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Archive for the ‘Charity’ Category

A pleasant way to raise money for the community

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 by Dan Cooper

Dan Cooper Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament 2011

Top row from left to right – Kevin Andrews, Matt Dunigan, Keith Costello, Kevin Smellie, Dan Ferrone
Bottom row from left to right – Dan Cooper, Brenden (Little Brother), Tim Scrinns (Grown-Up Little), Bill Demytruk (Big Brother)

I enjoy a good round of golf and when I can combine my passion for the game with a great community fundraiser, well, that’s just a perfect day. I had the pleasure of doing just that last month with the Oakville Community Foundation’s Marathon of Golf and the Dan Cooper Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton.

Both these events raised thousands of desperately needed dollars to support the tremendous work they are doing in the community.

Despite inclement weather, 35 golfers came out to the OCF tournament, played 100 holes and raised over $188,000, which was $10,000 over the 2010 total. This money goes toward supporting the Foundation’s community initiatives. OCF plays a critical role as a conduit – matching necessity with resources, challenges with opportunities. Support from the Marathon of Golf annual fundraiser will allow the OCF to develop two new community initiatives in response to identified community needs: Poverty and Community Engagement and Awareness.

In its 12-year history, the Marathon has raised close to $2 million. That’s an incredible accomplishment and speaks volumes about the caring and giving community in which we live. It’s the kind of community I am proud to call my home.

I am also immensely proud to have been host to the second annual Dan Cooper Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament at Glen Abbey on May 19th in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton. Grassroots charities such as the BBBSH are preventative in focus, helping children in the early stages by providing mentorship that has a positive impact that lasts a lifetime with these kids of all ages. Our young people are our future leaders and it is critical that we provide all the support we can to ensure they develop into good citizens, business people and community leaders.

The person I need to acknowledge as the driving force and tireless organizer for this tournament is Jules Graham-Hood, who, as the Executive Director of BBBSH, was not only behind this event 100 percent, but did an absolutely brilliant job in helping to bring celebrities and sponsors together to make this fundraiser an outstanding success. Putting together a professional and successful golf tournament is no easy task, and Jules’ energy and connections were instrumental in creating one of the best local fundraising events of the season.

“Give where you live” is a slogan adopted by many charitable organizations across North America, but it really does sum up my own personal philanthropic objectives and the approach of The Dan Cooper Team when it comes to donations and giving back to the community

Organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton, Oakville Community Foundation, United Way, Salvation Army and a host of other charitable bodies help to build a strong community and a brighter future for all our citizens. I encourage you to get involved in your community – with your time, your money or both.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Posted in - Dan Cooper Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Burlington, Charity, Glen Abbey Golf Club, Golf, Oakville, Oakville Community Foundation, Salvation Army, United Way of Oakville | No Comments »

Calling all golfers for two exceptionally worthy fundraisers

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011 by Dan Cooper

Dan Cooper Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament

Featured in the photo from left to right are Craig Watkins, Matt Dunigan, Dan Cooper & Frank Dunigan.

Over the next few weeks I will be seeking sponsors and participants for two major fundraising golf tournaments next month.

The first is the Community Foundation of Oakville’s Marathon of Golf. In fact, I have already started collecting pledges, but will continue adding to my total for this very worthwhile cause. The Marathon of Golf at Glen Abbey Golf Club on May 17th is the Foundation’s only fundraiser. Golfers play up to100 holes in less than 12 hours to raise money to help fund local charitable initiatives. Last year the event raised more than $170,000. In its 12-year history, the Marathon has raised close to $2 million.

I’m proud to play a part in helping raise money for this wonderful organization and to be a supporter of the causes it represents. The true character of a community is the willingness of its citizens to give their time, talents and money to help those among us who are in need. Through grants and community projects, the Foundation supports a broad range of charitable causes and the support it receives from individuals and the business community is heartwarming. I’m honoured to be among those providing that support.

Please make a pledge and let your donation go to a great cause that will benefit our community. To sponsor me simply go to:
http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=11173.

I am also immensely proud to once again be host to the Dan Cooper Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament at Glen Abbey on May 19th in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton. This will be our second year and we anticipate another sold-out affair. Last year was a huge success with celebrity guests such CFL greats Matt Dunigan and Miles Gorrell, Canadian actor Art Hindle, sports broadcaster and former NHL executive Gord Stellick to name a few.

