Volunteer Profile | Beauty Night Society

Why Knit Fit Started

September 29, 2009 By jenna 1 Comment

Let us introduce you to the founder and creator of the non-profit organization Knit Fit; Laura Mah.

Laura showing her Goofy Side

She’s a spunky, down to earth and friendly girl who wants to do some good for this world. Laura began this organization in 2003 when she was only 11 at her Elementary School Chief Maquinna. Her inspiration to start up Knit Fit came mostly from her cousin Caroline MacGillivray, and her mom, Liza Mah. Caroline showed Laura the importance of giving back to the community through her own organization, Beauty Night. As Laura saw the expressions on the people’s faces after receiving gifts and services, she felt like it was her turn to make a difference. Liza works in a Dental Clinic in the Downtown Eastside and would always tell Laura how she wished she could do more for her clients. Both Caroline and Liza got Laura thinking about what she could do to give back to her community. Laura talked with her teacher Ms. Lougheed about how she wanted to help the Downtown Eastside, but didn’t know how. Ms. Lougheed suggested that she should use her new skills (knitting), and teach it to others who could help alongside the Downtown Eastside.

The main reason Knit Fit was created was to give back to the Downtown Eastside. The people who live there are so close to us and are too often ignored. Since Knit Fit has been created, a difference has been made in the lives of the people who live in this community. Each winter, Knit Fit helps people be warmer.

SCARVES!

When asked what you enjoy most about Knit Fit, Laura responded “The expression on the people’s face when they see the scarves, teaching kids how to knit, and the importance of giving back.”

Filed Under: Knit Fit, Volunteer Profile Tagged With: beauty night, caroline macgillivray, christmas stocking drive, downtown eastside, Knit Fit, laura mah

Telus Community Giving

September 23, 2009 By caroline Leave a Comment

Last year, Katie Benjamin the founder of our Womyn’s Gym program received $10 000 from Telus to make Womyn’s Gym a reality. Last night Telus Community Giving Board held a celebration welcoming their community partners and donors. Since Katie is at the University of Economics, I went in her stead.

It was an inspiring evening mixing with people from different organizations supported through the Telus Community Giving. I enjoyed hearing the stories about how Telus has made an impact through supporting different organziations and in turn shared our story.

Womyn’s Gym which is one of the programs under the Beauty Night Society umbrella was supported tremendously through Telus Community Giving Board. Katie thanked Telus during her acceptance speech when she became the recipient of the 2009 YWCA Young Woman of Distinction Recipient.

Caroline MacGillivray with Telus’ Glenn Brooks at the Burn’s Bogg Spirit of the Crane Awards where she became the 2009 recipient for

the Gold Community Spirit Award

Emceed by Bard on the Beach’s Artistic Director, Christopher Gaze, the evening got off to a roaring start. Gaze pointed out that it was important to support a corporation that gives so much back to our communities. With humour, Telus President and CEO, Darren Entwistle and Chair of Telus Community board, Nini Baird told the their engaged listeners how Telus is increasing the funds that they will be reinvesting in the community. It was inspiring and exciting to hear a corporation that encourages its employees to volunteer and give back increase their efforts. Perhaps Telus has a message for all of us – to keep working toward making a difference in the lives of others by being proactive and to continually raise the bar.

Filed Under: Donations/Fundraising, Volunteer Profile, Womyn's Gym Tagged With: burns bogg spirit of the cranebeauty night, christopher gaze, Community Giving, darren entwistle, glenn brooks, katie benjamin, nini baird, telus, ywca young woman of distinction

Blogathon

July 22, 2009 By caroline Leave a Comment

Dear Friends:

At 6am on Saturday, July 25, 2009, I will be posting a blog on
www.sexyinvancity.com every 30 minutes for 24 hours. Blogathon 2009
is an opportunity for bloggers to raise the profile and funds of
charities that are important to them.

Beauty Night Society is important to me. Beauty Night Society
provides marginalized women and youth the tools to make positive life
style changes. In 8.5 years, we have given over 10 000 makeovers.
Our Monday night makeover program in Vancouver has 10% of previous
participants volunteering.

By creating opportunities for our participants and our volunteers to
work together with other services providers, we are building strong
communities. Through Womyn’s Gym, the makeover program, group fitness
program, Chick Lit and many more programs, we have made a positive
impact in the lives of thousands of people.

As we work towards a model to duplicate our programs in other
communities around the world, we are focusing on raising funds to
continue to create opportunities to empower and strengthen our
participants, volunteers and sponsors. When we work together, we make
a huge difference.

If you are able to pledge a lump sum or an hourly pledge for my
blogging marathon, it would be greatly appreciated. Charitable tax
receipts will be given for donations of $10 or more. Thank you so much
in advance. Here is the link.
http://www.blogathon.org/pledge.php?blogid=272

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email
me or call me. I can be reached at 778-885-4526.

Sincerely,

Caroline MacGillivray
Founder and President of Beauty Night Society
www.beautynight.org

Filed Under: Donations/Fundraising, Fund Raising, In the Media, Volunteer Profile Tagged With: beauty night, blogathon, Fund Raising, sexy in vancity

Dave Dickson Talks, Volunteers Listen

June 15, 2009 By caroline Leave a Comment

Our first Girl Talk Session produced by Leila Pejman and Caroline MacGillivray was a huge success. Dave Dickson, Beauty Night Board Member and former Sex Trade Liasson for the Vancouver Police Department held the audience captive. His talk about the survival sex work, addiction, and addiction prompted questions from volunteers.

Dave Dickson talks to Beauty Night Volunteers about Survival Sex Workers Photo by Aaron Chung 2009

Dave Dickson explains that survival sex workers in Vancouver as young as 10 years old have been seen in Vancouver. Photo by Aaron Chung

Volunteers listen intently as Dave describes the cyle of addiction, violence and survival sex work. Photo by Aaron Chung 2009

Audience feed back has been incredibly positive. Our next talk will be held this Thursday, June 25th, 2009.

Filed Under: Beauty Night Board, Volunteer Profile Tagged With: addiction, beauty night, Dave Dickson, downtown eastside, sex trade, survival sex work, volunteer

Drum Roll Please: YWCA Women of Distinction Nominees…

April 5, 2009 By caroline Leave a Comment

Beauty Night Society is excited to announce that two of our volunteers are short listed for the YWCA Women of Distinction 2009 Nominations. Katie Benjamin who spearheaded Womyn’s Gym and Caroline MacGillivray, founder and president of Beauty Night Society are included in the list of 61 women who have been nominated for their achievements in the lower mainland.