The Sidoo Family Giving Foundation (SFGF) continues to make a meaningful impact in the community, bringing people together through the power of sports, music, and philanthropy. Recently, SFGF proudly supported Canuck Country Rocks, an event dedicated to raising funds and awareness for youth empowerment programs across Vancouver. This inspiring story was originally featured on Yahoo Finance, a leading global financial news platform, further amplifying the foundation’s commitment to youth development and community support.

A Night of Music & Giving Back

Hosted in partnership with Canucks Alumni, Rick Hansen Foundation, and Canuck Country Rocks, the event celebrated the intersection of sports, music, and charitable giving. Through this initiative, SFGF helped provide critical funding for grassroots sports programs, ensuring that young athletes have the resources, mentorship, and opportunities needed to succeed.

David Sidoo, founder of SFGF, emphasized the foundation’s long-standing commitment to youth development. “Investing in our youth means investing in the future of our community. Events like Canuck Country Rocks bring people together for a common purpose—to support the next generation through sports, mentorship, and education.”

Building Stronger Communities

The Sidoo Family Giving Foundation has long been committed to uplifting communities through various initiatives, including:

• Scholarships & Athletic Development Programs – Providing young athletes with financial support to pursue higher education and elite training opportunities.
• Grassroots Sports Support – Ensuring accessibility to sports by funding local teams, camps, and mentorship programs.
• Community Engagement & Philanthropy – Partnering with organizations that share the vision of empowering youth through leadership, discipline, and teamwork.

Yahoo Finance & Global Recognition

The original article, published on Yahoo Finance, highlights the far-reaching impact of SFGF’s work. Being featured on such a well-respected financial news platform helps bring national and international attention to the foundation’s efforts in youth empowerment. This recognition reinforces the importance of investing in young athletes and future leaders through sports, mentorship, and community-driven initiatives.

Join Us in Making a Difference

Through events like Canuck Country Rocks, the Sidoo Family Giving Foundation continues to inspire and uplift young athletes and leaders. With every initiative, the foundation reaffirms its mission to create lasting change in the lives of youth across British Columbia and beyond.

Read the original Yahoo Finance article here: Yahoo Finance
Learn more about our impact: SidooFamilyGiving.com

By supporting youth programs and sports initiatives, we can make a lasting difference in our communities. Join us in our mission to empower the next generation!

Vancouver, BC – The JCC Sports Dinner brought together sports legends, community leaders, and philanthropists for an unforgettable evening of inspiration and impact. Among those championing this incredible initiative were David Sidoo and the Sidoo Family Giving Foundation, whose dedication to empowering youth and strengthening communities shined throughout the night.

The JCC Sports Dinner, renowned for celebrating athletic excellence and raising funds for vital community programs, delivered yet another powerful message: the transformative power of sports and giving back. The event’s mission to support the Jewish Community Centre’s youth and family programs resonated deeply with the Sidoo Family Giving Foundation’s core values of education, opportunity, and community upliftment.

“It’s inspiring to see our community come together to support youth programs and create opportunities for the next generation,” said David Sidoo. “This event not only celebrates the achievements of incredible athletes but also demonstrates how powerful it is when we rally together for a cause greater than ourselves.”

Adding to the inspiration of the evening, NFL legend Richard Sherman spoke passionately about the importance of community support and investing in grassroots initiatives. “When we uplift our communities and invest in our youth, we create lasting change. It starts at the grassroots level, and events like this show what’s possible when we come together,” Sherman shared.

The evening featured heartfelt stories of perseverance, keynote speeches from sports icons, and a powerful reminder that the spirit of giving is as impactful as any victory on the field. The funds raised will help expand programs that nurture young minds, build healthy lifestyles, and support families in need.

David Sidoo and the Sidoo Family Giving Foundation’s involvement in the JCC Sports Dinner is a testament to their unwavering commitment to creating lasting change. Their support ensures that more young people will have access to opportunities that inspire growth, learning, and hope.

As the night came to a close, the energy in the room remained electric—a reminder that when community champions like David Sidoo and organizations like the JCC join forces, anything is possible. It was more than just a dinner; it was a movement of compassion, vision, and boundless possibility.

Sidoo Family Giving is proud to be supporters of the Kids Play Foundation. It is a wonderful organization helping kids enjoy sports of all kinds. Thank you to Kal Dosanjh for making this wonderful Foundation happen!

With 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.

In 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.”

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.

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

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

On September 24, 2014 David Sidoo learned that he would be inducted into the BC Football Hall of Fame as this year’s recipient of the prestigious CFL Bob Ackles Award.  Sponsored by the CFL, the Bob Ackles Award is given annually for outstanding contribution to Canadian Football.

Bob Ackles was the founder of the BC Football Hall of Fame and had devoted more than 50 years of his life to football in British Columbia before he died in 2008. The highly revered and decorated champion for football in BC dreamt of creating the BC Football Hall of Fame as a legacy to honour football heroes past, present and future.

“The vision of the British Columbia Football Hall of Fame is to recognize individuals who positively influence the sport of football in British Columbia, and to honour football heroes past and present.”

David and the fifteen other inductees in categories including Athlete, Builder, Pioneer, Team, Media and Special Award will be officially inducted in a private ceremony on October 11, 2014. Fans will have a chance to salute the entire 2014 Class that same night as part of the Amateur Football halftime at the BC Lions vs. Ottawa Redblacks game at BC Place Stadium.

This is David’s second induction into the BC Football Hall of Fame. In 2012, David was inducted as part of the legendary 1982 UBC Thunderbirds Football team.

For more information about Bob Ackles, the BC Football Hall of Fame and the 2014 class of inductees, visit bcfootballhalloffame.com

Congratulations, David!

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!