There are numerous charity golf tournaments through the season, but I can tell you that grassroots charities such as the BBBSH are preventative in focus, helping children in the early stages by providing mentorship that has a positive impact that lasts a lifetime with these kids of all ages. Our young people are our future leaders and it is critical that we provide all the support we can to ensure they develop into good citizens, business people and community leaders. Few of us may be aware that there are hundreds of youth at-risk here in our own community. Often, our comfortable and insular lives shield us from some very hard truths in our back yard. This reality, however, is only too clear to the great people and volunteers at BBBSH.

“Give where you live” is a slogan adopted by many charitable organizations across North America, but it really does sum up my own personal philanthropic objectives and the approach of The Dan Cooper Team when it comes to donations and giving back to the community I encourage all of you to give back to the community in any way you can; whether it is with money or time or both. Your efforts and contributions help make our community stronger and a better place in which to live.

Organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton, Community Foundation, United Way, Salvation Army and a host of other charitable bodies help to build a strong community and a brighter future for all our citizens. I encourage you to get involved in your community – with your time, your money or both.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call The Dan Cooper Team.

Posted in Big Brothers Big Sisters, Glen Abbey Golf Course, Golf, Oakville Community Foundation, Salvation Army, United Way of Oakville | No Comments »

A worthy cause for a brave young woman

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 by Dan Cooper

Brooklyn Mills - Mike Holmes - Dan Cooper

Pictured in the photo from left to right are Mike Holmes, Brooklyn Mills and Dan Cooper.

I have often talked about my philanthropic philosophy and that giving back to the community is a core value for my business and The Dan Cooper Team. We feel strongly that to “give where you live” is not just a slogan, but a call to action.

Since many of the organizations we support are focused on the youth in our community, there are always stories that touch me personally. I attended one such fundraiser recently. It is a story that is both tragic and inspiring.

Brooklyn Mills is a 17-year-old girl who was a happy and extremely active student at Oakville Trafalgar High School in 2009. She was one of the school’s cheerleaders, performing back handsprings and flips. One day that fall, she woke up to severe back pain. Following that morning she saw countless doctors and specialists, was in and out of hospital and was finally diagnosed with a rare genetic connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Only 1 in 5,000 Canadians are afflicted by the disorder, which makes it difficult to find health-care professionals who specialize and can treat the condition. The person suffers chronic pain, with acute dislocations or advanced osteoarthritis, which can be physically and psychologically disabling.

It was heart wrenching to see this young, vibrant girl’s health rapidly deteriorate to the point that she was confined to a wheelchair and forced to spend most of the day in bed. She was refused admission to all pain management programs due to the severity of her disorder and the fact that she was not an adult.

Thankfully, the family found help at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, where Brooklyn spent more than five weeks in an intensive program and in January began walking for the first time in seven months. She plans to return to school this year.

I met Brooklyn at a fundraiser at Philthy McNasty’s on Speers Road on February 27th. Mike Holmes was the special guest and I was glad to provide support and a donation toward the cost of Brooklyn’s treatments.

While it was heart warming and inspirational to see this charming young woman bravely and successfully battle this rare and debilitating disorder, the family has been saddled with a large medical bill. Brooklyn’s medical expenses not covered by OHIP exceeded $50,000. I was proud to be part of this very worthwhile fundraiser to help a wonderful young woman in our community.

We wish you all the best Brooklyn and look forward to you returning to school, completing your education and fulfilling your dreams.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call the Dan Cooper Team.

Posted in Community, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Oakville | No Comments »

Dan Cooper thanks those who nominated him for Oakville’s Awards of Excellence

Monday, February 28th, 2011 by Dan Cooper

Oakville Awards for Business Excellence logo

I want to thank all those who nominated me for the Annual Oakville Awards for Business Excellence. It is an honour to join a strong group of community and business leaders who are being recognized at the 16th annual award ceremony.

I have been part of the Oakville community for more than 20 years and my real estate business has grown to be one of the most successful within Royal LePage. In fact, we have been the Number 1 Royal LePage Team in Canada for seven of the past 10 years. This is an accomplishment that does not happen by accident, but rather by design. Our dedication and commitment to selling your home, along with superior marketing strategies, have time and time again helped our clients sell their homes quickly and for top dollar. Our steadfast approach to do what is best for our clients has made us one of the busiest brokerages in Oakville.

But our success goes beyond dollars and cents. As much as the awards recognize business success, I believe they also strongly weigh the charitable component of a business. It is in the area of philanthropy that I have also developed a passion and I am proud that my Team and I support many worthwhile causes.

