The Port Moody Foundation is launching a new campaign with the notion that sometimes, a big idea can start with just one word.
Say "Hello" PoMo aims to get the city connected — not in the social media sense but with a face-to-face, friendly greeting for a family member, friend or a perfect stranger on the street. The campaign also is designed to establish connections between organizations, businesses and individuals, creating a stronger community in the process, said PoMo Foundation director Heidi Maddrell.
"The philanthropic movement is huge right now," she wrote in an email to The Tri-City News. "People are living better and easier than ever before, and recognizing they have not only the potential, but a social responsibility to give back."
Using its knowledge of the community and its needs, the foundation is always identifying new areas of need through discussions with residents, Mandrell said. Fostering a strong base of connected groups and individuals, all with particular strengths in a variety of fields, can "provide our residents with a community rich in opportunity, to reach their potential through personal and professional development," she said.
The campaign runs through May 15, with an initial focus on getting residents to "say hi to a passerby" and wear the Say "Hello" PoMo button (available at local businesses, shops and city facilities) to spread the word.
The foundation has also produced a guide to help families, businesses, schools and charitable organizations get in on the action by hosting or attending an event, with suggestions ranging from developing a class project to engage classmates and combat isolation to hosting a neighbourhood potluck and or creating a networking group.
"As these connections start to flourish, we expect to have many success stories about ways our foundation has made a measurable impact in our society through new innovation, projects and initiatives," Maddrell said.
• Visit www.portmoodyfoundation.ca for more information.
spayne@tricitynews.com
@spayneTC
