Final 12 months, as a part of his agency’s fundraising drive, Wayne Kuyer and his associates raised simply over $30,000 for The Province Empty Stocking Fund and the Langley Christmas Bureau.
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Since 1996, Wayne Kuyer has dressed up as Jacob Marley from A Christmas Carol.
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Final 12 months, as a part of his agency’s fundraising drive, he and his associates raised simply over $30,000 for The Province Empty Stocking Fund and the Langley Christmas Bureau.
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“We normally hold our purpose round $25,000,” mentioned Kuyer, who’s the proprietor of the Langley accounting agency Kuyer & Associates. “We’ve got two donors who’re very beneficiant, however we strive to not depend on them to take care of that generosity. So in the event that they step up it provides us one other $5,000. With our common repeats, with out the particular bumps, $25,000 is kind of an achievable quantity for us.”
Kuyer first got here up with the concept of dressing up as characters from the Charles Dickens’ basic story along with his enterprise accomplice on the time, Stephen de Verteuil. Kuyer dressed as Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge’s former enterprise accomplice, and de Verteuil as Scrooge. In interval costume they solicited donations from native companies. Nonetheless, de Verteuil died in 2002, at age 47.
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At present, accountant Kyle Murray dons the garb of Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s underpaid, abused clerk, as he and Kuyer go to practically 100 companies over per week.
“We wish to squeeze people who have given up to now as a result of they’re lots simpler to squeeze than new guys,” Kuyer mentioned. “We do rely largely on repeat donors. And typically you may have companies that shut or are bought. So we do additionally attempt to introduce ourselves to new firms and organizations that we are able to get on-board.”
The method begins with a mail-out.
“Custom speaks to how we do issues. And up to now, we’ve at all times had that little e-newsletter or announcement that we ship out early December.”
In complete, they’ve raised about $404,000. A lot of that cash has gone to the Empty Stocking Fund, which distributes donations from readers to 26 B.C. group teams that present meals hampers and presents to kids, needy households and singles.
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For 105 years, The Province Empty Stocking Fund has been devoted to creating the vacations brighter for B.C. residents who’re much less lucky. For extra data on how one can donate this vacation season, see the knowledge under the article.
“Most of these organizations expect us as a result of they’ve obtained the e-newsletter saying that we’re coming to choose up the cheque and have somewhat little bit of enjoyable doing it in-character,” mentioned Murray.
Lots of their donors write the cheques as quickly as they see the e-newsletter.
“We attempt to drop by simply to you say, ‘Hello,’ ” Kuyer mentioned. “We’re normally in-costume at that time. This factor has been constructed on a role-playing and that role-playing is strengthened by persevering with to go to these which might be collaborating.”
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A lot of the companies they go to are small.
“With a number of the larger or chain retailers you’re coping with a forms, so we go to the smaller operators,” he mentioned. “Dentists are normally fairly good, there are attorneys and accountants that we frequently harass and sure native retailers. They acknowledge that it’s a group effort.”
They put aside per week in mid-December for his or her visits.
“It’s somewhat little bit of a push typically to search out that point since you’ve received issues in your desk that want doing and people who find themselves calling,” Kuyer mentioned. “You actually have to focus on blocking out time to make the rounds. However being in entrance of the givers and donors is a crucial a part of what we do. It maintains a connection.”
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“After we plan our days out, it’s very a lot a technique to attempt to match everybody in,” Murray mentioned.
“The factor that retains us going is that it’s a enjoyable factor to be concerned in,” Kuyer mentioned. “Individuals don’t take a look at you and say, ‘What the hell are you doing right here?’ They embrace the entire idea. That’s why we initially began doing it. How do you get into the door to do a fundraiser with out individuals saying, ‘Properly, no soliciting. So long?’ ”
The 2023 Empty Stocking Fund marketing campaign is on till Dec. 31 and donations will be made to:
On-line at: https://theprovince.com/esf
By mail to: The Province Empty Stocking Fund
968 East Cordova St.,
Vancouver, B.C., V6A 1M6
By calling: 604-253-6911
2023 direct donation hyperlink: https://safe.e2rm.com/registrant/DonationPage.aspx?eventid=385682
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