Come out and join us as we bring together Durham-based businesses and not-for-profits to celebrate our caring community and to announce the winner of Durham Cause.

The winner of Durham Cause will receive a combination of marketing products and services designed to help their organization raise their profile, and broaden their reach in the community. The prize includes:

New Website – A high-end website, designed and built by Chris Vale, CLH Designs, valued at $5,000

Strategic Marketing Planning – An integrated strategic marketing plan, developed in consultation with Andrea Kennedy of Spread Your Word valued at $2500

Social Media Consulting – Social media marketing, training and consulting delivered by Leslie Hughes of Punch Media, valued at $2500

Video Service – A complete video package that includes a profile video of the business provided by Ben Stacey of Ben Stacey Pictures $2500

Admission to the event is free but all those attending will be asked to offer a cash donation at the door. All those not-for-profit applicants who are in attendance at the event will have their organization’s name entered into a draw, and the lucky winner will receive the cash as a donation to their agency.

To attend the event at On The Rocks Oshawa please visit our sign-up page

Boys And Girls Club Durham
Canpaws
Catholic Family Services of Durham
Community Justice Alternatives of Durham Region
Durham Community Legal Clinic
Durham Hospice
Epilepsy Durham
Frontenac Youth Services
Girls Inc of Durham
Habitat For Humanity Durham
Lukes Place
Newcastles Art Show
Nova’s Ark
Oasis Animal Rescue and Education Centre
Ontario Shores
Precious Minds
Rose of Durham
Running Maniacs
Spay Neuter Durham
The Participation House Project
The Uxbridge Youth Centre
The Youth Education Arts and Health Foundation
Tradeability
Whitby Ajax Garden Project
Wind Reach Farms

We wish to thank all of our applicants. More details to be released soon about the finalists. Stay tuned here or our Facebook page for more information at www.facebook.com/durhamcause

Since 2003, Luke’s Place has been devoted to improving the safety and experience of abused women and their children as they work their way through this complicated and expensive family law process. It is the only non profit resource centre of its kind in Durham Region with trained legal support workers helping more than 400 women annually, a number that increases by about 35% every year.

As the population of Durham Region increases (+8.6% 2011 vs. 2006 StatsCan Census) sadly so does the need for our services. A Canadian survey found that 19% of domestic violence victims who left their relationship experienced further abuse during separation. Further to that, the Ontario Coroners Domestic Violence Death Review Committee found that in 81% of cases, domestic homicide was perpetrated during separation showing that women and their children are most vulnerable during this time. The effect of violence on families has become all too clear as up to 360,000 Canadian children are exposed to domestic violence every year.

For more information on Lukes Place please visit http://www.lukesplace.ca

Maintaining the integrity of the adjoining creek land is critical to this project.  ESA studies are complete and passed.  Home designs are simple, decent, Energy Star compliant with provisions for wheelchair accessibility in the end units.  Implementation of Green Build building techniques are planned for this site as well as “hidden” accessibility features.

Currently there are more than 4400 on the waiting list for affordable housing in Durham Region; this build will help 24 families break that cycle of poverty through affordable home ownership.  Low income families living in healthy, safe homes result in children more likely to complete high school and go on to post secondary education.  Our financial and home owner training program is ready for the applicants who come to us via website applications then go through a rigorous selection process.  Strength of the family unit is a key component as well as various other criteria.

Families work to purchase their home through donated sweat equity and pay it forward to other partner families on the build.  Our local Durham College Skilled Trades campus and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship program are committed to building with us at CentreTowne.

Habitat Durham is geared up to mobilize volunteers and community partners to build CentreTowne, home to 24 partner families.

Our mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting home ownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty.

No family should ever have to decide between paying rent or buying groceries.  Some Durham Region families pay up to 60% of their gross low income towards rent leaving very little left at the end of the month.

Shelter is a basic human right.  The homes we build are simple, decent and affordable.  The home ownership program used worldwide today is the same one introduced in 1976 by Habitat’s founder, Millard Fuller.

We do not give free houses to poor people.  Our families go through a screening process and must be willing to partner with us throughout the entire home buying and building process.  We mentor our families after closing to ensure they are still on the right road to succeed.

Our ReStores keep the affiliate sustainable allowing 100% of all donations to go directly into our building fund.  The ReStores cannot fund the build program however and that is why we look to our corporate community for financial aid for CentreTowne.

For more information, please contact:

Habitat for Humanity Durham

905-428-7434

Kathy Chateauvert ext. 29

www.habitatdurham.com

Pickering On, February 6th, 2012 Durham Cause is a philanthropic partnership between CLH Designs, Spread Your Word, Punch Media and Ben Stacey Pictures, and they are hosting a contest to award a package of game-changing services to one deserving Durham-based not-for-profit. Together, these Durham-based businesses are donating over $12,500 in marketing services to a local Durham nonprofit, including web design, social media and public relations, marketing, and video production services.

What’s the grand prize?

The winner of Durham Cause will receive a comprehensive marketing package that comprises a combination of of the most effective marketing services available, including:

New Website – A high-end website, designed and built by CLH Designs, valued at $5,000

Strategic Marketing Planning – An integrated strategic marketing plan, developed with the assistance of Spread Your Word valued at $2500

Social Media Consulting – Social media marketing, training and consulting by Punch Media, valued at $2500

Video Service – A complete video package that includes a profile video of the business provided by Ben Stacey Pictures $2500

What makes my organization a good fit? You are/can:

• A registered nonprofit organization.
• Located in Durham (the organization’s main address must be in Durham Region).
• Demonstrate a financial need for a website, social media, and public relation services to further your philanthropic cause.
• Have a fully committed resource to complete this project with timely efficiency
• You are driven to make a difference in our community!

How do I participate?

To participate in Durham Cause go to www.durhamcause.com and complete the online application.

Your organization cannot be:

A current client of CLH Designs, Spread Your Word, Punch Media or Ben Stacey Video.

How do I follow Durham Cause?

• To join the conversation on Twitter, use the hashtag #Durhamcause. Ask us questions or join us in discussing how Durham organizations can come together to strengthen our city’s communities.
• “Like” Durham Cause on Facebook to stay up to date on the project on Facebook or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/durhamcause.