the experience of what the emotion brings to you. I have this joke that the more you drink the better we sound. You get loosened up, then you start singing and moving your body. You start grooving, y’know.”

The Alberta government is building awareness of the bullying issue across the province through the development of a multi-media resource plan, reported the Carstairs Courier Nov. 14. During Bullying Awareness Week, Nov. 13 to Nov. 18, positive behaviour modelling is being featured. The government’s bullying prevention strategy came out of the Alberta Roundtable on Family Violence and Bullying held in May 2004. A national strategy was launched through York University at the end of that year.

• Filmmaker Coleman Romalis, a former sociology professor at York, discussed how he discovered he had diabetes, in a Diabetes Month discussion on CFRB radio Nov. 5.
  
  
  
• Dan Church, head coach of the York Lions women’s hockey team, spoke about the latest inductions to the Hockey Hall of Fame and the absence of female players in the hall, on CBC Radio (Toronto) Nov. 13.