CommunityBeCause Radio shares stories about people who care for our community.
What do you care about? We care about it too! Discover the Causes people care about, and what drives them to give back, each week on The Foundation’s radio show BeCause Radio, broadcast on CJNU 93.7 FM and available at becauseradio.org. Hosted by Robert Zirk and Sonny Primolo, the show features stories about local charities, impact-makers, and Foundation activities. Have an idea for a story? Email becauseradio@nullwpgfdn.org
Social change through music
Through workshops, lessons and music, Darkspark encourages positive social change by facilitating collaborations between musicians and youth in communities across Canada.
“The goal of the Four Directions project is to create a discussion around the colonial history of Canada with youth today and how it is currently affecting them,” says Sage Nokomis Wright, Darkspark Educator and Photographer
Youth participants expressed their perspectives by recording songs that were released in December 2019 as part of Four Directions, Vol. 1. The lead single, “Follow” was written and recorded by Grade 7 and 8 students at David Livingston Community School in Winnipeg.
“I encourage [people] to listen to this work, to take the young people’s voices seriously, and really consider what our youth of today are thinking about,” Wright says.
Original air date: Dec. 12, 2019
Helping out by dining out
Mealshare is a charitable organization that helps restaurants and consumers give back through a “buy a meal, give a meal” program.
“We put our Mealshare logo beside a few menu items on a restaurant’s menu,” says Derek Juno, Mealshare’s Executive Vice-President.
“If you, a conscious consumer, were to order one of the Mealshare-branded menu items, you’d be getting your meal just like normal. But you’re also providing another meal to a youth in need.”
Mealshare has more than 550 restaurant partners in Canada, including 17 in Winnipeg, and has provided nearly 3.5 million meals to partner charities.
Original air date: Jan. 16, 2020
Winnipeg Impact Maker: Max’s Restaurant
Arnel Alibin worked in health care for 18 years before he and his family brought the Max’s Restaurant franchise, which specializes in Philippine cuisine, to Winnipeg.
Now, they’re giving back to support health care initiatives through Max’s Lunch Rush.
“We sell lunches to community hospitals like Concordia Hospital, and 10 per cent of the proceeds go directly to the Concordia Foundation to help fund their community projects and orthopedic projects,” Alibin says.
Giving back is important to Alibin because of the opportunities Manitoba has provided his family.
“It’s something for us to really show appreciation for what the city has done for us, and to the community as well.”
Original air date: March 19, 2020
This story is featured in the Spring 2020 issue of our Working Together magazine. Download or view the full issue on our Publications page.