Our giving in 2008 was in support of two organizations. Locally, we gave to Coastside Hope

the “primary provider of safety net services,” providing a “monthly food harvest, emergency shelter and rental assistance services, crisis intervention and referral services, clothing vouchers, Christmas Adopt-a-Family program, [and] citizenship services.”)

We also gave to the American Cancer Society, acknowledging a loss in our firm’s extended family.

Previously: Portigal Consulting Philanthropy, 2007

• Everything good for you is bad for you
  Grapefruit linked to increased breast cancer in women (“more research is needed”). Paging Miles Monroe (aka Woody Allen) – “Those were the charmed substances that some years ago were felt to contain life-preserving properties”- but are actually unhealthy
• President’s Choice – Home products
  During my days in Canada, this was a great success story of a premium house brand that did very very well. Now it’s become a lifestyle brand; they aren’t selling just grocery products, but furniture, too! Nice line extension.
• President’s Choice Financial – Memories of Credit
  Another line extension! Financial services. Not just dipping sauces and Decadent chocolate chip cookies, it’s now a bank. How cool and weird.
• Joe Fresh Style (Frais)
  Another line extension from Loblaws/President’s Choice – fashion!

You don’t have to wear the bracelet now, you can get a magnetic picture of a bracelet. It’s not about the act of wearing, it’s just about the image of the bracelet? Where does the meaning reside?