Generosity of Spirit • Cover
Alan Norris, president and CEO of Carma Developers, says the company’s culture was built on a history of volunteering and financial contributions to causes that create meaningful change for individuals and families in need in a variety of ways, like the time Doug Kelly, a retired vice president in Edmonton, assisted STARS (Alberta Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society) in the success of the Vision Critical Campaign completed in 2006. “Our culture is to ‘always do the right thing,’ not to just ‘do things right,’” says Norris. “Our employees have embraced this not just in their daily jobs, but also in their philanthropic endeavours.”
Carma Developers has made it possible for numerous organizations to realize their visions, such as the building and financing of the Wellspring Calgary cancer support centre, the tremendous financial contribution toward the Accessible Housing Society’s Residential Assessment and Design program, leading an IT strategy for the Children’s Cottage Society and by sponsoring events for the Olympic Oval’s High Performance Female Hockey program for the past three years.
SMALL BUSINESS PHILANTHROPIST Tag Advertising (Todd Sloane) In 2008, when the stormy economic climate hit, the United Way of Calgary and Area was halfway through its fundraising campaign and needed to adjust its marketing strategy – fast. It turned to its pro bono advertising agency of record for the past two years, Tag Advertising. Tag quickly put its expertise into action and by the end of 2008, the United Way had raised $49.5 million. The year before, Tag created the widely popular Get Caught Red Handed campaign, which generated $50.7 million for the agency. Todd Sloane, principal and creative director for Tag, is understated in how he describes the impact his organization – through the pro bono contribution of its expertise, not to mention time through employee volunteer hours – has had on the United Way. “Giving back to the community has been part of our culture since we opened our doors 18 years ago,” says Sloane. “If we can help make a difference in our community in some small way by providing our creative expertise and marketing knowledge, then we are happy, and privileged, to do that.” Tag’s efforts have also directly benefited other non-profit organizations such as the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Bill Brooks Prostate Cancer Benefit, Scott Smed Foundation, Inn from the Cold and the Children’s Cottage.
PHILANTHROPIC GROUP ECL Group of Companies Ltd. (Tom Fredericks and Brad Wellicome)
Todd Sloane
32 • DECEMBER 2009 BUSINESS IN CALGARY
Ten years after starting a small raffle for rides on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle to raise funds to help kids at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, the ECL Group of Companies Ltd. has become a pillar for sick children across Alberta as a major contributor of time and resources to the cause of supporting them. The ECL Choppers for Charity has helped raise $1.3 million and joined the charge to fund Children’s Hospice, Rotary/ Flames House. The company, which serves the energy industry in transportation, product handling and oilfield specialty chemicals and fluids, takes part in the year-round char-