Since 1940, Union Gospel Mission has been bringing hope to the hungry, hurting and homeless in the Metro Vancouver area. Now, in 2008, UGM is unveiling the newest tool in its continued efforts to bring light to the dark corners of the Lower Mainland: the all-new UGM.ca.
Through this completely renovated website, UGM is harnessing current technology to bring engaging stories, fresh updates and helpful tools to both daily guests and potential donors. A clean new design sets the stage for up-to-date information on all of UGM’s facilities and services, available volunteer positions, and current career opportunities.
Perhaps the most exciting component of the new website is the launch of UGM’s official blog, The Street. Stories for The Street are written weekly by UGM’s front-line outreach workers, serving as disarming evidence of the challenges and changes that are seen every day in the neighbourhoods of the Lower Mainland.
Website Launch Party
To celebrate the launch of their new site, UGM held a little website launch party. It was great to meet Kevan and the rest of the UGM staff again. The Union Gospel Mission is a charity that I support and donate to. I’ve always believed that the true measure of success is not how much you make, but how much you give.
Help Me Feed The Hungry This Easter
Easter is just around the corner and the UGM needs your help to provide hot Easter meals and other life-changing services to hungry, hurting and homeless men, women and children in Vancouver. A complete meal cost only $2.59. This is an amount I believe we can all afford.
I Will Match Your Donation
I will personally match every dollar donated by John Chow dot Com readers up to a maximum of $1000.00. Simply make a donation at UGM’s online donation page, then email me a copy of the email receipt. Feel free to leave a comment about your donation as well.
All readers making donations will be recognized in a blog post next Monday. If you have a website or blog, I will link to it. The meals and other services we provide can be the start of a new life and new beginning for those in need. The last time I asked you for help, we raised over $3,700 for the UGM. Let’s break that this time!
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{ 44 comments }
Just made my donation! I am a new blogger so funds are tight, but I am happy to help whenever I can.
It’s my Birthday today John!!! Please stop by and celebrate with me and enter my Debo Hobo’s Birthday Contest. You can donate your winnings if you like.
hay I have a donation section on my blog for this orginization i will donate all the proceeds to them and that’s how I’m trying to do my part it’s not just donating it’s also trying to help
Let me the first person to comment and start with my $100 donation. I wish I could donate more. I will defanitely try to get more next year. I have a new site http://www.car345.com, inviting everyone to be member of this group. I will send you proof john. I appreciate your efffort in this charity.
I was just thinking a few weeks ago and wonder if you were going to do another blog fundraiser for UGM – good to see that you are! I’ll be sending in my donation soon.
Nice, and thanks for the perk.
for anybody who missed the name of the drink John was slugging down, it is pronounced ko-a-la, one more time, ko-a-la….
Koala…………..Bear?
Food for 10 people ….done. Glad to help
Great cause. Small donation made.
In indonesia UGM is Universitas Gajah Mada or University of Gajah Mada, it is an univercity that famous in my country..
WTG JC!
I’d do a freestyle for you, but I can’t think of anything that rhymes with philanthropist.
Pce.
Richie Champagne
Maybe this time around I can finally donate something
, but com’on John, match the donations 200x 
-Mike
That’s a great thing. And I am familiar with that koala drink, as a friend of mine knows how to do it.
This post exemplifies the three things I admire about you most, John:
1. you give to charity genuinely
2. you help out the little guys (like me) by offering a chance at free promotion. And of course,
3. you manage to sneakily benefit from it all
I’ll be donating soon!
Good video
Another small donation made!
The China Story Blog – http://www.robertlam18.blogspot.com
Very nice gesture John. I always enjoy the fact that people are willing to help those in need. A great thing to do
You can never go wrong donating to charity!
A great gesture for sure John. Not only are you raising money for this great organization but awareness as well. It’s great to see the support coming from your readers.
Definitely Hannah. Drawing awareness to important issues like this can be just as great or greater than the act of donating!
Wonderful! You are one of the only bloggers I can recall that does something like this. I will be sure to tell my colleagues about this today as well. We need a good fundraiser like this in the states!
John you are truly a great guy!
I just sent a donation!
It’s guys like you that really make a difference in this world!
Great post, and great way to incentivize others to build traffic to their blogs. This sort of moral incentive is usually lacking across the blogosphere.
You’re a great guy, John.
I made a donation, it is small, but every bit helps. I love your blog, and just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to help out this cause.
I did not get an email receipt, was there something special I had to fill out to get one? All I got was this:
Thank you so much for your generous contribution to Union Gospel Mission. You will receive an official tax receipt in the mail in 2-3 weeks. If you have any questions or wish to speak to somebody about your transaction, please call Barb at 604.215.5440 (ext 322), or send an email to donors@ugm.ca
Anyone know???
Thanks
Rachel Duncan
replying to my own comment, I got the email just took a while, duh thanks
Good stuff John,
I’ve always wanted to start a charity like this in San Fran.
Guess you “are” evil~
I recall Alex having a guest post here where there was some discussion about donating money for the greater good, and it comes as no surprise that John is offering to match the donations of his readers. Truly successful people are often the most generous.
Small donation made to UGM from http://www.manliness101.com, proof will be sent to you John!
Aloha from Hawaii,
Manly King
lol umm.. why does it look like this is hosted in someones kitchen? lol
I laughed at this, haha.
Hey, we’re a non-profit, we gotta make the most of our dollars.
Besides, you should have seen what that room looked like BEFORE we changed the lighting…
John, keep this kind of thing up and you are going to have to add a little icon with a halo to keep the evil ones company.
I donated a wee bit and am glad to have been presented the opportunity to help make a happier easter for a few people.
Very nice John, this is what we like to see. I think that the very notion that someone will be matching your donation entices you to donate all the more. Keep up the great work
This is great! Thanks John, I invited some people for dinner!
Mailed you the paypal-receipt. Or should I get a receipt from UGM? 
Dear John Chow:
(Is that your real name, by the way?) I have heard your name around the internet and thought I ‘d stop by and see what all the commotion was. I don’t get it. Kind of boring stuff, actually, John. This post today was an exception. I’ll sure give it some consideration.
If you really live in Canada, I need some help beating the Brits back at britspeak.blogspot.com because I don’t speak their lingo and I’m really getting attacked. Being Canadian, I know you don’t speak their kind of English either. But you might at least give me some ideas. Besides, it would give you a break from all this boring shit over here. If you know what I mean.
Making a lot of money is really cool John. But I would like to see if you also have a sharp mind. I sense that you might. Thanks for listening.
PS-If you come, use a different name. I don’t want people to know where I’ve been today.
This is very good news. I would try to feed as many mouths as I can through my donations. I hope they do well.
The Thanksgiving one was pretty successful, I’ll donate to this one!
Great fundraiser to help charities John. Terry is right when she said bloggers can do something for the world and not just wanting to make money. Blessed are those who help the needy for they shall be blesssed tenfold by the Lord. Count me in.
Ok, you win. This is a good cause. I’m in. You don’t have to match it, though. Thanks.
just donated .. always willing to chip in a little here and there.
I just started my site and unfortunately I’m not making enough from affiliate marketing to be able to donate a lot but I will definitely try to if I can, maybe $25-$50 or so. Good to see you matching the donations though John
Donation made. Now if only I can get UGM to stop sending me spam mail via snail mail!
Hi John,
Very worthy cause, I’ve made a donation as well this afternoon.