Challenging Students to Embrace the Future of Non-Profit Sector

December 9, 2013 By

Today I had lunch with two very inspiring University students, Nisha Patel, Co-Chair and Steven Knight, VP Academic of a student conceived and led initiative at the Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta – The Alberta Not-For-Profit Case Competition. The objective is to challenge students to embrace the future of the Not-For-Profit sector.

There will be eight teams, one each from eight post secondary education institutions, that will develop recommendations for a yet-to-be-announced Edmonton based non-profit organization.

As part of the initiative, students will get to experience life, the way the poor do. This will heighten the awareness of not-for-profit client issues. Next, they will be presented with a case about some challenges that affect the selected non-profit. Then, each team will brainstorm ideas to respond the those challenges and create a presentation of their recommendations.

A team of judges will select the winner of the Case Competition, in a public Final Four, Event at the Telus Theatre at the University of Alberta.

As a result, students will understand the issues facing those living in poverty, the challenges facing non-profit managers and will have grappled with finding solutions to those challenges. This is education. The students will be changed by the experience.

The selected non-profit will have  number of ideas to resolve their most pressing issues. This demonstrates that the students have embraced the future of a least one non-profit. That’s fantastic!

At the Larry and Janet Anderson Philanthropies, our mission is To awaken youth to their promise; To empower youth to live their promise; To celebrate people living their promise. We are delighted to be a sponsor of this initiative. Want to know more? Visit the Alberta Not-For-Profit Case Competition  website.

 

Filed Under: Leadership, Philanthropy, Teaching By Example, Values

$16,000 Awarded to Edmonton High School Proposals

December 6, 2013 By

Larry and Janet Anderson Philanthropies ( www.LifeIsAPromise.com ) is pleased to announce the funding awards to student proposals from Edmonton High Schools for the 2013/2014 Empowering Self Talk Initiative ( www.EmpoweringSelfTalk.com )

Students at four Edmonton High Schools have been given awards:

Victoria School of the Arts for their proposal Walk the Self Talk whose objective is to improve student mental health has been awarded $4,000 to implement their proposal.

Video Proposal

Archbishop Oscar Romero for their proposal Faces of Canada whose objective is to reduce racism has been awarded $4,000 to implement their proposal.

Video Proposal

Saint Joseph for their proposal Saints Social Justice whose objective is to reduce injustice has been awarded $4,000 to implement their proposal.

Video Proposal

Austin O’Brien for their proposal Life Changer whose objective is to reduce bullying has been awarded $4,000 to implement their proposal.

Video Proposal Not Currently Available

At the Larry and Janet Anderson Philanthropies Our Vision is a world where youth fulfill their promise. Our Mission is To awaken youth to their promise; To empower youth to live their promise; and to celebrate people living their promise.

We achieve our mission through partnerships with select charity, education and arts partners; through the media we create and through the events and initiatives we produce.

Our core belief is that every child is gifted, powerful and important.

The Empowering Self Talk Initiative is designed to engage students and challenge them to discover their gifts, embrace their power by learning to make better choices and to understand their importance by making a difference for others.

You are gifted. You are powerful. You are important.

Filed Under: Charity, Inspiring Lives, Leadership, Personal Development, Philanthropy, Teaching By Example, Values Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Give The Gift of An Improved Self Image

November 20, 2013 By

Would you like to give a poor or homeless person an incredible gift this Christmas? You can help make them smile and help them improve their self image. It could be a catalyst for change in their life.

How? Volunteer on Dec 7th at Help Portrait, Edmonton. This is part of a global movement, run in Edmonton by my friend and photographer Javier Salazar.

Help a poor single mother and her children have a magical transformation, with new hair styles, make-up and clothing. Captured in their first professional family portrait, ever. It’s all free. See a homeless person amazed at their new appearance and the clothing for a new beginning. An improved self-image can be a life changing gift. This is about more than a photograph. It is about self-image. It is about self-acceptance and self-belief.

This is only possible because of volunteers and donors.

