Congratulations to Emerson Bauer who is the recipient of the Sidoo Family Giving scholarship!  

My Son Jordan Sidoo, who is a passionate soccer fan and former student athlete, and I are very excited to continue to support young student athletes, who have special talents, reach their potential and ultimate dream. Emerson will be able to display his talent in the UK for all to see. Good luck to him and the Supra team.  

“We continue to support those young student athletes that are very talented but unable to afford to go on life changing trips. Experiences like this” 

– David Sidoo

In 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.

David Sidoo Honoured at 100 Year Journey Gala

On October 3^rd, 2015 David and Manjy Sidoo were honoured to attend the 2^nd 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.

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

For more information visit 100yearjourney.com

David and Manjy Sidoo’s eldest son, Dylan Sidoo, recently contributed $5000 to support the Vancouver Police Department’s Police Athletic League (PAL) program that provides opportunities for disadvantaged youth to participate in organized athletic events.

The Police Athletic League creates an environment for youth from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to learn and develop sportsmanship, teamwork and leadership skills. The community-oriented programs provide positive peer interactions, opportunities to develop problem-solving skills and exposure to supportive adult role models.

The PAL program is run by a member of the Vancouver Police Department and has a number of events scheduled for 2015, including a large-scale wrestling and weightlifting competition for provincial, national and international competitors; soccer tournaments; indoor basketball tournament; and a field hockey tournament.

Dylan’s contribution to the events will help to provide monetary awards, trophies, equipment and manpower to run each tournament. More than 2000 youth will be positively impacted by these events.

We wish the very best to everyone involved in the Vancouver Police Department’s long standing and valuable PAL program!

See media coverage of this donation here

Jordan Sidoo Wins The Province Newspaper’s 2014 Head of the Class Adversity Award

Jordan Sidoo’s passion for giving back to his community has become more and more evident as he continues to develop into an admirable young man. On this website we have focused often on his drive and determination to ensure that local children have food in their bellies and safe places to play while at school. Jordan has always been very humble about his accomplishments and prefers to maintain focus on those whom he strives to support.

For that reason it may come as a surprise then to learn that Jordan faced enormous physical challenges from the moment he was born. From an early age Jordan showed incredible grit and determination to overcome those challenges and become a respected competitor in the athletics program at St George’s School that will soon lead to further competition at the NCAA level.

Jordan’s perseverance and grit were evident to those around him and earlier this year he was nominated for The Province newspaper’s Head of the Class Adversity Award. After two weeks of voting wrapped up last month, the results were announced today: Jordan won!

As part of the awards announcement, Jordan’s in-depth profile was published in The Province’s online sports blog today, revealing from his perspective the challenges he faced as an athlete in his youth. Jordan shared that he was born with the most severe case of club feet that the hospital had seen, and that he persevered through surgeries, braces and physio to not only recover, but to clock a 12 second 100m dash by the time he was 12. Through a series of events Jordan eventually was asked to become the cox for St George’s School rowing team. And after four years of excelling in that role, Jordan will be going to one of the NCAA’s top rowing programs at the University of California-Berkeley.

The Adversity Award is part of The Province’s annual Head of the Class section in which it highlights some of British Columbia’s most accomplished athletes. Each year the Head of the Class Reader’s Choice Awards accept nominations for Coach of the Year and for the Adversity Award. Nominees of the Adversity Award are Grade 12 students who, according to The Province, “were to have shown a positive attitude and determination in overcoming extraordinary personal challenges.”

Jordan Sidoo

This year’s four finalists, including Jordan, were chosen from those submissions by The Province editorial department. The Province then turned the voting over to its readership.

Jordan’s brief bio was posted on The Province Head of the Class website along with the other finalists for consideration by the public:

Jordan Sidoo – St. George’s School
Born with severe club feet, Sidoo of Vancouver’s St. George’s School, defied the odds of his doctors to excel at three sports. In 10th grade he broke his arm in three places playing basketball but has since rebounded, joining the school’s rowing team as a coxswain. Sidoo was recently accepted to join the rowing program at prestigious Cal-Berkeley, which annually resides near the top of the NCAA rankings.

After two weeks of open online voting, the numbers were tallied and the results announced today. Read the full story.

Congratulations on your accomplishment Jordan!

Sidoo Family Giving Sponsors Breakfast Club

On Monday May 14, 2012, David Sidoo and Manjy Sidoo joined a number of smiling young faces at the Strathcona Community Centre to present on behalf of Sidoo Family Giving a $20000 donation to the Breakfast Club programs offered there. The Vancouver Sun newspaper’s Adopt a School program matched the Sidoo Family Giving donation.

The breakfast program at Queen Alexandra School and Strathcona Community Centre feed a healthy breakfast 200 of Vancouver inner-city children – and family members if needed – who go to school in the morning with empty stomachs.

Sidoo Family Giving has already actively sponsored Breakfast Clubs at David Sidoo’s alma mater New Westminster Secondary School in New Westminster, BC. In late 2011, Manjy Sidoo read an article in the Vancouver Sun’s Adopt-a-School series that detailed Queen Alexandra School and its needs. “The story just spoke to me. The programs there are so important to maintain and I said to David ‘this is a school I want to help as well as Strathcona,” said Manjy.

In the 14 years that the breakfast program offered out of the Strathcona Community Centre has been running, the number of children being fed has almost tripled.

David Sidoo was initially shocked to learn that children in his own backyard are going to school without a nutritious – or any – meal in the morning. “We all need to know this. We have to keep it in our conscience…” said David.

It can make an incredible difference in a child’s life to have a nutritious meal each morning. And it’s David and Manjy Sidoo’s hope that others will follow their lead and take action to support local breakfast clubs in their backyard.

Sidoo Family Giving – David Sidoo and Manjy Sidoo

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/
http://thelinkpaper.ca/?p=28194
http://www.vancouverdesi.com/news/teen-embraces-vaisakhi-spirit-and-does-something-tangible/536624/