Financial Info
Wow! What a couple of years! Special thanks to EVERYONE that made this happen and a very special thanks to Billy Lawrence, Chartered Accountant, for keeping our books, tracking every last dollar, and providing us with our year-end financial reports. Our goal will always be to remain an open and transparent organization where anyone can see all our books, all the financial information, and ask any questions they like. It’s imperative to us that we share with our supporters exactly where their money goes. So, you will see a high level summary below that shows we had an outstanding couple of years. Anyone requiring a full set of financial statements may do so by emailing Todd at tmcdonald@energyatlantica.com. Todd is the Board Chair and he is happy to send the full reports and/or meet with anyone that has questions. Thank you again to everyone who made this a successful year.
2009 Financial Statements
Total cash received from events, donors, pledges, etc: $270,516
| Ovarian Cancer Canada | $38,005 |
| Lance Armstrong Foundation | $74,750* |
| Canadian Cancer Society | $50,676 |
| Craig’s Cause for Pancreatic Cancer | $38,005 |
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* $65,000 USD converted at 1.15 to CDN |
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| Total donations to charity | $201,436 |
| % of funds donated provided to charity | 74.5% |
2008 Financial Statements
Total cash received from events, donors, pledges, etc: $374,464.40
| Ovarian Cancer Canada | $132,729.51 |
| Lance Armstrong Foundation | $86,464.42 |
| Craig’s Cause for Pancreatic Cancer | $26,061.00 |
| Dingle Cancer Services (Ireland) | $8,322 |
| West Clare Cancer Services (Ireland) | $6,978.69 |
| Emer Casey Foundation (Ireland) | $8,390.48 |
| Cahercalla Hospice (Ireland) | $5,374 |
| TBD (Ireland) | $2,492.25 |
| Total donations to charity | $276,812.30 |
| % of funds donated provided to charity | 74% |
The remaining funds not donated to charity were spent solely on expenses incurred during the ride such as gas, hotels, and vehicle rentals. GIVETOLIVE has no paid staff or overhead and we do everything we can to minimize expenses. We believe that the money spent to run the event (an average of 26% the last 2 years) is much more than an expense and has a profound impact on individuals and the community in which we live :
- It brings much needed awareness to the war on cancer, highlighting that it is killing more people per year than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined
- It has inspired over 100 people to complete our epic journeys and has inspired all of them to integrate giving back to society into their daily lives
- Countless donors, family members of riders, and friends of the organization have written letters and emails telling us that while they did not join us on one of the rides, they have nonetheless been inspired to get active, get giving, and get living!
Guidelines and ethics for the fund raising community suggest that an acceptable expense ratio for an event should be over 50%, that anything over 60% is considered ‘good,’ and anything over 70% is considered ‘excellent.’ GIVETOLIVE worked hard in 2008 and 2009 to achieve an average expense ratio to 73%. It meant a lot of sacrifices from the riders and for that we are grateful. For 2010, we are aiming to achieve an expense ratio of 75%, which is considered exceptional in the fund-raising community.
A few words from some of the charities…
Lance Armstrong Foundation
The $161,214 ($CDN) in donations we have received from GIVETOLIVE over the last two years is remarkable. It will provide significant resources in pursuing our agenda of preventing cancer, helping people get access to screening and care, improving the quality of life for cancer survivors, and investing in research. The GIVETOLIVE team is a great example of people giving back and investing in the lives of those around them.
Doug Ulman,
CEO – Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Ovarian Cancer Canada
The $170,700 donated to Ovarian Cancer Canada from GIVETOLIVE over the last 2 years has helped to educate Canadians and health care professionals about this terrible disease, provide support to women and their families that have been touched by ovarian cancer and to fund research in the hopes of one day finding a cure. We are truly grateful for the support we have received and look forward to a safe and successful 2010 event.
Tammy O’Dwyer
Ovarian Cancer Canada
Craig’s Cause for Pancreatic Cancer
Hi Everyone,
We just arrived home yesterday from Texas, and we are now trying to resume to normal, whatever that is. For the past week I have been trying to put into words what this bike ride meant to me, so that I could thank each and everyone of you for being apart of the experience. Although I certainly was not given the gift of words, I will try my best.
