By Eudora Koh, Modern Mix Vancouver writer

One kind action leads to another.  That’s the message The World Kindness Concert is trying to promote, by uniting people through the powerful medium of music. The non-profit organization has been holding the Concert for the past 11 years, and has been attracting more audience with each year. In fact, this is the first time that the Concert will be held at The Centre For Performing Arts (777 Homer Street). This year, the Concert will be on Friday, November 4th.

The World Kindness Concert focuses on eliminating all things negative such as bullying, cruelty and abuse to humans, animals, and the environment, violence and suicide. We have all heard about or been exposed to negativity, hate, and bullying at some point or another, so it is so refreshing to hear about a group that is genuinely trying to promote kindness and kind acts, to make everyone’s day that much better. Proceeds from the Concert will be donated to anti-bullying programs and initiatives.

Aside from the message of kindness, love, and compassion, it’s impossible to over-look the top entertainment lineup that the World Kindness Concert has in store for audience. Some of the artists and performers include Dirty Radio, ABRA Cadabra, Shari Ulrich, The Vancouver Children’s Choir, Warren Dean Flandez (Finalist on ‘Cover Me Canada’), and so much more. Come enjoy a positive and energetic entertainment event that is sure to have you up on your feet and singing (and possibly even dancing!) along to the music. You will feel good too, knowing that you are participating in such a worthwhile cause that is so important to maintaining a happy and healthy world.

Click here to purchase tickets online to The World Kindness Concert.

This year’s Compassion into Action event will be held at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Wednesday September 28th between 8 am to 2 pm and is hosted by Nature’s Path, which is an organic foods company based out of Richmond, BC.  Bring a food bank donation to the north plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery and enjoy a tasty organic breakfast and live music!

This event in the last two years has raised over $300,000.00 in food and funds – that’s enough to feed 12,000 families in need!  Everyone is encouraged to stop by, enjoy a healthy organic breakfast and in exchange make a monetary or non-perishable food donation to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

EVENT UPDATE: Lots of food – different varieties of Nature’s Path cereal, organic milk, yogurt, organic donuts, Ethical bean coffee, etc. Photos from the event:

Donate $10 to $20 and get a re-useable tote bag. Donate $20+ and get a Compassion into Action T-Shirt.

Different types of cereal at the event. Works like a gumball machine - twist the knob and cereal comes out.

Play Plinko at the Vancity booth and win a cardboard piggy bank, basil seeds or a re-useable shopping bag.

Also ran into Ryan Kesler and Fin of the Vancouver Canucks. They were in downtown for a separate event - Raise a Reader.

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness month this October, Tic Tac Canada is donating $25,000 to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada and will be launching a limited edition Pink Grapefruit flavour. The Breast Cancer Society of Canada is a registered, national, not-for-profit, charitable organization dedicated to funding Canadian breast cancer research into the detection, prevention, treatment and to ultimately find a cure for the disease that women fear most. All month long, the Tic Tac Canada Facebook Page will be posting up pink-related promotions, giveaways and prizes. They’ve even designed a new Tic Tac character to represent their support for the cure!

As for the limited edition Pink Grapefruit Tic Tacs, they come in a “100 mint” 49g container which is almost 3x the usual size of Tic Tac boxes.  They are pink, fruity but end with an unusual minty aftertaste.  Pink Grapefruit Tic Tacs will be available in October at grocery and convenient store retailers across Canada, including London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart and 7-11.  To enter to win your own Pink Grapefruit Tic Tac prize pack, be sure to “Like” the Tic Tac Canada Facebook Page.

CONTEST: Win a Tic Tac Prize Pack from Tic Tac Canada with Pink Grapefruit Tic Tacs, buttons, t-shirts and stickers!  Comment below this blog post with who you’d share your Pink Grapefruit Tic Tacs with and why, if you won the Tic Tac prize pack.  Be sure to provide your email address so we can contact you if you are the winner.  3 winners will be chosen on October 30th.  Open to Canadian mailing addresses only.   GOOD LUCK!

The 4th Annual Vancouver Timeraiser is part volunteer fair, part silent art auction and part night on the town.  Artwork pieces are purchased from local artists from around the lower mainland and put up in a silent auction on the event night, happening this year at The Waldorf Hotel (1489 East Hastings).  The big twist is that, instead of bidding dollars on the artwork, you bid volunteer hours!  Throughout the evening, different “agencies” (aka. charity groups) will be at the event to assist you in matching your skills to their needs. If you have the winning bid you have 12 months to complete your pledge before bringing the artwork home as a reminder of your goodwill.

