Supporting Our Communities Through        
Time, Talent and Treasure
 

Jordan Sidoo and Dylan Sidoo Founders & Directors of The Breakfast Club of BC

Jordan Sidoo

Dylan SidooIn British Columbia, 1 in 5 children is at risk of starting the school day without breakfast. According to teachers, children that come to school hungry are unable to concentrate, more lethargic, and more disruptive than their peers, causing them to lose 1 to 2 hours of valuable learning time every day.

Furthermore, food insecurity and poor nutrition in children increases their risk of developing chronic illnesses and mental health problems.

The Breakfast Club of BC strives to combat food insecurity and promote health and learning by implementing community-based breakfast programs in underserved elementary schools. By providing funding, kitchen equipment, training, and management tools, we endeavour to eradicate hunger among the province’s most vulnerable children.

May 7, 2019 Vancouver Sun Article: Adopt-A-School campaign raises record funds for B.C. kids

Dylan Sidoo and Jordan Sidoo – Leading Sidoo Family Giving’s Partnership with Warren Moon and the Crescent Moon Foundation

Jordan Sidoo and Dylan Sidoo

Jordan Sidoo, Warren Moon, & Dylan Sidoo

On July 23rd, 2015 Jordan and Dylan Sidoo joined Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and nine-time Pro Bowl selection Warren Moon on the mound at Angels’ Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Sidoo brothers were celebrating this year’s Crescent Moon Foundation Scholarship award winners and the recently formed partnership between Sidoo Family Giving and the Crescent Moon Foundation.

Jordan and Dylan, who head up Sidoo Family Giving, have always been deeply committed to help enhance the lives of those less fortunate in their home town of Vancouver, BC, Canada. They come by it honestly, as their parents, David and Manjy Sidoo, have set a strong example of community leadership and stewardship through their many philanthropic endeavors in their Lower Mainland community.

Their strong sense of obligation to give back to their community in Canada has grown international wings as the brothers have led the charge in partnering with the Crescent Moon Foundation to help youth in America as well.

Jordan Sidoo, Dylan Sidoo

The Crescent Moon Foundation Scholarship Award Winners, Jordan Sidoo, Dylan Sidoo and Warren Moon.

The Crescent Moon Foundation is a logical strategic partner for Sidoo Family Giving, as both organizations share a very similar mission:

Established in 1989, the Crescent Moon Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support for educational pursuits that will benefit children most in need who have displayed a commitment to their community, as well as other charitable causes. As part of the Crescent Moon Foundation’s mission, the Rising Moon Scholarship Program awards ten scholarships of up to $5,000 annually to students that demonstrate a commitment to their community, excel in leadership and academics, and who are in need.

“My mother taught me at a young age the importance of giving back,” said Moon, a Los Angeles native and Washington Huskies alum. “Unfortunately, not all kids today have someone guiding them or providing them with the means for success. It is my sincere hope the Crescent Moon Foundation can assist in that regard.”

For more information on the Crescent Moon Foundation: http://www.crescentmoonfoundation.org/

Additional photos of the California event can be seen at the Crescent Moon Foundation Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HWarrenMoon1

 

David Sidoo Awarded 2016 Order of British Columbia

On July 26th, 2016, David Sidoo was one of a group of 16 outstanding civic leaders who received the highest honour awarded in the Province of British Columbia – the Order of B.C.

david sidoo

The following details the Province of British Columbia government website explain the origins and significance of the coveted and highly regarded award:

Established in 1989 by statute, the Order of British Columbia recognizes those persons who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in any field of endeavour, benefiting the people of the Province or elsewhere. It represents the highest form of recognition the Province can extend to its citizens. Appointments to the order are made annually to the most outstanding British Columbians possessing these qualifications. Citizens of the Province are invited to participate in this ongoing process by nominating persons whom they feel are worthy of this acknowledgement and honour.

The Insignia of the Order of British Columbia is in the form of a medal. The medal depicts a stylistic dogwood (the floral emblem of B.C.) and features a crowned shield of arms. It is worn with a green, gold, white and blue ribbon.

David received the award in the presence of family, friends and numerous distinguished guests. According to the Province of British Columbia’s July 26, 2016 press release, Lt-Gov. Judith Guichon and Premier Christy Clark addressed the group:

“For 27 years, the Order of British Columbia has recognized exceptional individuals whose hard work, generosity of spirit and outstanding achievements have contributed immeasurably to the wellbeing of our communities,” Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon said. “I extend my congratulations to this year’s recipients and thank them for inspiring all of us with their efforts to build a healthy, diverse and inclusive province for generations to come.”

“British Columbia’s greatest strength is British Columbians – people who use their talents and passions to make a difference both here at home and, in many cases, around the world,” Premier Christy Clark said. “On behalf of all British Columbians, I want to thank this year’s recipients for their dedication, and everything they do to make B.C. a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.”