Losing my father after an 8 week battle with Pancreatic Cancer was life altering for me, for so many reasons. First because my father was my best friend and cheer leader and secondly because of the lack of information and support available to us in Canada, regarding my father’s specific illness. In fact, much of our support and discussions occurred with American researchers and surgeons at the John Hopkins institute.
Lack of support and awareness made dealing with the disease all that more incredibly hard to deal with. We tried to support Dad the best way we could.this meant me dragging him out everyday to participate in something/anything that may take his mind off things for just a second. Many times the only thing that got him out was a daily bike ride. This meant that I would have to get on my mountain bike and chase after my 63 year old father, diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, down the street and try to hold on to some of my pride, as he quickly took the lead and often sailed way ahead. Oh..he always circled back to ensure that his out of shape daughter was still ok, but would quickly take the lead again. This did nothing for my self esteem! Haha. Especially when the man who was kicking my butt was twice my age and apparently so ill.
On August 29th, 2006 my father underwent the Whipple Procedure (removal of 1/3 his stomach, 1/3 his pancreas, common bile duct, small intestine, gall bladder and duodenum). This is the only chance of a potential cure for Pancreatic Cancer, with less then a 5% chance of success. Most patients pass away within a year after surgery. (only 10% even have the opportunity of surgery). We were positive that Dad would be in this 5%……..how could he not be?? On September 29th, 2006 he passed away after an additional 4 life saving surgeries.
During our bike rides together, we discussed how we could make a change and support others with Pancreatic Cancer. Dad was determined to support Canadian based research. This was our goal, once he was well. Unfortunately this partnership was never to be. So, with an amazing group of friends and the Craig’s Cause Board of Directors, Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society was founded. Within two years, I have been contacted by patients and caregivers all over Canada, the States and even Europe trying to find support and information, many of whom find themselves in similar situations.
In two years Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society has;
- Created an awareness and information site www.craigscause.ca
- Has received the support of two well known PC researchers, who respond to patient questions.
- Has created and is still creating provincial chapters and provincial representatives across Canada.
- Has held two success bike tours (over $10,000 this first year and over $13,000 the second year)
- Has increased our board size.
- Has had numerous newspaper articles written, in numerous newspapers, on the society plus an Atlantic province news segment.
- Is presently funding a two year Pancreatic Cancer Research Study at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.
- It is the last bullet that I wanted to discuss with you all. Because of ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK, Craig’s Cause will has received $64,000. What does this mean?? It means that these funds will support Dr. Molinari and Dr. Walsh with their Probability Trade Off Research Project, presently taking place at the QEII. In fact it is the first of its kind, involving PC research. It is a form of educational/clinical research that will produce a Pancreatic Cancer document for Canadians to access, with an educational video to go along with the booklet.all of which can be downloaded off our web site for free (once complete) and the research when complete, will be presented at National and International conferences on Pancreatic Cancer.
How much does this research cost and what impact has your support had on our research?? This research project costs approximately $100,000.00 for 2 years. GIVETOLIVE has given us a much needed $64,000 over the last two years and these funds have been invaluable! SO THANK YOU EVERYONE, especially to Todd, Ashley and the Board who agreed to support our cause and who believed in our grass roots project. The researchers are thrilled to begin their work. Their work is also summarized on our web site www.craigscause.ca – click on Research Report.
I have been wanting to tell you all this for so very long, but always found it too emotional to put into words. Although the idea of Craig’s Cause started as the result of me losing my father, it has grown into something so much more and represents so many suffering and fighting to survive. So to each of you, please know that your hard work and dedication is helping make a difference in so many lives and is providing funds to organizations who would not meet such research goals without your support.
I have been inspired by each and every one of you and the stories that you have shared with me, both the sad and triumphant ones. I am honoured to have shared this journey with so many of you and am thrilled to have had the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful event. Biking, for me, started out because of a painful event in my life but has now come full circle, representing an activity that has created a wonderful and positive experience in my life. So thank you.
Stefanie Condon-Oldrieve,
Founder – Craig’s Cause for Pancreatic Cancer
