Hello everyone! Welcome to 2024!
We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year. The 2023 fund raising season is now over, and we are now hard at work planning the activities for 2024.
In this issue, we have a few last minute highlights from the December 2023 events to share, a few updates on what is to come at GC, and much more!
Highlights from the end of 2023
The final month of fund raising in Ontario for the 2023 calendar year included an event at Atrium on Bay on December 6th, which raised a total of $880.00 in merchandise and calendar sales. Below are some
photos from the event, featuring some of our four-footed friends!
The final two events for the year took place at Oakville Place on December 16th and 17th, and again on the 23rd and 24th, which finished off the fund raising season with a spectacular finish! Not only did the four days bring in a whopping $10,386.00 in merchandise and calendar sales, for the first time ever, Green Capes actually sold out of calendars at the event!
Below are some images from the event, including some special friends receiving the adoration of the public!
An absolutely outstanding job, everyone!
Chocolate sales still going strong
For the last couple of years, Green Capes has partnered with the Halton K-9 Club to sell chocolates at our fund raising events in B.C. and Ontario.
This year, we each raised $1751 in chocolate sales.
School partnership program is taking off
The school partnership program was a big success in 2023, and the schools that partnered with us last year are all on board to work with us again in 2024. We have already been in contact with additional schools in B.C., and have received positive reactions and comments from schools who are looking to join the program.
Of special note, School Districts 5, 10, 23, 59, 69 and 81, on Vancouver Island, and in southern, central and northern B.C., have given their approval for the program, which opens the door for even more schools to partner in 2024, as there are over 60 schools Between the six districts.
Through the program, schools that sol the calendars in 2023 received $10 from each calendar sale, which they could use to fund local school programs and activities, while the remaining proceeds will be donated to the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog guides. A win-win solution for both! A great way to teach our students about helping others, while at the same time raising funds for the LFCDG!
Know of a school in need of some extra funding? Are you looking for an easy way to raise money for your school? Look no further! We have a great fund raising program that will help raise the funds you need, while at the same time helping to bring independence, safety and joy to a person with a disability!
For more information about the Green Capes School Partnership Program, visit the Green Capes website at www.greencapes.com and click the “Non-Profit and School Fund Raiser” button, or reply to this e-mail with your questions and contact info, and one of our members will reach out to you.
New calendar and merchandise coming soon
2023 was an absolutely outstanding year for calendar and merchandise sales, generating over $112,000!
For the first time, our annual puppy calendar has sold out, and much of our inventory of merchandise has also sold.
Now that 2024 has arrived, our Calendar Committee is gearing up to plan the design of what is sure to be an absolutely outstanding 2025 Dog Guide Puppy Calendar, full of today’s adorable puppies destined to be tomorrow’s Superheroes, and much more! Stay tuned for updates, and for the announcement of the official 2025 calendar launch this Fall!
In addition, the Green Capes Merchandising Committee has met to review our current inventory of merchandise, and has begun plans to restock and bring in exciting new products for sale on the store and at events later this year. Check out the online store at shop.greencapes.com to see the latest products available!
Have some spare time, and want to help out? Have an idea for new merchandise? Send us a reply e-mail and one of our committee members will be in touch!
Welcome to new Green Capes member Tammy Burton
Green Capes is proud to welcome Tammy Burton, our newest member to the team!
Having joined GC as a trial member in October, Tammy officially joined GC as a full member in January, and is looking forward to an exciting new adventure ahead!
Tammy’s first foster, Higgins, began his university training on January 15th, 2024, and Tammy is now
fostering Vern, a beautiful black lab born on December 3rd, 2023.
“I am so excited to be joining Green Capes. The story behind it is really the start of my fostering journey as well. I had lost my 13-year-old golden in July and was missing having four furry, loving feet scampering around. I went to my local mall mid-December, and there was a display and some lovely trainees in the middle of the aisle. I stopped to talk to the wonderful humans manning the display and realized that fostering for Dog Guides and joining the group who created the lovely calendar were made for me. It was destiny that I went to the mall that day because I rarely do. This is the best new adventure, and I am looking forward to working hard with Green Capes.”
Please join me in welcoming Tammy to Green Capes. Big cheers and four paws up for Tammy, our newest GC member!
Up-coming events:
With the start of the new year comes the planning and design of the new calendar, and the scheduling of events for the new fund raising season. At present, we have no events scheduled, but stay tuned for
announcements of new events to come, and watch the Facebook groups for postings on how you can help. There will be many fun and exciting times to come!
Send us your requests
We want to make our newsletter as informative as possible, and we would love to get any comments or requests you may have! Simply reply to this newsletter with your comments or requests, and we will update the newsletter accordingly!
Got a little newsperson buried deep down inside, just “howling” to be let off-leash? Got a few minutes to show off your writing talents? Come join the newsletter team, and help us spread the news!
Come join the club:
Are you looking for a great new year’s resolution? How about joining the Green Capes Lions Club, and helping to bring the independence, safety and joy a Superhero brings to a person with a disability!
EVEN A SUPERHERO NEEDS A HELPING PAW
If you have ever considered becoming a member, now is a great time! What an amazing way to start off the new year!
We need new people, new ideas and new energy. As a full member you would be able to participate in meetings and committees, lead events and guide our future!
Did you know that there are fewer than 25 full time members at Green Capes?
Anyone is welcome to join, from anywhere in Canada! Most members are past or present puppy raisers, graduates and supporters, and we all work together to help give Canadians living with disabilities the joy, safety and independence a Dog Guide brings.
Green Capes meets monthly via Zoom, and currently conducts events in southern Ontario and northeast British Columbia.
If you are interested in joining, just reply to this message and our membership coordinator will get back to you asap.
Members pay an annual membership fee of $95 (pro-rated, if applicable), plus a one-time Lions International setup fee of $50.
Come join the fun, and help us make today’s puppies tomorrow’s Superheroes!
– The GCLC Team
