Our 2011 Gala “Together” has been cancelled and we will be updating you soon on a new fundraising event. Host an Absolute fundraiser in your area! Watch our homepage for more details.
Archive for the 'Mainpage' Category
Get ready for 2011! Our Hero Holiday dates are confirmed and ready to go for 2011 - all that is missing is you! Check out the calendar and get ready to join us for another awesome year of bringing hope and being changed.
2011 Dates are as follows:
- Mexico Christmas / New Years: Dec 26th 2010 - Jan 3rd 2011
- Dominican Republic Christmas / New Years: Dec 26th 2010 - Jan 3rd 2011
- Haiti - May 1st - 10th, 2011
- Dominican Republic Summer Internship: July 1st - 26th, 2011
- Dominican Republic: July 2nd - 12th & July 16th - 26th, 2011
- Dominican Republic Medical: August 21st - 30th, 2011
- Mexico Summer Internship: July 31st - August 27th, 2011
- Mexico: August 1st - 10th & 15th - 28th, 2011
- Thailand: Aug 1st - 14th, 2011
Remember, all dates are subject to airline availability. Applications for 2011 trips will be available at www.heroholiday.com by September! You belong here!
6 Reasons Why Our Monthly Partners are V.I.P.’s
Published by April 8th, 2010 in Donate, Mainpage and Uncategorized. 0 CommentsIn Absolute, we believe in the power of each life to make a difference, and when those lives join together so much more can be achieved. We value each donor and financial partner and because of that, we thought we should share 6 reasons why we believe our Monthly Partners are V.I.P.’s…
- Monthly partners makes it possible for us to effectively strategize today for how we can be the most effective tomorrow.
- Every dollar makes a difference! We value the partner behind the financial commitment because we recognize that we need each other.
- Absolute values the trust relationship we have with our donors - whether they are one-time donors or monthly partners. However, our monthly partners are also part of a communication network that keeps them informed of what is happening on a monthly basis, as well as updates on special projects and emergency situations.
- Everyone has a voice! We love to hear from our monthly partners and allow their voice to be heard on our website and through our communication networks.
- Monthly partners are people who are discerning philanthropists and tuned in to what they can do to make a difference, both locally and globally. They see the bigger picture and they know that their lives are a valuable part of it.
- Monthly partners are socially conscious and progressive because they recognize that the time to invest in the future is TODAY!
If you would like to know more about how to get involved in our monthly partnership, email partners@absolute.org or go to www.absolute.org/donate. Together anything is possible!
Delivery of aid to Haiti
Published by March 1st, 2010 in Other Sites, Press, Press Releases, Hero Holiday, Mainpage and Featured. 0 Comments
Your kindness made a difference! Our Haitian friends needed to know that they are not forgotten, and thanks to the kindness and sacrifice of so many of you, we were not only able to help them out right now, but we are able to help them begin to rebuild for a stronger future. Thank you for responding to those who need it most. We are honored to be able to deliver aid and compassion that was made possible by the friends of Absolute.
[flashvideo filename=videos/thedelivery.flv width=500 height=300 image=img/thedelivery.png /]
Timeline:
- January 15 - We arrived in Port-au-Prince to assist the orphanages which we support. We spent five days helping and assessing the best ways we could be a support to both them and the families which they are now helping to survive.
January 21 - We reached out to our Absolute network to assist in helping those we are connected with in Port-au-Prince and you responded with compassion and love.- February 3 - We left for Port-au-prince with the first $10,000 raised for Haiti through Absolute. In The Dominican Republic we filled a commercial truck with approx. $8,000 worth of aid.
- February 5th - We were delivering the aid to the orphanages and tent cities.