Without a doubt, David Sidoo’s efforts in many facets of Lower Mainland communities contributes to making B.C. a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.

Congratulations, David!

david sidoo

Dylan Sidoo, Jordan Sidoo, David and Manjy Sidoo Support Old Yale Elementary School’s Emergency Weekend Food Fund

David-Sidoo-feeding-the-poor5-300x169With the recent school year coming to a close, David, Manjy, Dylan Sidoo and Jordan Sidoo recently received a heartfelt thank you for their significant contribution to the Weekend Food Program that has been supporting 17 vulnerable, low income and highly at-risk families with children attending Old Yale Road Elementary School in Surrey.

20% of the families of children attending the school are defined as low income and many students arrive at school with little or no food. The reality for many of these children is that they have little access to nutritious food at home. Though the Food Bank does provide a resource for families, often it is not enough or the families are unable or unwilling to access those resources.

sidooIn order to support those families in need, Old Yale Road Elementary started an Emergency Weekend Food Fund to provide emergency non-perishable food items to those most in need and in times of crisis.

For the Pilot Project 17 families were selected based on who would benefit the most and who was in the greatest need. Each Friday they would attend the school to receive two huge bags of groceries to carry them through the weekend. In the case of a few families who were unable to attend the school, some of the school staff would deliver the food to their homes to ensure that they were taken care of.

With the support of David, Manjy and Jordan Sidoo, the Emergency Weekend Food Fund has provided Old Yale Elementary with the “realization…that anything is possible, and that (they) are more than just a school; (they) are a community.”

David Sidoo to Receive BC’s Highest Honour

davidsidoo_UBC_Football_Academic_Centre_OPens_frid_146Along with 15 other civic leaders in the Province, David Sidoo will be appointed to the Order of British Columbia on July 26, 2016. This year more than 215 British Columbians were nominated for the Order of B.C. and just 16 were selected by the seven-member independent advisory committee.

According to the Province of British Columbia’s June 14, 2016 press release,

“British Columbia’s greatest strength is British Columbians – people who use their talents and passions to make a difference both here at home and, in many cases, around the world,” Premier Christy Clark said. “On behalf of all British Columbians, I want to thank this year’s recipients for their dedication, and everything they do to make B.C. a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.”

Further, the Province of BC released the following statement to explain why Sidoo will be appointed the award:

 “Sporting legend and successful investment banker David Sidoo has leveraged his success to become a leading philanthropist and a catalyst for improving the lives of many British Columbians through his support of many programs.He has been most impactful in making a difference in the lives of youth all across British Columbia.  David and his wife, Manjy, started Sidoo Family Giving, an organization actively involved in the community for the betterment of families and at-risk youth of all ages, specifically supporting children’s breakfast programs, children’s cancer research, mentoring programs, teenage sports programs and community scholarships. Additionally the Sidoo Family Athletics Endowment is the largest of its kind at UBC.”

 For more information, please read the Province of BC’s press release and the article on the UBC Thunderbirds website.

 Congratulations, David!

David Sidoo and Manjy Sidoo Supporting and Working with the KSF

PRESS RELEASE

Applications open for KSF: Artists of Choice Awards 2016

The KSF has announced the launch of this year’s KSF Artists of Choice Awards, their flagship funding and mentoring initiative for emerging artists in the genres of Theatre, Dance, Film and Musical Theatre. Applications are open to artists resident in the UK, USA; and for the first time this year, Canada made possible by a partnership with KSF and Manjy and David Sidoo and the support of The Sidoo Family Giving Foundation.

KSF Artists of Choice Awards will be made to four UK-based, four US-based and four Canada-based artists or companies, each will receive up to £10,000 or $10,000 in funding, year-round in-kind support from KSF and an industry mentor.

2015 UK recipient Robby Graham of Southpaw Dance Company said of the Awards, “It isn’t just a pot of money, it is more importantly a package of support tailored by people who are passionate about artistic development and who believe in your work.”

Applications are open now on the KSF website closing on Friday 4 March 2016. Applicants will then be shortlisted and in-person interviews with an industry panel will take place in early May 2016. The Awards are open to emerging artists in Theatre, Dance, Film or Musical Theatre who have an exciting, creative and unique project. Those applying will also be required to provide an industry referee that knows their work as well as examples of previous projects or reviews.

Founder of KSF said:

“Last year’s recipients have proven to be accomplished artists and have benefitted hugely from the support of my foundation and their individual mentors. I’m very much looking forward to reviewing this year’s applications and seeing what creativity comes our way from Canada as well as the UK and USA.”