Are you a photographer, photo technician, hair stylist, make-up artist or someone who is good at helping others choose clothing?

Can you greet people and make them feel welcome and safe? Can you help serve food?

Please volunteer December 7th, 2013, either a full or half day.

Mother Teresa said, “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty.” Help Portrait demonstrates that we care. December 7 may be a very meaningful day in your year.

For details, to volunteer or to donate visit. HELP PORTRAIT EDMONTON

 

 

Filed Under: Charity, Philanthropy, Teaching By Example, Values Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A Child Teaches | The Greatest Gift

May 11, 2013 By

Harrison, Janice, Carson and Jorgia Moore

 

On this Mother’s Day I want to share a wonderful true story about motherhood from my friend Janice Moore.

“When I had my first child, Jorgia, I was twenty-five. Jorgia was the first grand-child in the family and everyone was excited. When I came home from the hospital the house was filled with flowers.”

“When I had my second child, my son Harrison, there were fewer flowers when I came home. In my thirties, I had my third child,  my son Carson. There was only one bouquet of flowers when I came home. Jorgia and Harrison, who were young at the time, fought over who would give me the flowers. The bouquet was a little worse for their efforts.”

“I sat on the couch looking at the mangled flowers on the coffee table and said to Jorgia, ‘It’s sure is different bringing home the third baby than the first baby’ , thinking it was sad there isn’t as much celebration in bringing Carson home as there was when I brought home Jorgia.

“You’re right mom!,” Jorgia said. “When I came home there was only two people here to love me. Carson has four people here to love him.”

“With a tear in my eye I held out my arms and Jorgia came to me and we hugged. From that day, I try to remember that love is the greatest gift.”

Janice, is now a single mother. “Some people say it must be tough to be alone. I’m not alone. I have my three children. They add so much to my life. Loving them and being loved back is the best gift.”

Janice Moore is the Director of Development at Junior Achievement where, as part of the management team, she is focused on making a difference in the lives of young people here in Edmonton and Northern Alberta.

Happy Mother’s Day Janice, and to Mother’s everywhere.

Filed Under: Great Teachers, Life Wisdom, Parenting, Values Tagged With: , , , ,

Margaret Thatcher: Edmonton, A City of Achievers

April 8, 2013 By

Margaret Thatcher was the keynote speaker at the Edmonton Oilers fundraising dinner for Junior Achievement in February, 1997. I was there, and in her speech she described Edmonton, as “a city of achievers.” She was an amazing orator and it was an honor to be there.

Margaret Thatcher was quite the achiever herself. Born into modest circumstances in Grantham, Lincolnshire, on October 13, 1925, she became the first of her family to attend University. In 1979, she was elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the only woman to have held the post, and remained in office until 1990, making her the longest serving Prime Minister of the 20th Century.

Margaret Thatcher, dead at 87, on April 9, 2013.

Margaret Thatcher In Her Own Words

Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope.

If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.

To those waiting with bated breath for that favorite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only one thing to say. You turn if you want to; the lady’s not for turning.

Pennies don’t fall from heaven, they have to be earned here on earth.

No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions. He had money as well.

We always have to be aware of the enemy within, which is much more difficult to fight and more dangerous to liberty.

Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.

If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time and you would achieve nothing.

In her Eulogy of Ronald Reagan: We have lost a great president, a great American, and a great man, and I have lost a dear friend…Ronald Reagan knew his own mind. He had firm principles and, I believe, right ones. He expounded them clearly. He acted upon them decisively. When the world threw problems at the White House, he was not baffled or disorientated or overwhelmed. He knew almost instinctively what to do.

I have taken the liberty to rewrite the closing of her eulogy for Ronald Reagan, which seems so perfect a tribute to her too.

Margaret’s mind was clouded by illness. That cloud has now lifted. She is herself again, more herself than at any time on this Earth, for we may be sure that the Big Fellow upstairs never forgets those who remember him. And as the last journey of this faithful pilgrim took her beyond the sunset, and as heaven’s morning broke, I like to think, in the words of Bunyan, that “all the trumpets sounded on the other side.”