Aid supplies (approximately)
- 200 cases of water
- 400 packs of rice
- 400 bottles of oil
- 400 bags of ban
- 600 bars of soap
- 1000 pack of soup mix
- 900 roles of toilet paper
- 1000 packs of cookies and crackers
- 6 cases of milk
- 600 packs of pasta
- 400 small bags of detergent
- 300 cans of sardines
- 900 bags if corn mix
- 5 Large tarps
- 2 tents
- 6 Large boxes of medical supplies. (donated by servant heart min.)
- 4 boxes of clothes (donated by Servant’s Heart Ministries)
- 500 candles
- 2200 Honda generator
Other Giving and Expenses
- $1600 went to support the orphanage (orphanage staff, orphanage vehicle maintenance, baby supplies and orphanage bills)
- $400 went to pay translators, travel expenses, border fees, and other misc. items needed for this project
The Aid was divided into 4 different places: two different tent towns, the orphanage and a displacement camp.
Most of the tent towns we delivered aid to hadn’t seen any aid yet. Absolute is now preparing for our Hero Holiday in Haiti for May. We will also be working with participants on the boys orphanage, installing doors, building a kitchen and replacing a roof on the children’s school.
Absolute in Haiti
Published by January 14th, 2010 in FB, Student Zone, Mainpage and Featured. Closed
I am sure you have all heard, in some form or another, about the great tragedy that has occurred in Haiti. Many of you, including myself, probably thought to yourself, “Really! This is the last thing this country needs!” It is true, parts of Port-au-Prince had looked like a 7.0 earthquake already hit it before January 12th and we can only imagine the state it is in now.
I have been quite impressed by the volumes of messages and emails I have been receiving from people who want to do something to help. Everyone’s heart is broken for this nation and no one wants to sit by and let the people of Haiti deal with this disaster by themselves. Absolute has been directly involved with an orphanage of 60+ children in Port-au-Prince run by a man we know and love named David. You can read all about him in our 52 blog: http://52.absolute.org/2009/04/19/what-do-you-do-with-a-lost-pearl/. Currently, we have not been able to contact David or anyone connected to his orphanage. Some volunteers of 
Absolute have decided to jump into action and travel directly to where the orphanage is (or once was…) to make sure that all the children are safe and taken care of. Once this is done they will assess if there is something that Absolute can do to take care of our extended family. We will keep you posted on the progress of the team and will let you know if there is anything you can do to help.
Please keep an eye on our website and facebook page (absolute.org) for more updates. Thank you for your concern and desire to help. To give towards this pressing need please contact our office, or donate online here.
Hero Holiday is traveling to Haiti in May 2010. Check out the trip details on our website: http://heroholiday.absolute.org/haiti
Check out our 52 story on the earthquake: http://52.absolute.org/2010/01/14/but-a-breath/
**UPDATE: Absolute has received word that the children at the orphanage are all safe and accounted for. This is great news! We are going to hear from our volunteers as to how their homes are but will keep you informed.
Christmas Sale! - “one” books for $15 each
Published by December 4th, 2009 in School of Leadership, ONE, Other Sites, Billeting, Mainpage, Hero Holiday and Uncategorized. 0 Comments
We’ve got a great offer for you this Christmas season!
ONE: A Face Behind the Numbers, Vaden Earle’s best-selling book on social justice issues, is available for a limited time for only $15!
It’s a great Christmas gift, with all proceeds going to Absolute and Hero Holiday’s charitable projects, (www.absolute.org), and is even printed on environmentally friendly paper!
If you buy 5, we’ll even pay the shipping!
Order online by clicking here or call all our office (1-866-432-4464). Order by Friday, December 11th, in order to ensure delivery by December 24th.
Have a very Merry Christmas!
Absolute
Change is Possible!
Published by December 4th, 2009 in FB, Other Sites, Hero Holiday, Mainpage and Featured. 0 Comments
Hello! 2009 is coming to a close, and for us here at Absolute, it has been an incredible year of growth, change and warm memories. Through the course of our year we have spoken to hundreds of thousands of Canadian youth through our Think Day presentations and have had over 450 participants join us on our Hero Holiday trips around the world. Cory was one of the students that joined us in Mexico on Hero Holiday this year, and his story reminds me of why we do what we do.
