Charity

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Kiva

Kiva is a non-profit organization that connects donors to a specific entrepreneur in a developing country, empowering individuals to lift themselves out of poverty. At UFG, cash donations are collected throughout the year, the money is pooled, and then made available to different entrepreneurs. These loans are re-paid in installments, and we receive regular updates from the various businesses. Our lender page details who our donations have assisted, which countries the beneficiaries reside in and what the money was requested for. http://www.kiva.org/lender/unitedfrontgames8470

UFG has supported Kiva since 2008. As of February 1, 2012, we have lent $27,400 to 195 people or groups with over 80 loans already paid back. From January to November 2011, we raised over $2,500. From January to November 2010, we raised over $2,800. In 2009, we raised over $3,800 and in 2008, over $2,700. The loans that are repaid to UFG are loaned out over and over, so we have a growing sum that continuously helps a wide variety of people.

 

Movember

The Mo, slang for moustache, and November come together each year for Movember. Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple: start Movember 1st clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month. The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for prostate cancer. Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days. http://ca.movember.com/?home

Movember 2010

This year, the staff collectively raised $6,964. We also held a contest for the “best of” in each category.

And the Winners Are:

• The Burt Reynolds Lifetime Moustache Achievement Award: Gary Bearchell

• Top Fundraiser: Cameron MacKinnon

• Most Likely to Have Food Stuck in It: Warren Johnson

• Moustache that Covers the Most Facial Real Estate: Nigel Morgan

• Most Gentlemanly: Chad Kopfensteiner

• Most Likely to Be Mistaken for My Grandmother’s Moustache: Mike Olson

• Best Handlebars/Split: Gordon Moran and Jordan Blanchett

• Best Porno-stache: Chris Savory

• Best “Dad-like” Moustache aka “Creepy”: Mike Ewart

 

Movember 2011

This year, we raised $6,753. We again held a contest for the “best of” in each category.

And the Winners Are:

• The Burt Reynolds Lifetime Moustache Achievement Award: Jordan Blanchett

• Top Fundraiser: Kelly Tainton ($1,078)

Old Growthers

• Best Handlebars/split: Gary Bearchell

• Most Likely to Have Food Stuck in It: Shane Elliot

• Moustache That Covers the Most Facial Real Estate: Warren Johnson

Fresh Starters

• Most Gentlemanly: Neil Ambler

• Most Personality: Chad Kopfensteiner

• Most Likely to be Mistaken for My Grandmother’s Moustache: Michelle Chua

• Best Porn-stache: Stephen Johnson

• Best Molest-ache: Steven Wrinch

 

Child’s Play

Child’s Play is a community-based charity out of Seattle, Washington. This group was grown and nurtured from the game culture and industry. Since its inception in 2003, over $10 million dollars in donations of toys, games, books and cash for sick kids in children’s hospitals across North America and the world have been collected. http://www.childsplaycharity.org/.

In December 2010, UFG held a fund raiser from the 1st to the 22nd. The staff collectively raised $3,646.50 which was well above the target sum of $2,500. The studio then matched the staff’s contribution and in total we donated $7,301 in gifts to BC Children’s Hospital and Victoria General, plus a direct donation to Child’s Play to use at their discretion. Staff members sold their wares to raise funds, including whiskey, comic books, video games, theatre and hockey tickets, consoles and even a sponsored streaker. The single largest donation was $600 from an unnamed source, and in all, the fundraising was a tremendous success.

In 2011, we once again raised funds from December 1st to the 22nd. The total sum collected was $1,373.16. The studio matched this sum, bringing our total donation to $2,747.52. The money was used to purchase gifts for BC Children’s Hospital and for Victoria General Hospital, with the remaining funds donated to Child’s Play directly. For our support, Child’s Play listed us as a “Silver Sponsor” on their home page. Thanks to everyone for giving so generously!