There is more to a community than homes, roads and shopping districts. The character of a town or city is defined by the number of caring and giving people in our midst. Whether it is donating time or money or both to a food bank, a youth centre or cultural organization, people in our community have demonstrated their generosity year after year. “Give where you live” is a slogan adopted by many charitable organizations across North America, but it really does sum up the philanthropic approach of The Dan Cooper Team.

I have chosen a handful of outstanding organizations to which I am personally making significant contributions:
- Ontario Hospital Foundation which has launched a major project – the New Oakville Hospital.
- Venue sponsor for Comic Vision, an evening of comedy in support of the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
- Dan Cooper Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton.
- Appleby College
- Dan Cooper Concert Series at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts.

I’m proud that The Dan Cooper Team can be counted among our generous citizens by providing support for local organizations, services and minor sports. The contribution by every member of the team is a testament to our commitment to give back to the community. We are not simply in the business of selling properties and helping buyers find homes. We are your neighbour, our children go to school here and we shop in the same grocery stores. This is our community and The Dan Cooper Team is proud to play a part in shaping its character and its success.
The Oakville Awards for Business Excellence were created to recognize companies that excel in their business category. They are based on a rigorous interview and analysis process that judges not only gauge the company’s business performance but also how it contributes to making Oakville a better community.

Again, I am proud to be counted among those who are working to make this community a better place.

Dan Cooper is an award-winning broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call the Dan Cooper Team.

Posted in - Dan Cooper Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament, Appleby College, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Business, Charity, Comic Vision, Dan Cooper Concert Series, Events, Oakville, Oakville Awards for Business Excellence, Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, Ontario Hospital Foundation | No Comments »

Record amount raised for a good cause at the Candlelight Ball

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010 by Dan Cooper

John Oliver, Debbie and Dan Cooper - Trafalgar Memorial Hospital Candlelight Ball

Featured from left to right is John Oliver, President & CEO Halton Healthcare Services with Debbie and Dan Cooper.

One of the many organizations to which I provide significant support is the Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH). One of their major fundraising functions I support is the Annual Candlelight Ball and this year’s event, held on November 6th, raised a record $700,000 net.

This money is desperately needed to purchase equipment for the OTMH and the New Oakville Hospital. The provincial government provides limited funding for new equipment and so it is up to us in this community to ensure our hospitals are well equipped and able to provide a high level of care. Providing proper health care is a cornerstone to building a strong and caring community. We are fortunate to live in a town in which the citizens rally around a cause and offer major support. The OTMH Foundation is just one recipient of our generous support, and that giving was demonstrated in a major way at this year’s 19th Annual Candlelight Ball.

The event itself was an outstanding social occasion that treated the patrons to a culinary adventure featuring a Parisian menu prepared by Food Network host, CityLine guest and restaurateur Michael Bonacini and his team of chefs from the Oliver & Bonacini Cafe Grill. “We’re delighted to be involved once again in the OTMH Candlelight Ball,” says Bonacini. “The sense of community here in Oakville is really quite special, meaning when Oakvillians rally, they really rally,” Bonacini adds.

“Joie de Vivre (Joy of Living), this year’s OTMH Candlelight Ball, exemplifies what we are trying to accomplish with the proceeds from this, and, for that matter, every gala,” says Kathy Mundy, chair of the gala volunteer planning committee. “This is our largest annual fundraiser and this year’s proceeds are going to purchase a new infant warmer for our Special Care Nursery, a critical care ventilator, an anaesthesia gas machine and an ultrasound machine, all of which will be used in both our existing and new hospitals. These machines will help our medical professionals give our community Joie de Vivre.”

Our local health-care system relies on all of us to help them build a level of care that is second to none. The Dan Cooper Team has been supporting worthy causes such as the OTMH Foundation for many years. We are not simply in the business of buying and selling homes – we are an integral part of the community; this is our home too, and so we care about the quality of life here just as much as you do. “Give where you live” is a motto we live by and we are proud to be working and living in such a great and caring community.

If you haven’t attended a Candlelight Ball, do yourself a favour and experience something special and support a great cause. The next gala is November 5th, 2011.

Dan Cooper is an award winning Broker with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage – the Number 1 Royal LePage Team for Canada in 2009. He can be reached at 905.338.3737, direct line at 905.849.3303 or through his innovative and interactive website at DanCooper.com. Be sure to catch the Dan Cooper Real Estate Series on DailyWebTV.com. For his free booklet How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar – Fast! or his Guide to Oakville Real Estate, please call the Dan Cooper Team.

Posted in Annual Candlelight Ball, Michael Bonacini, Oakville, Trafalgar Memorial Hospital | No Comments »