Jordan Sidoo has developed a passion to create awareness for and change in the lives of the thousands of children in British Columbia who go to school hungry each morning. Jordan believes very strongly that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and especially so for school age children whose classroom studies demand clarity and focus for several hours each day.

For more than a year Jordan has been working hard to raise money and awareness for the breakfast club programs operating in schools throughout the lower mainland. Last year he created a website, breakfast-club.ca, as a means to create awareness and raise money by selling pen and pencil sets online. Since Christmas 2013, Jordan has raised $8700 via the website alone, and every dollar is going to support breakfast clubs in the lower mainland.

On April 9, 2014, Jordan presented a cheque for $3000 to the New Westminster Secondary School Breakfast Club program. NWSS is the alma mater of Jordan’s father, David Sidoo, and his uncle, Paul. The donated funds will provide 3000 breakfasts to NWSS students over the course of one year.

The impact of this is not lost on Jordan, who feels very blessed with his family, friends and lot in life. According to Jordan’s father, David, “President Clinton would say, ‘To those whom much has been given much is expected.’ Although Jordan has had his share of adversity he learns from the down times, works hard and gives back.”

Simply put, if Jordan can help one child to have a better life, it’s all worth it.

On February 13, 2014, 17-year-old Jordan Sidoo, along with his parents David and Manjy, joined forces to serve a hot pancake breakfast to more than 60 children at Queen Alexandra Elementary School in Vancouver.

On this day, Jordan donated $5600 to the school’s emergency breakfast program, raised through the sales of pen/pencil sets and tote bags through his fundraising website www.breakfast-club.ca. David and Manjy Sidoo added another $4400 from the Sidoo Family Giving foundation.

During the Queen Alexandra Elementary pancake breakfast, Jordan presented a cheque in the combined total of $10000 to a school representative. And Queen Alexandra can certainly use the money – their emergency breakfast program consistently feeds nearly 70 children each day.

Jordan acknowledged having experienced the lack of focus and energy that result from missing breakfast, though he admits it was due to his own choice to skip a meal.  Many local children miss breakfast on a school day, and not by choice. “I want to raise awareness about how important breakfast is as a meal for kids,” he said.

Diligent and determined, Jordan continues to raise more funds to support much-needed emergency breakfast programs in Vancouver area schools.

Read more about this event here:

http://www.vancouversun.com/pencil+sales+feed+hungry+children/9515068/story.html

David Sidoo during his playing days at UBC. Photo courtesy UBC Athletics.

Former CFLer David Sidoo has a long history of supporting and giving back to his alma mater, UBC. His contributions have been reflected in myriad ways, including a number of student scholarships and David’s name being attributed to the Thunderbird Stadium field – now known as “David Sidoo Field”.

In January 2014, the BC provincial government gave David Sidoo the honour of being appointed to the UBC Board of Governors. David’s term will last until December 31 of this year.

In addition to the President of UBC and the Chancellor the Board consists of nineteen members, of whom the provincial government appoints eleven and UBC students, faculty and staff elect eight.

From the UBC Board of Governors website:

“Established in 1908, the University of British Columbia (UBC) attracts 54,000 students from across Canada and 140 countries around the world to two major campuses.
 
The British Columbia University Act confers on the UBC Board of Governors responsibility for the management, administration and control of the property, revenue, business and affairs of the University.
 
Members of the UBC Board of Governors represent a diversity of backgrounds and bring to the Board the views of their various constituencies; decisions are ultimately made in the best overall interest of the University.”

Congratulations on your appointment, David!

More here.

Jordan Sidoo holds a thank-you card next to his dad, David, and other kids in front of the new playground at Lord Selkirk Annex.

Six months after being inspired to raise funds to install a new playground at Lord Selkirk Annex elementary school, Jordan Sidoo was invited to cut the ribbon to officially deem the playground open for play.  On June 18^th, Jordan and his father, David Sidoo, joined the excited schoolchildren on the playground to commemorate the opening. Some children were so excited they cried tears of joy.

