PwC CEO Chris Clark (right) gives a $10,000 donation on behalf of the firm to 2008 National Volunteer of the Year winner Gerry Valois
for his dedication to Canodia, a charity he founded in 2007.

PricewaterhouseCoopers honoured Gerry Valois with a $10,000 donation for his dedication and enthusiasm as the founder and director of Canodia, a charitable fund. Since Canodia's start in August 2007, the Winnipeg-based Advisory Services director has volunteered more than 1,000 hours to help disadvantaged children in Cambodia and teach the value of philanthropy to children in Canada.

Canodia works with the Center for Children's Happiness (CCH), an orphanage in Cambodia, to raise funds and rescue children who live at the Steung Meanchey landfill site. Gerry established Canodia after spending three months in Southeast Asia and observing children living and working in the garbage dump to house and feed their families. He has helped raise more than $100,000 to rent a facility for children from the landfill and obtain property in Cambodia to build a permanent youth home for almost 50 youngsters, which will open in 2009. He has also developed a child sponsorship program in Canada, which moves children out of the dump with the support of Canadian donors.

Gerry's support and efforts extend to all aspects of Canodia-he is the fundraiser, web manager and youth ambassador. He uses his business skills to assist the orphanage with helping the most children possible to create lasting change in their lives. Gerry also visits schools in Canada and Cambodia to mentor and teach youth about the importance of compassion and generosity.

His personal drive and dedication have not only been central to the organization's success, they also make him a true role model both within PwC and his community. "Many dedicated and good-hearted people raise money for our orphanage throughout the world, and Gerry has certainly done his share of that," says Elia Van Tuyl, a CCH donor liaison. "But he has also brought to his efforts a combination of vision, sophistication and humanity that I have just never witnessed before."

To learn more about Canodia, visit www.canodia.ca.

Three years ago, Morgan Elliot and his family founded the Association for Supported Community Connections (ASCC) — an organization that gives kids with mental or physical disabilities the opportunity to get out and be active. The ASCC was established to honour the memory of Morgan’s older brother, who passed away as a result of Spina Bifida.

As a board member and treasurer, Morgan provides financial advice and assistance for numerous areas of the ASCC: he designs and maintains its accounting ledgers, prepares financial statements and government-required filings, compiles and monitors budgets and forecasts, and maintains the management of the treasury. He’s also active in organizing and managing fundraising activities and submits numerous applications for grants.

“Morgan’s personal drive and dedication has enabled ASCC to achieve excellence in all that we do,” says Mary Feather, executive director of ASCC. “Morgan’s commitment to the transparency and leadership of ASCC has been a leading factor in its success.”

Morgan’s efforts are helping ASCC improve the lives of even more children: in the last year, the organization grew from serving approximately 25 kids with disabilities to well over 70.