For many years, within our abilities, our family and our company have put a great deal of money back into our community in the form of charitable donations. Unlike some businesses, we do not give away large cheques which get our picture in the newspaper. Typically we have preferred to make smaller, more discreet donations which eventually do total a large amount of money over the year. We believe very strongly in supporting the community that supports us!

          In recent years, we have been inundated with requests for money from many worthwhile charities. Having been involved in fundraising with service clubs and local charities, we know that there is more competition for the charitable dollar, and we were having a difficult time determining who we should be supporting. Likewise, for most businesses, the profit margins just are not available anymore to make donations, and we ourselves were having to make some serious decisions.

          Therefore, in the fall of 1999, based on a concept from one of our own staff, we developed our "donation program". The program is simple: a) We will make a donation in memory of the deceased person we are caring for. b) The family determines which charity the donation will go to. c) The amount of the donation is based on the amount that the family spends with us. d) We receive credit for the donation with a simple tasteful statement in the obituary.

          This program allows us to directly tie our charitable givings to our sales (revenue and volume) on an ongoing basis. We no longer need to set a specific budget and worry about exceeding it. It also removes the pressure of having to decide which charity gets, and which doesn't. Furthermore, most charities no longer call us, because they know how our program works, and it is up to the charity to keep themselves visible so that families will suggest them. Lastly is does provide us with some credit for our "good works". Individual donations may not be large, but over time they can really add up to a large sum of money. Likewise, we have been overwhelmed by the positive response and thank you cards that we have received from the families we serve.

          Thank you for joining us on our web-site.  We hope that you have learned something new about us.

 - John-Bryan Gardiner, Vice-President, Managing Partner .