The Sidoo Family Giving manifesto is “Supporting our communities through time, talent and treasure.” With the line up of recipients stretching for blocks, the Sidoos and other ASAP volunteers saw clearly how much of an impact the Blanket Drive made on the lives of many in their community. “When you see such poverty you have to do something. After we’d handed out all the blankets and stuff we later saw a few guys sitting on a bench wrapped up in them and I told Jordan ‘take a look, that’s why we have to help,’” said David Sidoo.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Adopt+school+Lord+Selkirk+Annex+gets+playground/7738790/story.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3a+canwest%2fF229+(Vancouver+Sun+-+News)#ixzz2Fz4rHaPl

Read more about ASAP and the day’s event here and here.

The Sidoo Family and members of the Association of South Asian Professionals (ASAP) handing out blankets.

May this season find you wrapped in the warmth and love of those in your community!

David Sidoo and his family Manjy and son Jordan have responded to our Adopt a School story that the school needs $7,800 to erect a new playground at Lord Selkirk elementary school.

The Sidoo Family has worked together to give a lasting gift to 73 elementary school children at Lord Selkirk Annex in Vancouver.

Recently, the school board mandated that the school tear down an aging playground structure, which would leave children with just one plastic structure to play on.  The school had applied to the Vancouver Sun for a $7800 grant to erect used playground equipment from another school to replace the soon-to-be-removed set.

David and Manjy Sidoo have been strong supporters of the Adopt-a-School campaign and have a very deep focus on making a difference in the lives of children in their community. This belief is something that they are passing on to their children.

In a two-week period, David and Manjy’s son Jordan raised $4000 selling pen sets to support the replacement of Lord Selkirk’s playground. And as a member of the St George’s school service committee, Jordan has committed to rounding up other St Georges students to help dismantle the equipment for transfer to Lord Selkirk Annex.

Last week the Sidoo Family came forward to advise the school that they would cover the remaining cost of installing the equipment. “As a family we wanted to do something for Christmas and it’s really nice being able to help this school. The kids shouldn’t lose their playground,” said David Sidoo.

Read the full story here .

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David Sidoo Family Giving Donation to Arts Umbrella

On Monday, September 17, 2012, David and Manjy Sidoo of Sidoo Family Giving attended the Arts Umbrella Surrey Centre Launch as special guests for their generous $20,000 donation to the program.

The Arts Umbrella program provides the highest quality visual and performing arts education to Metro Vancouver children and youth, regardless of their financial circumstances. For more than 33 years, Arts Umbrella operated from Granville Island; in January 2012, Arts Umbrella opened a new permanent facility in South Surrey; and in September 2012, Arts Umbrella opened their Surrey Centre facility. More than 30,000 children have been touched by Arts Umbrella programs.

The new Surrey Centre facility will enable the Arts Umbrella to deliver more arts programs to children and youth in the Surrey area.

David Sidoo, delighted to be in attendance and share the Sidoo Family Giving vision, spoke to event attendees and presented a $20K cheque to the Arts Umbrella organizers.

Video highlights here

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2012 SFG Scholarship Awarded to NWSS Senior Nick Adomat

Sending heartfelt congratulations to New Westminster Secondary School (NWSS) senior Nick Adomat, recent recipient of the annual Sidoo Family Giving award!

The $1500 SFG Scholarship is awarded to the NWSS graduating senior football player who demonstrates academic and athletic achievement, as well as leadership and perseverance. David and Manjy Sidoo established the scholarship with the goal of helping student athletes who may not otherwise be able to afford to attend university.

NWSS Football Program Head Coach, Farhan Lalji, comments on Nick’s contributions to the team, “On the field, Nick graded out as our best linemen this season as he rarely missed an assignment. He was a tremendous leader and in many respects was like having another coach on the field. He respectfully and positively forces us as coaches to constantly consider different methods for developing our program.”

Coach Lalji continues, “Nick was recently selected as our program’s scholar-athlete and received the Sidoo Family Scholarship for his athletic and academic achievement, perseverance and citizenship. He was also recognized provincially, earning one of nine BCSSFA scholarships for similar criteria to the above award.”

Off the field, Nick excelled in academics, earning a 93% average in a full academic International Baccalaureate courseload in his senior year. In the community, Nick tutors at-risk kids, reads to elementary school children, assists with senior citizens, participates in environmental clean up, helps with Hyack Festival Association events, and many other activities that the NWSS football program is involved with throughout the city of New Westminster.

Sidoo Family Giving is proud to contribute to Nick’s future education as he attends McGill University in September 2012.

Congratulations Nick!