When he was 13, Cory’s dad was killed in a tragic accident. Lost and hurting, Cory began to drift and alienate himself from his family and friends, falling into the abyss of alcohol and drug abuse. When he was 16, in desperation Cory’s mom talked him into joining Absolute on a Hero Holiday to Mexico for his spring break. He reluctantly agreed, not yet fully understanding what was about to happen.
As fate would have it, Cory ended up with a team that built a house for an incredible Mexican family. They were able to move from a shelter of tarpaulins, sticks, and cardboard, and were put into a beautiful new home with clean beds, warm blankets, and a dignity that comes with knowing you are safe. But this family had one thing in common with Cory that he wasn’t counting on: this family had recently lost their dad in an accident as well. As Cory stood outside their house that day, helping to present them with the keys to their new home that he had personally helped to construct, something changed in him. Hope took on a new perspective. Cory’s eyes were opened to what life can look like and to what he can be a part of. That day as that family was lifted out of some of the acute pains of poverty, Cory 
returned to Canada with a new resolve: to be a part of the change that can happen here at home. Today, Cory is a student in Absolute’s School of Leadership, traveling across Canada and sharing his experience to hundreds of thousands of Canadian youth, telling them that there is a hope and greater purpose to live for. Today, that Mexican family is still safe in their home, and still moving forward to build a better future.
Cory’s story reminds me that together, change is possible. Absolute is committed to bringing hope to a generation and helping them to realize the incredible power of their lives. This is only possible because of financial donors such as yourself. …. (continued on other side)
This holiday season, would you consider partnering with us to help us build more homes for families such as this one and help us to reach more “Corys” that are the future of our nation?
- Your one time gift of $50 or $100 can help us to continue to commit to building safe, efficient homes for the families that desperately need it most. In the year ahead, with the help of our financial partners, we are hoping to reach many more students like Cory and build many more houses for families such as this one.
- Would you consider a one time donation to our 2009 campaign in the name of a family or friend? The recipient of your gift will receive a post project report showing them the impact of their gift and you will receive a tax receipt for that you can apply to your 2009 tax return.
- At the Absolute office we have recently launched a monthly partners program. A monthly contribution of $20, $30 or $50 is all that it takes to help us to continue to provide a safe and happy home for a family in need. Monthly partnership helps us to use each dollar to its maximum effectiveness throughout the year. To become a monthly partner, download our pdf form by clicking here, or sign up faster online by clicking here.
- Please help us end the decade on a high note! Consider joining us on a Hero Holiday in the year ahead. For more information go to www.heroholiday.com.
Absolute has a unique approach to bringing hope and change to our global community, and our financial donors can be assured of the value of their contribution. Every dollar that is donated is essentially used for double effectiveness: the impact can be seen both here at home in a generation that is given hope, perspective, and life direction, and globally as we help to bring hope to the developing world through the houses and schools that we build for those who cannot do it themselves.
Like many other Canadian charities, we are dependant on our donors. We can’t do this alone, nor do we want to. But in Absolute, we truly believe that we are in this together, and that we need each other to succeed. This Christmas, please consider joining with us to make a difference and to give the gift of hope in a tangible way.
Thanks for your time. I hope you have an amazing 2010!
To donate, go to www.absolute.org/donate or call our office at (866) 432 4464.
Christal Earle
Co-founder, Absolute
I’d love to hear from you or answer any questions. Email me at: christal@absolute.org
Job Position Openings: Road Team Manager
Published by November 25th, 2009 in FB, Employment, Newsletter, Think Day and Mainpage. Closed
Effective May 30, 2010:
We have some exciting job position openings for dynamic young adults that love to make a difference and enjoy new challenges, experiences, and travel. We have immediate openings for a Road Team Manager for our Canadian school tours. If you have questions, please contact us at (905) 777 1662.
