Bishop Reding Students Host Pasta Dinner for World AIDS Day 2009

Alex Schroder, Give a Day supporter at Bishop Reding High School in Milton, Ontario writes…In honour of World Aids Day, the Student Athletic Association at Bishop Reding High School hosted their second annual pasta dinner on December 2nd.

When deciding where to direct our money this year, Give a Day and the Stephen Lewis Foundation seemed like the perfect decision; as the founder of Give A Day, Jane Philpott, is a close friend of mine and having heard Stephen Lewis speak on numerous occasions, he inspired me by his passion to “turn the tide on AIDS” by helping individuals at the grassroots level.  The night began with a delicious dinner provide by East Side Mario’s.  Over 100 community members attended, local retailers donated items for the silent auction and the new “Harambee” CD was for sale.  Margaret Wright, the Director of Operations for the Stephen Lewis Foundation, was our guest of honour.  She gave a moving speech on the plight of the millions of AIDS orphans in Africa.  I believe that it is important for people our age to be made aware of what is happening in our world and that the deciding factor that determines your likelihood of getting treatment for HIV should not be the country you are born in.

Students signed the "We Gave a Day" poster to show their support.

The evening was a huge success, raising over $2000 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation, and it has inspired others to take action and create awareness for the AIDS/HIV pandemic.  By supporting this event people in our community were recognizing the need for change and responding to the crisis.

Alex and Katrien with cupcakes that were donated for the event.

Bishop Reding Fundraising Committee and Student Athletic Association who helped make the evening happen.

World AIDS Day 2009 – Harambee Blues

In honour of World AIDS Day 2009, and to celebrate the release of the Harambee! CD, on Tuesday, December 1^st an extraordinary night of music took place at the Silver Dollar Room in Toronto.  Harambee Blues was organized by Anne Stadlmair and the Tia Anita Project and those attending were inspired and entertained with fantastic music from Blue Room, Mike Stevens, Madagascar Slim and Digging Roots.  Hosts for the evening were Uitsile Ndlovu and Simba Nyawiri from Soul Influence.  We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Anne Stadlmair and to all the artists who showed their support for the Give a Day campaign and recipient organizations Dignitas International and the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Information on purchasing copies of the HARAMBEE! CD is available by contacting info@giveaday.ca or by visiting the Tia Anita Project website.

Dr. Jane Philpott addresses the crowd. Photo by Ed Michael Roth.

Hosts for the evening, Simba Nyawiri and Uitsile Ndlovu. Photo by Ed Michael Roth.

Blue Room. Photo by Ed Michael Roth.

Harmonica virtuoso Mike Stevens. Photo by Ed Michael Roth.

Madagascar Slim. Photo by Ed Michael Roth.

An incredible performance by Digging Roots and Madagascar Slim.

University of Western Ontario Harambee

Harambee Blues – World AIDS Day 2009- The Silver Dollar Room

On Tuesday, December 1st, World AIDS Day, come to “Harambee Blues” – a night of music for World AIDS Day , and the CD launch of “Harambee!” featuring Madagascar Slim, Digging Roots, Mike Stevens, Blue Room with hosts for the evening Uitsile Ndlovu and Simba Nyawiri (of Soul Influence). The event takes place at the Silver Dollar Room in Toronto (486 Spadina Ave) – doors open at 6:00pm (dinner menu available), and the show begins at 7:30pm. Admission is $10.00   http://www.silverdollarroom.com/

Kingsway Harambee – Inspires and Entertains

Over 70 west-end Toronto guests were inspired as well as entertained at the Kingsway Harambee hosted by Jennifer Keenan and Jo-Anne Sheffield on November 21st. There was good food, great music from Soul Influence, a live auction of Shona sculpture from Zimbabwe donated by ZimArt and a motivating presentation from the Give a Day founder Dr. Jane Philpott.

Wonderful music from Soul Influence

Host Jennifer Keenan

Host Jo-Anne Sheffield

Dr. Jane Philpott inspires the crowd

Markham Stouffville Hospital celebrates its 6th year of Give a Day to World AIDS!

The Markham Stouffville Hospital team enjoyed a fabulous Harambee on Friday November 20, 2009 at Bridges Restaurant in Markham.  The Harambee was hosted by Dr. Paddy Whelan, Chief of Surgery at the hospital.  A great group of hospital staff gathered to hear a report from Dr. Lorna Adams who recently worked at the Dignitas project in Malawi.  Over $9000 in donations was collected that evening to support both the Stephen Lewis Foundation and Dignitas International.  The evening was a great example of “collective efficacy” which has been described by Helen Epstein to be “present everywhere there is a spirit of collective action and mutual aid, a spirit that is impossible to measure or quantify, but that is rooted in a sense of compassion and common humanity”.

Bridges to Africa Host Dr. Paddy Whelan

Harambee Speaker Dr. Lorna Adams shares news from Malawi

Guests at the Harambee

Music, Drinks and Poetry – Mood Lounge – December 1

WORLD AIDS DAY, Tuesday December 1^st 2009

Mood Lounge: 8-Close  $10 at door

120 Cumberland Street (Yorkville)

Join host and Toronto Argonaut Raymond Fontaine for drinks and an evening of poetry and spoken-word performances in honour of World AIDS day.  100% of donations will go towards the fight to end HIV/AIDS throughout the world.

The impact of HIV/AIDS has been unparalleled. It is more than a pandemic…it is a humanitarian crisis. Martin Luther King once said: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.  Dr. Jane Philpott, founder of the Give a Day to World AIDS, took that concept one step further, stressing: “poor health anywhere is a threat to well being everywhere”.  The tremendous potential lost when a life is taken by any illness is staggering…HIV has claimed enough lives. We can and must work to tame this disease…because together we truly can make a world of difference.

Come, bring an open mind and a little courage, because the mic is open…it’s an evening to express yourself and provoke thought. And of course, bring your checkbook…tax receipts will be given for all donations

www.giveaday.ca

raymondfontaine51@gmail.com

Harambee Blues – for World AIDS Day and CD Launch of Harambee!

On Tuesday, December 1st, World AIDS Day, come to “Harambee Blues” – a night of music for World AIDS Day , and the CD launch of “Harambee!” featuring Madagascar Slim, Digging Roots, Mike Stevens, Blue Room with hosts for the evening Uitsile Ndlovu and Simba Nyawiri (of Soul Influence). The event takes place at the Silver Dollar Room in Toronto (486 Spadina Ave) – doors open at 6:00pm (dinner menu available), and the show begins at 7:30pm. Admission is $10.00   http://www.silverdollarroom.com/

Harambee! CD - Proceeds benefit Dignitas International and the Stephen Lewis Foundation

Residents Launch Give a Day Campaign at the Hospital for Sick Children

Kingsway Harambee – November 21st- West Toronto

A group of approximately 50 friends and neighbors in Toronto’s West end will be gathering for the first annual Kingsway Harambee celebration at a local pub.  The event will be sure to please with great African music, artwork from Zimbabwe, great food, great friends and all for a great cause.