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David Sidoo’s memorable five-year football career with the Thunderbirds began in 1978, when the UBC team played in its first ever Vanier Cup. Over the years David set several records and earned many awards that made him a shining star in the league. The crowning glory came in 1982 when David helped captain UBC to win its first Vanier Cup under the coaching guidance of many, including head coach Frank Smith.

This past April, David Sidoo and many of his 1982 Vanier Cup-winning teammates gathered together in Vancouver to honor and celebrate the induction of former head coach Frank Smith into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame.

When asked for a few words about his former coach, David Sidoo, who was inducted into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, said, “Frank was not only one of the best coaches in Canadian college football history, he was also a mentor to many of us. It’s easy to take many of the lessons Frank taught us and apply them to our everyday lives. He was much more than just a coach.”

For more information about Frank Smith’s life and illustrious coaching career, read this Vancouver Province newspaper article.

Congratulations, Frank!

Former UBC Football Head Coach & UBC Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Frank Smith with Several 1982 UBC Thunderbirds Team Members

1982 UBC Thunderbirds Football Team Vanier Cup Win

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Sidoo Family Giving Sponsors Breakfast Club

On Monday May 14, 2012, David Sidoo and Manjy Sidoo joined a number of smiling young faces at the Strathcona Community Centre to present on behalf of Sidoo Family Giving a $20000 donation to the Breakfast Club programs offered there. The Vancouver Sun newspaper’s Adopt a School program matched the Sidoo Family Giving donation.

The breakfast program at Queen Alexandra School and Strathcona Community Centre feed a healthy breakfast 200 of Vancouver inner-city children – and family members if needed – who go to school in the morning with empty stomachs.

Sidoo Family Giving has already actively sponsored Breakfast Clubs at David Sidoo’s alma mater New Westminster Secondary School in New Westminster, BC. In late 2011, Manjy Sidoo read an article in the Vancouver Sun’s Adopt-a-School series that detailed Queen Alexandra School and its needs. “The story just spoke to me. The programs there are so important to maintain and I said to David ‘this is a school I want to help as well as Strathcona,” said Manjy.

In the 14 years that the breakfast program offered out of the Strathcona Community Centre has been running, the number of children being fed has almost tripled.

David Sidoo was initially shocked to learn that children in his own backyard are going to school without a nutritious – or any – meal in the morning. “We all need to know this. We have to keep it in our conscience…” said David.

It can make an incredible difference in a child’s life to have a nutritious meal each morning. And it’s David and Manjy Sidoo’s hope that others will follow their lead and take action to support local breakfast clubs in their backyard.

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Streettohome Benefits from Sidoo Family Giving Sponsored Dinner

On May 3, 2012, Manjy Sidoo and five unique women enjoyed a very special meal served in the Holt Renfrew Vancouver display windows as a fundraiser and awareness creator for the Streettohome Foundation.

Manjy Sidoo was approached by Holt Renfrew about the event and agreed to partner with them, the Fairmont Hotel and Jo Malone London fragrances to put on the dinner when she learned that half of the proceeds would go to the charity of her choice, which in this case was Streettohome. “It’s a great opportunity to bring awareness and attention to the Streetohome Foundation,” said Manjy.

The five glamorous women who joined Manjy Sidoo at the event were treated to a delectable meal catered by Executive Chef Darren Brown of ORU, Fairmont Pacific Rim and served in the Jo Malone London window of Holt Renfrew. From 8-10pm, passersby the window on Dunsmuir St in Vancouver would have seen the lovely women dining in high style.

The extraordinary dining experience was enriched by presentations from representatives from Jo Malone London; Barbara Wolfson, Divisional Vice-President and General Manager of Holt Renfew Vancouver; and Streettohome Foundation President and CEO, Dick Vollet.

“We’re here tonight at the Jo Malone counter at Holt Renfrew to be the recipient of some very generous donations from Manjy Sidoo and David Sidoo,” said Dick Vollett, “and they‘re involved with Streetthome as one of our major campaign supporters. We are trying to build supportive housing for the homeless folks in Vancouver; trying to solve that homeless cycle.”

“The reason I decided to participate in this fantasic, unique event tonight is to bring awareness to Streettohome,” said Manjy Sidoo. “I think them being involved tonight, with Dick Vollett who’s the CEO contributing to the evening, educating people so to speak and doing it in this environment here at Holt Renfrew it just brings a bit of fun to the evening as well. So it’s always great to marry fun and philanthropy together!”

The event raised $5000 for Streettohome and generated great exposure for the Foundation, all in a unique and memorable way.

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Conceived and founded by David Sidoo’s friend, former CFL, NFL and XFL pro footballer, Bobby Singh, the camp takes places on the magical day of May 12^th, 2012 at the Minrou Oval in Richmond, BC. The non-contact skills camp is aimed at boys and girls aged 7-15 with football skills and experience ranging from beginner through advanced. Attendees are grouped according to age and, over the course of the day, rotate through different skills stations, each representing one of the eight positions on the football field.

