Foundation - JamesUpton

James Upton established the 'James Upton Foundation' with the goal of giving back to each of the cities or communities he has lived in. His passion for helping others in need whether it is a form of disease or virus, significant trauma, medical research, families in crisis, helpless animals or a child's final wish; James regularly supports a variety of registered charitable organizations on an annual basis.

James's passion and drive to help others, and to give back to communities whenever possible, has contributed to certain charities not only meeting but exceeding their initial goals as was recently proven during his recent fundraising event which was held at his private waterfront residence, 'The Upton Estate' on Canada Day.

Make-A-Wish traces its inspiration to Christopher James Greicius, an energetic 7-year-old boy battling leukemia who wishes to be a police officer. In 1980, his Phoenix community came together to make his wish come true. Little did Chris know that his wish would create a movement that would transform millions of lives. Today, the Make-A-Wish has been granting life-changing wishes for children and families for 40 years. After the start of Make-A-Wish in 1980 in the United States, Make-A-Wish International was officially formed in 1993 to serve five countries outside the U.S. – and now helps to serve children outside the United States in nearly 50 countries on 5 continents through its 39 Affiliates. With the help of our donors and more than 43,000 volunteers around the world, Make-A-Wish has collectively granted more than 500,000 wishes worldwide. This means a life-changing wish is granted every 16 minutes on average.

The Gairdner Foundation was established in 1957 with the main goal of recognizing and rewarding international excellence in fundamental research that impacts human health. Annually, seven awards are given: five Canada Gairdner International Awards for biomedical research, one John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award, specifically for impact on global health issues, and one Canada Gairdner Wightman Award, reserved for a Canadian. 395 awards have been bestowed on laureates from 35 countries and of those awardees, 95 have gone on to receive Nobel Prizes. The Gairdner Foundation also engages in outreach programs across Canada and acts as a convener with the public, policymakers and other stakeholders on the impact of science on our everyday lives.

The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based organization of staff and volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. At the Canadian Cancer Society, we are committed to improving and saving lives. That’s why we are always looking for new ways to prevent cancer, find it early and treat it more successfully. It’s why we’re always ready to give people with cancer the help and support they need to lead more fulfilling lives. We set ourselves apart from other cancer charities by taking a comprehensive approach against cancer. We are also the only national charity that supports all Canadians living with all cancers across the country.

A child diagnosed with cancer today will be taken into care immediately by a dedicated team and hospitalized, in many cases. Depending on where that child lives, he or she will be received at a Québec-based Charles-Bruneau center or unit. Once the aggressive treatment period is over, the child is able to return home, but likely continues to receive daily chemotherapy treatment and support at the day centre. In the case of leukemia, a two-year course of treatment is imposed, and if all goes well, the child is declared to be in remission. In the event of a recurrence, and depending on the type of cancer, the child may receive a bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant. Both require a minimum six-week hospitalization period, about the time needed for the child’s immune system to rebound and to make sure the side-effects are controlled. At any time, the child will benefit from leading-edge care delivered by highly competent medical teams.

The Whistler Film Festival was founded in 2001 with the intention to create opportunities for new and original voices to be heard in independent film, to put Whistler on the map as a cultural destination and to promote British Columbia’s burgeoning film industry. The festival has not changed in terms of its purpose, but it has grown way beyond ever imagined in terms of its size, scope and scale. Renowned as ‘Canada’s coolest film festival’ and recognized by media as ‘one of Canada’s best film festivals’, ‘one of 10 amazing film festivals worth travelling to in North America’, and ‘one of the top seven film festivals in the world to attend’, WFF has become one of the Canadian film industry’s liveliest gatherings and one of Whistler’s signature cultural events. Today, our organization produces a well-respected, credible event on the international film festival circuit, augmented by film presentations and market-driven development programs for Canadian talent throughout the year. WFF programs serve over 15,000 attendees annually, with the festival attracting over 12,600 attendees including 1,000+ industry insiders, and 3,000 attendees through our year round initiatives.

Whistler Animals Galore (WAG) was founded in 1982 when two friends identified the need for an animal rescue service in the Sea-to-Sky corridor. Since then, WAG has grown into a respected community asset, providing many services and unique programs such as our Matchmaker adoption process, lost and found animal services, volunteer programs, foster programs, animal rehabilitation programs, and more.WAG also partners with the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) by housing impounded dogs. WAG is non-profit and registered charity that cares for and re-homes many cats, dogs, puppies, and kittens each year.

Hublot Diamond Rally Charity Challenge is a fundraising rally, raising awareness and funds for over 20 charities.

For many years, this charity event has been able to bring much needed funds to over 20 different charities across the country. Drivers of the rally are able to select the charity of their choice from a list on the website. Once a driver selects the charity of their choice from the list of over 20 different charities, they will show up for a day of driving and fun all for the cause they value most. It is also worth it to mention that the driving event is not the only thing happening that weekend. Contestants can also opt for a weekend getaway after the rally, to the nearby Whistler resort with full spa and amenities. They may also plan other fun activities, such as off roading expeditions provided by the resorts.

Contestants may choose to enter as a private driver or as a corporate sponsor, in either case they may enter as team of one driver and one navigator. Each year, contestants say the same thing "Great fun, for great causes".

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank was set up as a temporary relief to the hunger crisis in 1983 and has grown significantly in the three decades since then. Today the GVFB provides assistance to approximately 8,500 people weekly across Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and the North Shore. Of all their clients, 24% are children and youth, 58% are adults, and 18% are seniors. They have specialized nutrition programs for children from birth to 12 years old. They also provide food support to approximately 80 community agencies throughout these communities, such as housing agencies, women and children’s shelters and after school programs, who in turn provide hot meals and snacks to thousands of people each week including those struggling with homelessness. They reach and support a broad spectrum of people in need through our agency partners.