Steve Winter, Executive/Creative Director of KSF, said:

“It has been massively satisfying to not only see the work develop but also the relationships between the artists we’ve supported. I know they have been inspired by each other and the commitment they’ve shown to developing their craft. I feel certain this year’s applicants will be just as enthusiastic and inventive with their project applications.”

Manjy and David Sidoo, Founders of the Sidoo Family Giving, said:

“We are pleased to be supporting and working with the KSF and supporting the arts in Canada. We are excited to see this year’s applicants from Canada.”

A panel of respected creatives will help select the recipients. Last year’s panel included film director Andrew Haigh (Weekend), Head of BBC Films Christine Langan, Director of Europe for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Carola Ash, Atlantic Theater’s Artistic Director Neil Pepe, American Ballet Theater’s Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, actor Cush Jumbo (The Good Wife), theatre director Jamie Lloyd, actress and singer Laura- Michelle Kelly (Finding Neverland), English National Ballet’s Tamara Rojo, actress and singer Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple), musical director Ted Sperling and choreographer Wayne McGregor,

The Foundation launched the KSF Artists of Choice Awards in 2015 receiving over 1,200 applications. Awards were made to nine emerging artists. With the expansion of the award to Canada the Foundation hopes to build on its previous success, highlighting the rich diversity of talent there. Previous recipients of the KSF Artists of Choice Awards include:

DANCE USA: Stefanie Batten Bland of Company SBB. The company presented their work Patient(ce) at Harlem Stage, New York, last year. The piece introduced crowds to a performance that examined the critical relationship that the musical, physical and visual arts have with space and time.

THEATER (USA): Ghazi Albuliwi of West Bank Brooklyn Productions. His production of Highly Suspect debuted in December 2015 in New York starring the Obie award-winning actor John Douglas Thompson. The New Group and director Ian Morgan mentored the project.

FILM (USA): India Dupré. Stripped is a true story of family survival, matriarchal sacrifice and forgiveness. In 1979, after being lured to Australia with the promise of a better life and having her three young British children placed in work camps as part of a “Keep Australia White” scheme, a shy yet determined mother becomes a stripper to survive, kidnapping her children back and fleeing across Australia.

MUSICAL THEATER (USA): New York based artists John McGrew, Jonathan Karpinos and Joseph Varca are focused on developing new works exploring the intersection of storytelling and music. The Village of Vale is an original gothic fairytale told through music, art, the written word and performance. Four actors and an eight-person live band create the stories of villagers and strangers in Vale.

DANCE (UK): Robby Graham of Southpaw Dance Company. The company will debut their work Speakeasy at Dance City, Newcastle in March 2016. The piece is a modern interpretation of the classic tale ‘Faust’ featuring Breaking, Charleston and Lindy.

THEATRE (UK): Cressida Brown of Offstage Theatre. Re:Home focuses on the effect of austerity, regeneration, and the Olympics on the residents of the Beaumont Estate, East London; and is a sequel to their first play Home. Re:Home debuted at The Yard, London in February 2016.

FILM (UK): Michael Van Der Put of Broken Hearted Youth. Played out on a five-a-side football pitch Rage explores political anger and apathy felt in the aftermath of the London riots. The project will complete it’s filming later this year.

MUSICAL THEATRE (UK): Writer Chris Bush and Composer Matt Winkworth are developing a new work written in faux- verbatim style. The musical examines the events following the assassination of a controversial public figure.

Timeline:

  • Applications open: Now
  • Applications close: Friday 4 March 2016
  • Interviews: Monday 2 – Monday 9 May 2016
  • Awards Made: Early June 2016

Notes to Editors:


Contact: Steve Winter

 

ABOUT KSF

The purpose of KSF is to discover, train, fund and mentor emerging artists in drama, dance, music, and film as well as developing life enhancing theatre-in-education projects across the globe, in line with its vision statement to: ‘Send the elevator back down’.

KSF’s recipients are those seeking a career in the performing arts and film predominately – but not limited to – secondary school children, further and continuing education students, undergraduates (freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors), post graduates, graduates or those without formal education but the talent and drive to succeed.

Jordan Sidoo Raises $6500 for Breakfast Club Program

Jordan SidooIn late 2013, while Jordan Sidoo was still attending St George’s School in Vancouver, he started an online fundraising program selling pen-and-pencil sets to raise money to support the Breakfast Club program at Queen Alexandra elementary school. Although Jordan relocated to California to attend University of California, Berkeley, this year, he continued to run the fundraising program online and on December 11, 2014 attended the school to hand-deliver a cheque for $6500.

The Sidoo family has been supporting The Vancouver Sun Children’s Fun Adopt-A-School program for two years and Jordan has been actively involved along with his parents David and Manjy.