Bobby Singh is the only Pro Football player to win a Super Bowl, XFL Championship, and a Grey Cup, but his success isn’t limited to the football field. Singh was elected as a trustee on the Richmond school board, and his CFL and NFL prospects are carefully weighed against the commitments he made to his community. He is active in different volunteer and community projects, including the Richmond Boys and Girls club.  Bobby Singh wants to help your children be successful by being a part of the football camps in Vancouver.

This event is near and dear to David Sidoo’s heart as it provides invaluable opportunities for youth to develop lifelong team building skills and gain inspiration and guidance from dedicated professional football athletes.

During his formative years at New Westminster Secondary School, David Sidoo was introduced to football, which gave him a sense of validation and focus. David Sidoo earned a scholarship to play football at UBC in 1978, where he became a highly decorated Thunderbird. Following university, David Sidoo went on to be the first Indo Canadian to play in the Canadian Football League—five years with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and one year with the BC Lions.

David retired from football in 1988 but remains active in promoting youth and young adults in the sport through scholarships and events such as Down Set Hut. Each year David Sidoo and Sidoo Family Giving contribute funding to enable a number of local kids to attend the Camp.  David also spends the day on the field, sharing his football expertise and mentoring Camp attendees.

In addition to Bobby Singh and David Sidoo, the exciting line up of coaches for this year’s event includes Geroy Simon (BC Lions), Paul McCallum (BC Lions), Paris Jackson (BC Lions), Shea Emry (Montreal Alouettes), Davis Sanchez (Montreal Alouettes) and more!

Registration includes a Down Set Hut Football Camp team jersey package, an official Down Set Hut Football sports beverage bottle, a healthy lunch, and amazing prizes that include: Sports memorabilia, autographed jersey’s and footballs, BC Lions Football Tickets, and a opportunity to star in an up coming STORMTECH commercial!

Space is limited, so register today! For more information and to register, click here.

4th Annual Football Camp Team Radio Promo (MP3)

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David and Manjy Sidoo with Grammy-award winning R&B artist Jennifer Hudson

On April 21, 2012, David and Manjy Sidoo of Sidoo Family Giving watched the power of their dream unfold as the Overture Aida event, which they partnered with the Vancouver Opera to create, blossomed into a wildly successful and truly memorable fundraising event.

The fundraiser took place at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and included a catered dinner by the Four Seasons Hotel that was served to attendees on the stage of Vancouver Opera’s presentation of Aida. Special performances by spoken word artist Shane Koyczan and Grammy-award winning R&B artist Jennifer Hudson were evening highlights at the sold-out event.

Funds were raised through ticket sales and both silent and live auctions each with an extensive array of items up for grabs, including a private-jet flight trip for 10 to the 2013 Superbowl in New Orleans.

Manjy Sidoo, who had served on the Vancouver Opera’s Board for five years, and David Sidoo were delighted with the event’s outcome. “Since this was her last year as a board member, both Manjy and I decided that we would put our best foot forward and do what we can for the opera,” said David.

By any standards the event was a great success as at the end of the night, more than $1.2 million were raised to support the Vancouver Opera and its youth programs in British Columbia.

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Tonight – Friday, April 20^th, 2012 – 400 esteemed guests from throughout the Lower Mainland of British Columbia will attend the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver for an invitation-only gala fundraiser that promises to be a night to remember.

The event takes place on the set of AIDA, Guiseppe Verdi’s “grandest of grand operas”, being performed by the Vancouver Opera for 6 nights only, and opening on April 21^st.

Overture: AIDA fundraiser highlights include an incredible dinner prepared by Four Seasons chefs, performance by spoken word artist Shane Koyczan, and a very special musical guest – Grammy and Academy Award-winning performer Jennifer Hudson.

Attendees – primarily corporate, cultural and community leaders from throughout the Lower Mainland – will be invited to bid for exclusive auction items, the proceeds of which will benefit Vancouver Opera’s programs in the Lower Mainland and throughout BC that reach over 50,000 youth in under-served communities.

This event, and others like it, is the cornerstone of the philanthropic endeavors of David and Manjy Sidoo. “It’s events like these that are so important in enabling our province’s youth to continue to flourish in the arts,” said David Sidoo.

Watch the Sidoo Family Giving blog space for post-event photos and video!

David Sidoo and Manjy Sidoo, founders of the Sidoo Family Foundation, have partnered with the Vancouver Opera to raise funds to create opportunities for British Columbian children in the arts.

Read the news article here.

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