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| History of Give a Day |
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Give a Day to World AIDS proposes that we recognize World AIDS Day, December 1st each year by giving one day’s income to an organization that will use the money well in the fight against AIDS.
This story began on December 1, 2004 at Markham Stouffville Hospital. In response to a challenge put forth by Dr. Jane Philpott, doctors at this hospital donated their day’s income on World AIDS Day to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. More than $33,000 was raised.
Word quickly spread in the medical community and by 2005 over eight hospitals in nearby communities were involved in Give a Day. Each workplace had a different approach. Some had meetings or social events, others put up posters in their hospitals while others wrote letters to colleagues asking for support. In 2005 almost $100,000 was raised from eight hospitals with donations going to the Stephen Lewis Foundation and Dignitas International.
In the spring of 2006 a group of lawyers decided to bring the Give a Day campaign to the legal community. Three Toronto based firms provided sponsorship support enabling materials to be printed up and distributed. This support meant the campaign spread quickly from coast to coast. In 2006, over one thousand Canadians participated in Give a Day and raised over $500,000. The momentum has not slowed since.
By 2008, close to $2,000,000 had been raised since the campaign began.
Give a Day is a unique, Canadian response to the pandemic. It encourages the participation of individuals in their workplaces, schools and communities. It is a powerful response to the atrocity of the AIDS pandemic.
What a difference a day makes.
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