Did you know?

More than 100 young leaders have graduated from the Youth Now program.

Each year, over 100 non-profit professionals attend our training opportunities.

Over two dozen non-profit organizations have participated in the Youth Now program.

The CCRR provides nearly 400 child care referrals per year.

On average, the CCRR hosts 30 workshops and training courses each year.

Every year, over 500 child care providers and parents attend CCRR training opportunities.

Every year, RCRG completes over 3,000 grocery orders for local seniors.

Nearly 300 seniors make use of our Better at Home services.

Our volunteer drivers complete more than 1,200 trips annually.

At least 350 people per year find a volunteer position using our Volunteer Match program.

Close to 500 volunteers support RCRG’s programs and services.

Volunteers contribute nearly 23,000 hours to our organization each year.

Each holiday season, the Richmond Christmas Fund helps more than 2,200 low-income residents.

Every year, the Christmas Fund provides over 600 children with toys, books, and sports equipment.

The Richmond Christmas Fund was first started by Ethel Tibbits, in the 1930s.

The number of Neighbourhood Small Grants we’ve awarded has increased every year since 2014.

Block parties are the most popular type of Neighbourhood Small Grant project.

Every year, the Richmond Women’s Resource Centre serves over 7,300 local women.

The Richmond Women’s Resource Centre currently offers 16 programs and services.

Nearly 60 volunteers support the Richmond Women’s Resource Centre, contributing nearly 2,500 hours per year.

Richmond is home to over 350 registered charities, all of which rely on volunteer support.

There are nearly 13 million volunteers across Canada.

International Volunteer Day is celebrated throughout the world on December 5.

There are 35 volunteer centres in British Columbia.

In 2016, the Foundation awarded 10 grants to non-profit organizations, worth a combined $59,000.

The Foundation manages $6 million in 60 Forever Funds, returning, on average, CPI plus 4%.

Between 2020 and 2022, the Foundation distributed $656,000 in grants, scholarships, charitable disbursements, and Emergency Community Support Funds.

Foundation activities result in the enhancement of our community and residents’ sense of belonging.

ROCA has raised over $21,000 for local charities.

ROCA has performed its Elementary School Concert Series to over 8,000 students.

ROCA provides mentoring and life changing opportunities for aspiring musicians.

The Richmond Arts Coalition was founded in November of 2005.

RAC co-produces the ArtRich exhibition every two years!

RAC highlights Richmond's arts events in a monthly email.

The Richmond Music School is the oldest not-for-profit music school in Richmond.

The Richmond Music School offers affordable music lessons through its diverse programming.

Our students performed 40 hours of music to welcome the Olympic athletes to the 2010 Olympic Games.

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Every Story Matters

Published March 16, 2022

The final entry in this year's Youth Now blog series comes courtesy of Sadaf Sediqi, who's serving as a board member with Richmond Addiction Services.

Sadaf's Youth Now experience has been enhanced by the relationships she's built along the way, both with her fellow youth leaders and her board mentors.

Originally from Afghanistan, Sadaf recognizes the power of individual stories. Our life experiences help shape who we are, and give us each a unique perspective on the world. As Sadaf evolves as a community leader, she hopes that her story - one that's still being written - will inspire others to find passion and purpose in their lives.

Of course, it's a reciprocal relationship. For Sadaf, the Youth Now program is an opportunity to share her story, but it's also a chance to learn from her peers and mentors. Their perspectives are different from hers, which makes them valuable. She'll no doubt find something in each of them that broadens and enriches her own view of the world.

“You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him discover it within himself.” — Galileo Galilei

My name is Sadaf Sediqi, and I am proudly participating in this year’s Youth Now program, hosted by Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives.

Through this program, I am also thrilled to be part of an organization that dedicates its mission to the well-being of everyone in our community, and the implementation of compassionate and accessible support for individuals: Richmond Addiction Services.

I started volunteering at a young age. One thing I've come to know when volunteering for a community in need is that every leader has a story. The background of who they are and how they came to be is powerful in bringing unique perspectives into the organization.

For me, it was a deep appreciation for all the role models I had growing up. Simple insights into why mentors do what they do, and how small actions can lead to large impacts, made me realize that channeling your inner energy into a cause or sector will ultimately lead to a purposeful and rewarding connection that continues to give.

Therefore, joining Youth Now was straightforward for me. I value impactful relationships
because we can learn so much from one another. This was evident in our mentor-mentee roles. We received new perspectives to a challenge and a helping hand as incoming board members.

Another highlight was the opportunity to network with other leaders in the program, and develop meaningful connections with like-minded peers. Together, we've attended and participated in numerous Youth Now conferences, projects, and networking events.

In addition to the program, being a board member allowed me to further educate myself on topics that I otherwise wouldn't have looked into. Becoming equipped with this knowledge and skill set is pivotal for addressing assumptions and stigma held in our daily lives, and helps to encourage personal and communal growth.

Lastly, I would like to thank Richmond Cares, Richmond Gives for the opportunity to participate as a Youth Now Leader and for fostering connections between community leaders.

I’d also like to thank my board at Richmond Addiction Services for providing an inclusive and innovative environment for the well-being of the community, and for being the catalyst of a better future.