As reported earlier, Jordan sold pen and pencil sets to raise $6000 of the $7800 required to install the equipment that was to replace an ageing and condemned wooden structure in the school’s playground. The Sidoo family contributed the remaining $1800 to make the new playground dream a reality.

The playground will be well loved by the kindergarten through grade 4 students. “It’s fantastic to see all these kids so excited,” commented David.

Read more here.

Sidoo Family Giving – David Sidoo and Manjy Sidoo
www.sidoofamilygiving.com
Sidoo Family Giving Facebook Page
Twitter.com/David_Sidoo

David Sidoo and VPD Constable Kal Dosanjh at a soccer tournament for the inner city youth of Vancouver.

As a former pro athlete whose life was changed by sports at a pivotal age, David Sidoo understands the value of athletics in the life of a youth…especially an inner city youth.

On the weekend of May 25, 2013, David was delighted to attend and support the Vancouver Police Department Soccer Tournament for Inner City Youth. More than 500 kids participated in the event, which was organized by the VPD Athletic League and Detective Kal Dosanjh.

From the Link Paper article, Dosanjh is quoted as saying, “David is an example of what sports can do, being the first Indo-Canadian professional football player,” Dosanjh said. “David would agree with me that by engaging the youth in a sporting activity it will provide them with a positive outlet, provide them an opportunity to develop self esteem, provide an environment which facilitates personal growth and promotes learning to work well with others in a team setting. This program is designed to develop a strong connection with youth at any early age, so that a sense of community, safety and integrity become well entrenched values.”

There are many wonderful programs to engage youth in sports…why not check into opportunities in your community and see how you can make a difference too!

Sidoo Family Giving – David Sidoo and Manjy Sidoo

Surrey MLA Dave Hayer presenting Jordan Sidoo with a BC Certificate of Appreciation

David and Manjy Sidoo are dedicated philanthropists whose passion for giving back to their community has not been lost on their sons.

Through a number of community initiatives, 16 year old Jordan Sidoo has tirelessly worked to create awareness and give back to the community he calls home. From raising funds to replace the equipment in a local school’s playground to Street-to-Home foundation, and from the Sidoo-supported Breakfast Club initiative to We Day, Jordan maintains a clear focus on community service in addition to being an honour roll student at St George’s School.

The young man’s efforts have not gone unnoticed as he was recently each awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by Surrey MLA Dave Hayer, on behalf of the Provincial Government of British Columbia.

Congratulations, Jordan…you are truly an inspiration to the next generation of philanthropists!

http://www.darpanmagazine.com/2013/04/bc-youth-receives-government-honour/

Indo-Canadian Youngster Gets Government Honours

http://www.vancouverdesi.com/news/teen-embraces-vaisakhi-spirit-and-does-something-tangible/536624/

Jordan Sidoo

A new generation of philanthropists is on the rise and David and Manjy Sidoo’s son Jordan is becoming recognized as a “youth leader” among them. He recently received a letter of appreciation from Hamish Jenkinson, the UK Chairman of “Free the Children”, the world’s largest youth-driven charity.  Jordan was instrumental in connecting his peers and classmates to the Free the Children organization and acted in the role of “We Day Ambassador” to assist Mr. Jenkinson in his visit to Vancouver last October.

Read more about Jordan’s involvement in the 2012 We Day event in Vancouver here.

Sidoo Family Giving – David Sidoo and Manjy Sidoo
www.sidoofamilygiving.com
Sidoo Family Giving Facebook Page
Twitter.com/David_Sidoo

David Sidoo Family Giving Donation to Arts Umbrella

On Monday, September 17, 2012, David and Manjy Sidoo of Sidoo Family Giving attended the Arts Umbrella Surrey Centre Launch as special guests for their generous $20,000 donation to the program.