Road Team Manager
We have a job position open to lead one of our road teams that performs motivational presentations in schools across Canada.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead Think Day Teams on cross-Canada tours
- Facilitate a positive and successful team experience
- Facilitate effective and powerful Think Day presentations, and customer experience, in schools
- Tour Management (driving, feeding team, arranging billets, etc)
Here is a description of what we are looking for in this position.
- Personal Skills
- Ability to think and learn independently
- Major adaptability and desire to learn and enjoy new situations and challenges
- Have a philanthropic world-view (desire to use your life to help others less fortunate)
- Good sense of humour
- Desire to travel
- Strong and mature interpersonal skills
- Ability to genuinely care and listen
- Make people feel significant
- Very positive thinking and speaking. Negativity from leaders will destroy team morale.
- Dynamic public skills
- Comfortable in front of large crowds
- Ability to speak with passion and conviction, and tell an engaging story
- Ability to promote and represent Absolute’s vision effectively
- Team Leading Skills
- Take responsibility and assertively take charge in tough situations.
- Ability to resolve conflict and remain objective and rational
- Ability to mentor team members and build team morale
- Technical Skills
- Experienced Driver. Experience with operating larger vehicles is an asset
- Basic knowledge of Audio and Visual Equipment is helpful
- Basic mechanical skills are an asset
- Problem solving skills
- Above average computer skills an asset
- Experience
- Have previous experience in a leadership position, team management and/or public communication.
2010 Calendar
Published by November 6th, 2009 in ONE, FB, School of Leadership, Student Zone, Mainpage, Hero Holiday and Featured. Closed
We’re excited to announce our 2010 Hero Holiday Calendar, “Together”. This calendar is full of incredible photos taken on Hero Holidays around the world by some of our very own photographers. Included in the calendar are excerpts from our blog, “52″, as well as some great quotes and thoughts on how to make a difference.
The calendar costs $20 and proceeds from the sale of each calendar go towards Absolute and Hero Holiday’s charitable projects.
Keys, Pens, and Paperclips
Published by November 5th, 2009 in Team 2, FB, Road Team Blogs, Staff Blogs, Think Day and Mainpage. 0 Comments
They are only the elite, specially selected few.
They parade across our stage brandishing their weapons of choice. These are no ordinary instruments of torture, unusually, they are in the form of a broom, hockey stick, and a severed pool noodle. These ‘creme of the crop’ are showing us their rock and roll moves like never before (literally, I don’t think any of them have ever done this before!). They head bang as in the days of their youth, and while doing so there are generally three items that come spilling from their pockets.
Keys, pens, and paperclips.
Once in a while there will be an unlucky individual who flings their glasses inadvertently across that glossy hardwood floor not caring a bit, because they need to rock harder than their students did. They will let nothing stand in the way of their ETERNAL GLORY! For that is what they will receive if they can rock harder than a bunch of high school wussies!
These are the teachers who have bravely sacrificed eyesight and dignity alike to participate in our “school of Rock” and no matter how many teachers we see on stage we are always shocked at how well they perform!
Canada has some of the most amazing teachers, many of which end up on our stage and its their students who choose them because they know that these are the teachers who know how to have fun. These are the teachers who are trusted and liked by their students. They are the elite only because of the dedication to their students, dedication that is clearly seen when they rock out no holds bar to make sure their students get a laugh! we congratulate you teachers who are chosen for our air band rock off because you are the teachers who care for their students. We did not preselect you, you were chosen by the students you teach. In fact its almost as if you selected yourselves. How you ask? By being there for your students, approachable, and friendly. You selected yourselves when you decided to love kids and not just teach them. Our country is full of teachers and administrators
who love their students, who only want the best for them and their futures. A lot of the time you are the elite, the specially selected few, who will humbly rock out with us, and for some reason you are always carrying in those magnanimous pockets of yours:
Keys, Pens, and Paperclips