Filed Under: Great Teachers, Inspiring Lives, Leadership, Life Wisdom, Teaching By Example, Values Tagged With: , , ,

Roger Ebert | A Legacy in His Own Words

April 4, 2013 By

Film Reviewer Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert, the best known American film reviewer, died Thursday,  April 4, 2012, from cancer. He was 70.

He won the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism, the first, and one of only three, given to a film reviewer since the category was created in 1970. In 2005, he received another honor when he became the first critic to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

After winning the Pulitzer Prize he partnered with Gene Siskel to do film reviews on television using their trade-marked “two thumps up!” They were the most influential film reviewers of their time.

His greatest legacy, in my view, are the conclusions he reached from a lifetime of living, expressed in his own words.

Roger Ebert, in his own words:

“No good film is too long and no bad movie is short enough.”

“We fought like cats and dogs, but we always loved each other.” (On his relationship with Gene Siskel)

“My newspaper job … is my identity.”

“Kindness covers all of my political beliefs. No need to spell them out. I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn’t always know this and am happy I lived long enough to find it out.”

“Your intellect may be confused, but your emotions will never lie to you.”

“Years from now it is quite possible that ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ will be seen as the definitive film of the 1960s.”

“Every great film should seem new every time you see it.”

“No matter what they’re charging to get in, it’s worth more to get out.”

“To say that George Lucas cannot write a love scene is an understatement; greeting cards have expressed more passion.”

“If you have to ask what it symbolizes, it didn’t.”

“I’ve been around a long time, and young men, if there is one thing I know, it is that the only way to kiss a girl for the first time is to look like you want to and intend to, and move in fast enough to seem eager but slow enough to give her a chance to say ‘So anyway …’ and look up as if she’s trying to remember your name.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roger Ebert and wife Chaz Hammelsmith

“She fills my horizon, she is the great fact of my life, she has my love, she saved me from the fate of living out my life alone, which is where I seemed to be heading,” he wrote about wife Chaz Hammelsmith.

“I believe empathy is the most essential quality of civilization.”

“I do not fear death. I know it is coming, and I do not fear it, because I believe there is nothing on the other side of death to fear.” (From Ebert’s book, Life Itself: A Memoir).

“…thank you for going on this journey with me. I’ll see you at the movies.”

Rest in peace Roger, thank you for your reviews and your insights.

Filed Under: Great Teachers, Inspiring Lives, Life Wisdom, Mentor, Personal Development, Teaching By Example, Values Tagged With: , , , , ,

Empower Students Through International Internships

April 2, 2013 By

 

 

AIESEC Edmonton is the University of Alberta chapter of the world’s largest student organization. AIESEC is an international non profit organization that provides students with leadership training and international internship opportunities at for-profit and non-profit organizations.

AIESEC Corporate Breakfast 2013

Crowne Plaza | Chateau Lacombe

10111 Bellamy Hill Road, Edmonton, Alberta

7:00 AM, Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

Keynote Presentation By

Larry Anderson, President & CEO

The ManCap Group

Create An Enduring Legacy

The Five Choices that are The Foundation

of Success, Fulfillment and Happiness

 

“Larry’s message is extraordinary but his impact comes with his delivery. He is genuine and simply shares his message with utmost sincerity, passion, and raw honesty.”

Jay Ball, CEO Junior Achievement

“Larry gave a memorable talk on self directed learning…he played a key role in an amazing and inspiring day.”

Ken Bautista, Chair, TEDxEdmonton

“I heartily endorse Larry Anderson as a speaker, mentor and communicator.”

Ralph B. Young, CEO Melcor Developments Ltd., Chancellor, University of Alberta

 

Local businesses help AISEC by providing financial support by attending the Corporate Breakfast and by providing intern placement opportunities for international students.