I went to Timeraiser last year year and had a really positive experience.   I was one of the lucky ones who tied for bidding the maximum amount of hours (125) on a piece by Vancouver-based Krig Krug, and went on to be the person who actually won the artwork.  (If multiple people bid the maximum amount of hours on a piece of artwork, a random draw is conducted).  I’m nearly finished my 125 hours of volunteering – I did most of my hours at the BCSPCA (event planning) and Theatre Under The Stars.  Come see for yourself – click here to purchase your tickets ($20) online.

Event Agenda for Timeraiser 2011:

• 7:00 pm Doors open
• 8:00 pm Volunteer matching begins
• 9:00 pm Silent Art Auction begins
• 10:00 pm Auction closes
• 10:30 pm Winners are announced

See below for a selection of the artwork that will be available to be bid on:

Click here for an event recap about Timeraiser 2010 at The Roundhouse in Yaletown.

If the first signs of spring isn’t in the Vancouver weather, maybe yellow daffodils will brighten up your day – for a good cause too!  The Daffodil Campaign was piloted in BC last year and due to the overwhelming success, the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) has launched the campaign nation-wide across Canada this April.  Whether it’s through our friends or families, everyone has a story about how cancer affects us. The CCS is asking Canadians to wear a daffodil pin to show people affected by cancer that they are not alone on their cancer journey.

As the largest charitable funder of cancer research in Canada; with more than 70 years experience fighting all cancers; and with over 20,000 volunteers across the province and Yukon Territory – the CCS reaches more people with more programs and impact than anyone else. For example, with programs for individuals seeking cancer information, emotional support and camps for children, youth and families. Transportation services and lodge accommodations are available along with limited, short-term financial assistance for treatment-related transportation and accommodation. Volunteers and staff deliver cancer support programs, cancer prevention information, advocate for healthier communities and fundraise for cancer research.

It takes courage to take on a fight with cancer. Help get our daffodil onto the lapels of British Columbians and the rest of Canada. Show those affected by cancer that they are not alone – we are fighting with them.  Daffodil pins will be available throughout Vancouver and across Canada and locations can be found on the Daffodil Campaign Map.

Twitter: @cancersocietybc
Facebook: Canadian Cancer Society BCY

The BC SPCA’s annual Spay-Ghetti and No Balls is back this year as an intimate affair. The event will be taking place at the Vancouver Rowing Club, on Thursday February 10th.  The entertainment line up features a titillating burlesque show by Vancouver’s own Pandora and the Locksmiths, who will blow you away with their sultry moves and smokey jazz tunes, as well as BC’s very own Frank Sinatra tribute artist Rick Valiant.

Single Ticket – $50 (with $25 official receipt for income tax purposes)

Holders of individual tickets will be able to enjoy a delicious three-course meal followed by an evening of fabulous entertainment and dancing. Plus, each guest will leave with a goodie-bag!

VIP Ticket – $75 (with $30 official receipt for income tax purposes)

VIP ticket holders will have the best seats in the house! They’ll also be the first guests to enjoy their delicious three-course meal. Our VIP’s will be sipping on a glass of complimentary champagne while they enjoy the fabulous entertainment! Each VIP ticket holder will also leave with an extra special goodie-bag valued at over $100!

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, aerie, an intimates and apparel line by American Eagle Outfitters, will donate $1 per bra sold, up to $50,000, to Bright Pink between October 18th through October 31st. From feminine lace and playful plaids to animal prints and push-up strapless styles, every woman, regardless of style and size, can give back this month.

Bright Pink is a national non-profit organization that provides education and support to young women who are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Bright Pink aims to arm young women with knowledge, options and a great attitude, and offer companionship and empathy during their journey.

The daffodil pin is available by donation, enabling everyone to give courageously. Donations from every pin will be dedicated to supporting people living with cancer, funding research to outsmart cancer and preventing cancer before it starts. And one thing every fashionista should know is that supporting an important cause is always in season!

Also, on Daffodil Day, show your support and stop by Fountain Square at the Vancouver Art Gallery.  Members of the public are invited to show their support for friends or family facing a cancer journey as part of this event. The annual daffodil campaign is designed to unite our communities in the fight against cancer; remind British Columbians that there are many ways to reduce the risk of cancer; and encourage courageous giving so the Society can continue to invest in outstanding research, deliver caring support programs and lead prevention initiatives.  Opportunities to add the name of a loved one to the Field of Hope start at 9:00am  The official festivities are from 11:30am to 1:00pm.