Jordan says he had a privileged life, so helping pay for breakfast for needy children “is the least I can do.”

“There’s no reason why other (privileged) people shouldn’t be getting involved. I know there are lots of people who could do this but it doesn’t seem to cross their minds.”

“Maybe if we can get the word out, it will inspire others.”

To help Jordan fundraise to support the Breakfast Club program, visit breakfast-club.ca and to support The Vancouver Sun Children’s Fund Adopt-A-School program, visit vansunkidsfund.ca.

Read more about Jordan’s cheque presentation at Quee Alexandra elementary here.

 

 

Manjy & David Sidoo Among Top South Asians Honoured at 100 Year Journey Gala

david sidoo

David Sidoo Honoured at 100 Year Journey Gala

On October 3rd, 2015 David and Manjy Sidoo were honoured to attend the 2nd annual 100 Year Journey gala at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver. More than 500 of the greater Vancouver area’s community leaders from political, business and social sectors were in attendance, with partial proceeds from the event going to support a reprint of the 100 Year Journey book for distribution to schools throughout BC and to support the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation.

The event, which was hosted by the former publishers of Mehfil Magazine, is intended to honour South Asian pioneers and navigators in Canada.

The 100 Year Journey Project was established in 2014 by Rana Vig, the former publisher of Mehfil Magazine, to celebrate South Asian pioneers in Canada. A website and book of the same name book share and immortalize their stories as a timeless resource that contributes to the preservation of South Asian heritage and history that does not currently exist in Canadian textbooks. The publication has been approved for use in several school districts in British Columbia, and the publisher plans to expand its reach across the country.

David Sidoo

The 2nd annual 100 Year Journey gala at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel

For more information visit 100yearjourney.com

David Sidoo Named in UBC Education’s Year of Alumni 100

David Sidoo

David Sidoo Named in UBC Education’s Year of Alumni 100

On September 30, 2015, UBC celebrates its 100th year and in line with the centennial the Faculty of Education has announced its Year of Alumni initiative. From September 2015 through August 2016, the Faculty “will recognize the achievements of 100 outstanding and diverse alumni.”

We are delighted to share that David Sidoo has been named as one of the 100 alumni to be highlighted throughout the year. The announcement has already been made on the UBC website.

View David’s Year of Alumni 100 profile on the UBC website here.

Jordan Sidoo Awarded Michael Cuccione Foundation’s 2015 “Leader of Tomorrow” Scholarship

Jordan Sidoo

Jordan Sidoo Receives Michael Cuccione Foundation’s 2015 “Leader of Tomorrow” Scholarship

For the past several years, Jordan Sidoo has dedicated considerable time and effort to a fundraising cause that is very dear to his heart – breakfast programs in elementary and secondary schools in the New Westminster and Vancouver areas of BC. Jordan has raised and donated thousands of dollars to support breakfast clubs in the schools and ensure that children start the day with a nutritious breakfast.

Jordan says he had a privileged life, so helping pay for breakfast for needy children “is the least I can do.”

Domenic and Gloria Cuccione of the Michael Cuccione Foundation recognized Jordan’s efforts and on July 20th, 2015 at the reception for the 5th Annual MOJ’s Whistler Shootout Golf Tournament, present Jordan the “ Leader of Tomorrow” Scholarship Award for his positive outlook and unyielding drive to succeed in the face of adversity.

Since 1997 the Michael Cuccione Foundation has been raising research dollars to help find the cure for cancer. Michael James Cuccione was born on January 5th 1985 in Burnaby, British Columbia and was blessed with many talents: he was a singer, songwriter, a dancer, actor, and motivational speaker and became a dedicated crusader for the fight against childhood cancer. He once described his life as almost perfect with a loving family: father Domenic, mother Gloria, his sister Sophia and younger brother Steve.

Jordan Sidoo

Michael Cuccione Foundation’s 2015 “Leader of Tomorrow” Scholarship

Michael fought a personal battle against childhood cancer and from the beginning declared he wanted to make a difference. He wrote his own songs that would give people hope and help raise funds for childhood cancer research, produced his own CD and called it “Make A Difference”, and by the age of eleven years old he raised $130,000 in CD sales. A meeting was set up with the President at BC Children’s Hospital and when Michael sat down he was asked, “What do you want to do with the money you have raised?” Michael said, “I want to fund the young researchers because if we don’t we won’t have them in the future”. The President almost fell off her chair with the incredible insight. This is how the Michael Cuccione Foundation began.

Although Michael won his battle with this disease, he passed away at the tender age of 16 due to respiratory complications; however, he continues to “Make A Difference” through the legacy of his foundation.

For more information about the Michael Cuccione Foundation visit www.michaelcuccione.biz/?user=GD