 Please Buy Your Tickets By April 19th

You can buy tickets online at

http://aiesec.ca/edmonton/corporate-breakfast/

If you have questions or concerns please contact Kayla Baretta at 780-717-8918


Filed Under: Charity, Leadership, Personal Development, Philanthropy, Teaching By Example, Values Tagged With: , , ,

Please Help Me Empower Youth

August 28, 2012 By

This is NOT a fundraising request. I’m asking for your help.

Please join me in an effort to rescue the dreams of discouraged youth. To provide youth with insights and tools to empower them to make better choices and to live a life of fulfillment and happiness

I remember how lost I was as a teenager. It isn’t any easier being a teenager today. Some of the challenges are just different. I must try to help. I want to reduce abandoned dreams, high school drop outs, teen suicide, drug use, crime and a host of other results from the negative story some youth tell themselves about themselves and the criticism they hear in their heads.

I believe every person is gifted. Each of is born with a unique set of talents, abilities, interests, passions and dreams that defines our unique promise.

I believe every person is powerful. Our power is in our choices.

I believe every person is important. Each of us can choose to make a difference in the lives of others in a way that is meaningful to us. This will provide the fulfillment and happiness we all seek.

Join me in telling youth: You are gifted. You are powerful. You are important. I believe in you.

For more information about me and my mission please visit www.lifeisapromise.com

Why I Care

I care deeply about empowering youth because I struggled as a teenager.

I was a high school drop out. I made some bad choices. Three insights changed the course of my life.

  • My past didn’t need to define my future.
  • The conversation in my own head was holding me back.
  • I needed to learn who I was and quit focusing on who I wasn’t. I needed to learn how to make better choices and silence the critics in my own head.

My journey has had ups and downs but today I am living my dreams.

To share what I learned on my journey, I have written two books and recorded a video presentation. Both of the books and the video will be available in digital form for free this fall.

The two books will also be available as print books for $14.95. All of the net proceeds from the print books will be donated to charities that support youth.

For more information visit www.liveyourmagic.com

How You Can Help

The best way to empower youth is through the peer support of other youth.

I am thrilled to advise you that the Edmonton Public School Board and the Edmonton Catholic School District have agreed to partner with the Larry and Janet Anderson Philanthropies to call for proposals in the fall semester 2012 from student leaders for a program to improve the self talk of other students to be implemented in high schools in the spring semester 2013.

Ten thousand dollars in prizes will be awarded to implement the winning initiatives. The winners will be selected by an independent judging panel of educators and youth advocates.

The prize money will be provided in an exciting way.

Eleven of Edmonton’s most talented singer songwriters, under the guidance of veteran music producer Rob Hewes, will perform a concert of 22 original songs about the human condition at the Jubilee Auditorium on Sunday September 16, 2012 at 7 PM. 100% of the costs of the concert have been sponsored. This is an encore performance of the successful concert at the Timm’s Centre for the Arts this spring.

See the Celebrate Songs of the Human Condition Concert trailer.

Learn more about the singer-songwriters visit www.celebratesongwriting.com

Main floor tickets are $20.00. This is not a donation, the concert is worth this and more. The first $10,000 in ticket sales will provide the prize money for the high school self-talk initiative. 100% of ticket proceeds we be donated to charities and initiatives that support youth.

High school students will sit in sponsored seats in the balcony. The finale of the concert will be the performance of the inspirational new theme song for the high school youth empowerment initiative, I Believe in You.

I promise you, this will be an uplifting evening you will remember for years. Your attendance will show the singer songwriter youth, and the high school students – you support their dreams.

Please join me in attending.

Buy tickets at ticketmaster.

Please share this blogpost with your network. I will be forever grateful for your support.

Filed Under: Charity, Personal Development, Philanthropy, Teaching By Example, Uncategorized, Values Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Day I Found My Dad

June 17, 2012 By

I have two memories of my biological father. I remember him beating me with a belt as a young child for not drinking my milk and I remember my mother sobbing after his abuse. He left when I was seven. I never knew why. I didn’t care.

The man I refer to as dad is my stepfather. He was caring, kind and supportive. He was also an alcoholic, which caused some chaos and problems in my life. But, on balance, I was so fortunate to have him as my dad.

