Dave Veale, founder and owner of Vision Coaching (Image: Vision Coaching)
The Million Dollar Pledge, created by a group of New Brunswick businesses in partnership with The United Way Saint John, Kings & Charlotte, is steadily working toward its goal of raising $1-million over a decade to improve the lives of the region’s children and families.
The campaign was launched in 2017 by Dave Veale, founder and owner of Vision Coaching, and Blair Hyslop, co-owner of Mrs. Dunster’s.
Veale says he was inspired by the transparency of “B Corporations,” businesses that balance profit and purpose, to create a campaign of like-minded small and medium-sized businesses interested in collectively giving back and measuring their impact.
“I think people want to know where the money is going,” said Veale. “It became appealing to a lot of small business owners to know exactly where money is going and knowing the impact it’s having. Those are two things that attracted a group of people that want to do the right thing.”
The campaign aims to have a minimum of 10 local businesses commit $10,000 a year, paid monthly, for 10 years – adding up to more than $1-million.
Every company raises its own funds, some by fundraising activities and others by employee contributions, with those companies additionally matching the employee contribution.
Mrs. Dunster’s team. Image: submitted.
Pledge partners include Vision Coaching, Hemmings House , Mrs. Dunster’s, Domino’s, Scott McCain, Sunny Corner Enterprises, Teed Saunders Doyle and Town Health Solutions, along with two anonymous members. To date, the campaign has raised $265,000.
“There are all of these unique ways that people are helping raise money as organizations and helping the people they work with become part of it as well,” said Veale.
The campaign works together with the United Way which in turn supports them with their knowledge of agencies, where the money goes and how to track the return-on-impact of donations.
Executive Director Alexya Heelis says one of the great strengths of the United Way is the rigorous process it has around how it funds initiatives in the community, along with its 60 years of experience in the non-profit sector.
“We already had that process in place, so what we’re able to do for The Million Dollar Pledge is help them to invest in the community using our knowledge, using our experience and expertise,” said Heelis.
The United Way sets and measures outcomes for each organization it funds, which are tracked twice a year and quantifies how people’s lives have been bettered from contributions.
Image: submitted.
Eighty-five to ninety percent of the companies were able to continue their contributions throughout the pandemic, while the remaining number paused their contributions for the time being. Heelis says they are confident the companies will resume their contributions once the challenges of the pandemic have been overcome.
“It also leaves plenty of room for other organizations and other businesses to come on board and join this group,” she said.
The Million Dollar Pledge has inspired similar fundraising groups, such as The Quarter Club in Greater Saint John and Build for the Future in Moncton, to come together and pledge money for good causes.
“I would say for my part in [the pledge] and Vision Coaching’s part is that we’ve got back way more than we’ve given in so many different ways,” Veale said. “I really believe in what non-profit can do in the world. There’s so much we can do when we work as complements [to one another], as non-profits and businesses work together.”
This story was originally published on Huddle.Today – an Acadia Broadcasting Limited content partner.