Sun Youth has been taking care of people for more than 60 years by providing to individuals and families in need a range of emergency services that ensure their basic needs and maintain their integrity. They also contribute actively to crime prevention and promote physical, social and intellectual development of the youth through education, sports and recreation. Aware of the challenges linked to poverty and crisis situations, Sun Youth provides emergency services such as food assistance as well as clothing, medical, financial and material assistance. Sun Youth contributes to the physical, social and intellectual development of young people through a sports program preparing the young athletes to a competitive level while providing them help and guidance with their school curriculum. They also offer a recreation program, a day camp and seniors club. Their basic objectives are to alleviate poverty and prevent exclusion.

The Mustard Seed Street Church has been essential in fighting hunger and restoring faith to a large portion of people living in greater Victoria since 1975. Our operations are nearly 100 percent community funded; these include Vancouver Island’s largest Food Bank, a Family Center, Hospitality programs, and addictions recovery at Hope Farm Healing Centre as well as more traditional Church services. The Mustard Seed Street Church positively impacts an average of 5,000 individuals per month, with the support of more than 50 volunteers everyday. With your help, lives are transformed on a daily basis!

We are the fundraising partner of BC Cancer. Every dollar we raise stays right here at BC Cancer to advance research and innovations to care for the people of B.C. At the BC Cancer Foundation we believe that with your help BC CAN make a difference in the lives of all British Columbians. We know that one in two people in our province will face cancer in their lifetime and we’re igniting progress to break down cancer, piece by piece, in the labs and clinics. BC CAN improve treatments for patients. BC CAN harness genomics to save lives. BC CAN prevent cancer for the next generation. By working with people like you, who believe that investments in science and innovations in care can make a significant difference for British Columbians, we are confident that BC CAN change the outcome for each person facing this disease. The progress is real. With incredible leaps in science and technology and the generous support of donors, BC Cancer is breaking new ground in genomics, immunology and nuclear medicine. This will lead to prevention in high risk families, better treatments with fewer side effects and ultimately improved health and longevity for people impacted by cancer.

Our mission is to help local children’s charities that provide essential services by fundraising on their behalf. This year we have partnered again with Sarah’s Fund for Cedars that raises critical funds for the needs of young cancer patients who are hospitalized on Sarah’s Floor, the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology unit, at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Sarah’s Fund for Cedars is dedicated to support the needs of the Pediatric Hematology Oncology patients and their families by providing the best patient care to improve the quality of life for young cancer patients on the Sarah’s Floor (7B) at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Working in close collaboration with the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Cedars Cancer Foundation and Cedars’ Medical Advisory Committee, Sarah's Fund for Cedars is continually evaluating opportunities to sponsor priority equipment purchases, important services and other priority needs to ease the care and treatment of young patients and their families who are battling cancer on Sarah’s Floor.

At the heart of all that we do is the patient. And excellence in patient-centred care is what drives us. Since 1934, thanks to an unparalleled team of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, the JGH has been providing compassionate care and cutting-edge treatment to patients from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds in Montreal, throughout Quebec, and beyond. As the province’s leading acute-care hospital, responding to the changing demographics and medical needs of our patients is of the utmost priority. For the Foundation, this means enabling an ever-increasing emphasis on collaborative and connected care, pioneering strategies in preventative healthcare, and modernizing facilities and services.

Our mission is to inspire and mobilize the community to support relentless innovation in research, teaching and care at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, an internationally-renowned pediatric centre affiliated with the McGill University Health Centre providing highly-specialized healthcare. Our vision is to transform care so that every sick child has the opportunity to reach their full potential, to the best of their ability. That is why, thanks to our donors, we support programs with humanitarian values.

Our core values: We believe that giving must do good and feel good. This is why we are donor-centered and respectful, we behave with integrity, value teamwork and are dedicated to making others and ourselves shine.

Share the Warmth is a community group that works to fight hunger and poverty. Our goal is to awaken hopes and dreams in the community so that we can all eat, so that we can all learn and grow, and so that we can all work.

Our mission is to awaken hopes and dreams in the community through excellence in programming that fosters the overall development and success of youth, increases access to food security and health for all and offers work training programs.

Inspired by this outpouring of goodwill and community spirit, the group incorporated in February 1990 and moved to Point Saint-Charles in 1991. Share the Warmth continued to collect and distribute clothing and food to the homeless on the streets, at drop-in centres and in shelters. Today, the second-hand boutique welcomes over 200 shoppers every week.

If you have ever met Maizie and Travis you know they are the most caring, supportive and generous couple. They have always been there for their family, friends and acquaintances in their time of need and now it's our turn to be there for them. On December 23rd 2020 their lives changed forever. Just one day before Christmas celebrations, Maizie collapsed in her driveway and went into cardiac arrest. Travis performed CPR until an ambulance arrived. At just 41 years old, it's surreal and unimaginable that this happened to a healthy, vibrant woman. Maizie was put into an induced coma and spent several weeks in the ICU.

Please Click the link below to find out more and how you can help.

In 1954, a small group of parents with sons impacted by muscular dystrophy came together to form the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada (renamed Muscular Dystrophy Canada) with a goal of advancing research in the neuromuscular field.

As our research efforts grew, we expanded our services to include education, referrals, equipment funding, advocacy, and ongoing peer support for those impacted by neuromuscular disorders. Today we have volunteers across the country helping raise funds to provide services to tens of thousands of Canadians affected by neuromuscular disorders. We are extremely thankful for our committed partners and volunteers who have supported MDC over the years.