The Arts Umbrella program provides the highest quality visual and performing arts education to Metro Vancouver children and youth, regardless of their financial circumstances. For more than 33 years, Arts Umbrella operated from Granville Island; in January 2012, Arts Umbrella opened a new permanent facility in South Surrey; and in September 2012, Arts Umbrella opened their Surrey Centre facility. More than 30,000 children have been touched by Arts Umbrella programs.

The new Surrey Centre facility will enable the Arts Umbrella to deliver more arts programs to children and youth in the Surrey area.

David Sidoo, delighted to be in attendance and share the Sidoo Family Giving vision, spoke to event attendees and presented a $20K cheque to the Arts Umbrella organizers.

Video highlights here

Sidoo Family Giving – David Sidoo and Manjy Sidoo
www.sidoofamilygiving.com
Sidoo Family Giving Facebook Page
Twitter.com/David_Sidoo

2012 SFG Scholarship Awarded to NWSS Senior Nick Adomat

Sending heartfelt congratulations to New Westminster Secondary School (NWSS) senior Nick Adomat, recent recipient of the annual Sidoo Family Giving award!

The $1500 SFG Scholarship is awarded to the NWSS graduating senior football player who demonstrates academic and athletic achievement, as well as leadership and perseverance. David and Manjy Sidoo established the scholarship with the goal of helping student athletes who may not otherwise be able to afford to attend university.

NWSS Football Program Head Coach, Farhan Lalji, comments on Nick’s contributions to the team, “On the field, Nick graded out as our best linemen this season as he rarely missed an assignment. He was a tremendous leader and in many respects was like having another coach on the field. He respectfully and positively forces us as coaches to constantly consider different methods for developing our program.”

Coach Lalji continues, “Nick was recently selected as our program’s scholar-athlete and received the Sidoo Family Scholarship for his athletic and academic achievement, perseverance and citizenship. He was also recognized provincially, earning one of nine BCSSFA scholarships for similar criteria to the above award.”

Off the field, Nick excelled in academics, earning a 93% average in a full academic International Baccalaureate courseload in his senior year. In the community, Nick tutors at-risk kids, reads to elementary school children, assists with senior citizens, participates in environmental clean up, helps with Hyack Festival Association events, and many other activities that the NWSS football program is involved with throughout the city of New Westminster.

Sidoo Family Giving is proud to contribute to Nick’s future education as he attends McGill University in September 2012.

Congratulations Nick!

Sidoo Family Giving – David Sidoo and Manjy Sidoo
www.sidoofamilygiving.com
Sidoo Family Giving Facebook Page
Twitter.com/David_Sidoo

David and Manjy Sidoo with Grammy-award winning R&B artist Jennifer Hudson

On April 21, 2012, David and Manjy Sidoo of Sidoo Family Giving watched the power of their dream unfold as the Overture Aida event, which they partnered with the Vancouver Opera to create, blossomed into a wildly successful and truly memorable fundraising event.

The fundraiser took place at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and included a catered dinner by the Four Seasons Hotel that was served to attendees on the stage of Vancouver Opera’s presentation of Aida. Special performances by spoken word artist Shane Koyczan and Grammy-award winning R&B artist Jennifer Hudson were evening highlights at the sold-out event.

Funds were raised through ticket sales and both silent and live auctions each with an extensive array of items up for grabs, including a private-jet flight trip for 10 to the 2013 Superbowl in New Orleans.

Manjy Sidoo, who had served on the Vancouver Opera’s Board for five years, and David Sidoo were delighted with the event’s outcome. “Since this was her last year as a board member, both Manjy and I decided that we would put our best foot forward and do what we can for the opera,” said David.

By any standards the event was a great success as at the end of the night, more than $1.2 million were raised to support the Vancouver Opera and its youth programs in British Columbia.

Sidoo Family Giving – David Sidoo and Manjy Sidoo
www.sidoofamilygiving.com
Sidoo Family Giving Facebook Page
Twitter.com/David_Sidoo