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

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.

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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/

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.

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On December 15^th, 2012, David and Manjy Sidoo and their two sons joined volunteers and members of the Association of South Asian Professionals (ASAP) in a Blanket Drive near Oppenheimer Park in the Downtown Eastside. The Sidoos and David Gadhia and family donated 300 blankets to the cause and were on hand to distribute them to those in need on that cold and rainy Vancouver day.

The Sidoo Family Giving manifesto is “Supporting our communities through time, talent and treasure.” With the line up of recipients stretching for blocks, the Sidoos and other ASAP volunteers saw clearly how much of an impact the Blanket Drive made on the lives of many in their community. “When you see such poverty you have to do something. After we’d handed out all the blankets and stuff we later saw a few guys sitting on a bench wrapped up in them and I told Jordan ‘take a look, that’s why we have to help,’” said David Sidoo.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Adopt+school+Lord+Selkirk+Annex+gets+playground/7738790/story.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3a+canwest%2fF229+(Vancouver+Sun+-+News)#ixzz2Fz4rHaPl

Read more about ASAP and the day’s event here and here.

The Sidoo Family and members of the Association of South Asian Professionals (ASAP) handing out blankets.

May this season find you wrapped in the warmth and love of those in your community!

David Sidoo and his family Manjy and son Jordan have responded to our Adopt a School story that the school needs $7,800 to erect a new playground at Lord Selkirk elementary school.

The Sidoo Family has worked together to give a lasting gift to 73 elementary school children at Lord Selkirk Annex in Vancouver.

Recently, the school board mandated that the school tear down an aging playground structure, which would leave children with just one plastic structure to play on.  The school had applied to the Vancouver Sun for a $7800 grant to erect used playground equipment from another school to replace the soon-to-be-removed set.

David and Manjy Sidoo have been strong supporters of the Adopt-a-School campaign and have a very deep focus on making a difference in the lives of children in their community. This belief is something that they are passing on to their children.

In a two-week period, David and Manjy’s son Jordan raised $4000 selling pen sets to support the replacement of Lord Selkirk’s playground. And as a member of the St George’s school service committee, Jordan has committed to rounding up other St Georges students to help dismantle the equipment for transfer to Lord Selkirk Annex.

Last week the Sidoo Family came forward to advise the school that they would cover the remaining cost of installing the equipment. “As a family we wanted to do something for Christmas and it’s really nice being able to help this school. The kids shouldn’t lose their playground,” said David Sidoo.

Read the full story here .

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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

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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!

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If you’ve been a follower of this site, you’ll likely know that David Sidoo is a proud UBC Thunderbirds alumnus and longtime fervent supporter of the football program.

David Sidoo’s memorable five-year football career with the Thunderbirds began in 1978, when the UBC team played in its first ever Vanier Cup. Over the years David set several records and earned many awards that made him a shining star in the league. The crowning glory came in 1982 when David helped captain UBC to win its first Vanier Cup under the coaching guidance of many, including head coach Frank Smith.

This past April, David Sidoo and many of his 1982 Vanier Cup-winning teammates gathered together in Vancouver to honor and celebrate the induction of former head coach Frank Smith into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame.

When asked for a few words about his former coach, David Sidoo, who was inducted into the UBC Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, said, “Frank was not only one of the best coaches in Canadian college football history, he was also a mentor to many of us. It’s easy to take many of the lessons Frank taught us and apply them to our everyday lives. He was much more than just a coach.”

For more information about Frank Smith’s life and illustrious coaching career, read this Vancouver Province newspaper article.

Congratulations, Frank!

Former UBC Football Head Coach & UBC Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Frank Smith with Several 1982 UBC Thunderbirds Team Members

1982 UBC Thunderbirds Football Team Vanier Cup Win

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