My fondest memory is the day my mother, who managed the money and was very frugal, gave dad the money to go buy a new pair of shoes. He desperately needed them because there were holes the size of quarters in the soles and he used cardboard inserts to prevent walking on his socks.

Later that day he returned by bus, since we had no car. I saw them coming down the street my brother Randy riding a tricycle and my dad pushing a used two wheel bike for me. No gears. No fancy brakes. But to me it was beautiful. It is also the best gift I have ever received.

My mother was furious. And my mother knew how to do furious. She loved my dad and felt he needed new shoes way more than Randy and I needed bikes. Of course she was correct, but this was about more than a bike, or shoes.

Until that day I had wondered if I was just part of the package when my dad asked my mother to marry him. I felt like I had never had a dad. Not really. That day I knew my step-father loved me. If he was willing to make the sacrifice of the shoes and the wrath of my mother, he had to care. I was twelve, and finally, I had a dad.

A short time later, in 1959, my dad asked to adopt me. I said yes in a heartbeat. Melvin Wesley Anderson officially became my father and dad.  My dad wasn’t perfect, who among us is? But he loved me and always had my best interests at heart.

He died in 1974, at 61, from cancer but he lives on in my heart.

Filed Under: Parenting, Values Tagged With: , , , , ,

Humbling Author Moment

April 17, 2012 By

Last week I had a humbling author moment. As a new author, autographing books is an unfamiliar but exciting experience. Imagine how thrilled I was when Wendy Keiver, President of the Literacy and Learning Day Society here in Edmonton, told me they wanted to buy 60 copies of my book, Inspiration to Live Your MAGIC!™ to give as a thank you gift to all the volunteers.

Later, Wendy called to say that they had put a personal thank you label in the front of each of the books and would appreciate it if I would write a personal autograph to each volunteer. “I’d be thrilled,” I said, wondering what it would be like to do that many autographs at one time.

As I was signing the autographs, I realized that every one of these people were volunteering their time to support the attending parents efforts to help their children learn. It was these volunteers and the sponsors that made it possible for about 1,000 parents to attend this one day event for free. This year, the 10th Anniversary, featured two keynote speakers and 26 workshop sessions for the parents to choose what they felt would be most helpful to them.

Barbara Coloroso

When I opened a book and saw the name Barbara Coloroso, one of the sponsored keynote speakers, I stopped. For 38 years, Barbara has been an international best selling author, speaker and consultant on parenting, teaching, school discipline, positive school climate, bullying, grieving, nonviolent conflict resolution and restorative justice. She has appeared on Oprah, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN and NPR and has been featured in the New York Times, Time, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek and many other publications. Barbara Coloroso is most well known for her “Kids are Worth it!” series.

David Bouchard

The next copy of my book to autograph was for the other sponsored keynote speaker, David Bouchard. A former teacher and principal, David is one of Canada’s all-time best selling authors (over thirty-five best selling books, published in many countries and languages) and a much sought after public speaker. Through his keynotes and presentations he champions literacy and promotes Aboriginal culture. David Bouchard’s books have won several prestigious awards, including the Order of Canada for literature in 2009, Canada’s highest distinction.

Bouchard believes shared responsibility is the first step to succeeding in reading, saying. “We do not need new curriculum or harder working teachers in order to get our students to read. We need parents, teachers and administrators who read. The key lies in modelling.”

Barbara and David are heroes of mine. What could I write? Since my book is called Inspiration to Live Your MAGIC!™ I typically write, the persons name and “Live Your MAGIC!” and sign Larry. In both of their books I wrote, Barbara or Dave, and “You are living your MAGIC! You inspire me. Larry.”

I was honoured to sign every one of those books and grateful to every volunteer. And grateful to express my feelings in a unexpected way to two of my heroes. Thank you Wendy Keiver and the Literacy and Learning Day leaders for the privilege.

Filed Under: Great Teachers, Inspiring Lives, Life Wisdom, Parenting, Philanthropy, Teaching By Example, Values Tagged With: , , , ,
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