The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Saskatchewan Council established the New Beginnings Grant to assist women in finding a new life path through education. The second of these grants, worth $5000, was formally presented today to Holli Ironstand, a student in the Mental Health and Addictions Counselling Diploma Program, at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Holli lives with her five-year-old daughter in The Battlefords. In her spare time, she has been involved various organizations within her home community. As a person who struggles with anxiety and depression, Holli recognizes and appreciates the value of support. Her choice of study reflects this recognition and her intent to offer this crucial support to others in need. Holli is grateful to have been accepted into the Mental Health and Addictions program, offered through a combination of online and in-person learning – an option that is much appreciated by adult students in rural regions of the province with families to support. She looks forward to graduating from her program in June with the prospect of employment in her field. Her ultimate academic goal is to receive a Bachelor of Social Work and to work in trauma care and/or postpartum mental health. The CFUW New Beginnings Grant is open to a woman with primary financial responsibility for herself and her dependents, who is age 21 or older, has financial need, and is a Saskatchewan resident who has been accepted into an educational program. CFUW is a non-partisan, self-funded organization with 90 clubs across Canada and more than 6,600 members. Since the founding of CFUW in 1919, our mission has been to achieve educational and economic equality and social justice through continuous learning and empowerment. Our vision is that women and girls are educated and empowered to make transformative change in the world. In Saskatchewan, there are CFUW local clubs in Saskatoon, Prince Albert and Yorkton with members throughout the province. Photo: Barb Gustafson, CFUW VP Prairies, presents the New Beginnings Grant certificate to Holli Ironstand.

We just posted a new volunteer opportunity: Walk of Hope - Committee Member https://dosomegood.ca/opportunity/walk-of-hope-committee-member-33365-2588272

We all need more good news in our lives. Do Some Good and Pattison Media have partnered to make it happen! This means YOU can have your very own good news stories appear in the local media. How does this work? Simply select what type of Do Gooder you are to create a Do Some Good account (takes 2 minutes) and start sharing the good news. If you already have a Do Some Good account, simply log in and post. Individual - https://dosomegood.ca/individuals Charity / Nonprofit -https://dosomegood.ca/community-organizations Businesses - Find more info here: https://mailchi.mp/dosomegood/yoursocialimpactsolution For quick and easy posting on the go, you can also download the Do Some Good app: Apple - https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/do-some-good/id1210199163?ls=1&mt=8 Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.volinspire.VolinspireApp This awesome media reach and exposure is FREE for charities, nonprofits, and individuals. We invite all Do-Gooders in these communities to read GOOD NEWS every week on Pattison sites - and post your own stories - to create a ripple effect of good vibes!

We are incredibly proud of our board member, Ryan, for receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal, presented by Senator Pamela Wallin at the Remai Art Gallery in Saskatoon. This prestigious honour recognizes Ryan’s dedication to bringing people together, uplifting others, and fostering positive change across Canada. His work and passion continue to inspire those around him, and this award is a testament to the impact he has made. Ryan, your commitment to shaping a brighter future is truly commendable. As your mother so wisely said, “When the heart dares to dream, wonderful things happen.” Please join us in celebrating this well-deserved recognition!

You know volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, but it’s also a surprisingly powerful way to reap your own rewards—in terms of happiness, salary, career growth and fulfillment. With burnout, stress, dissatisfaction and mental health issues at record highs, volunteering offers an important way to build your own wellbeing while you’re giving back. And despite the obstacles of busy schedules and overloaded calendars, you can find the time. It’s possible to fit giving into your life, and even to shift your perceptions of time—and actually feel like you have more of it. Check out this Forbes article for all of the great and powerful reasons to volunteer and how to easily fit it into your life: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2024/01/21/for-happiness-and-career-growth-consider-the-power-of-volunteering/?sh=2ac14b0f349c

Check out this TEDtalk where Elizabeth Dunn focuses on how "Helping others makes us happier". Now, this seems straightforward, but to some this is controversial and this topic can actually get quite heated. I've recently had discussions where people have said that helping others should be done, for no other reason, than it is the right thing to do. But I pose this to you...what if a person has good intentions to help others, but the driving force or the most important WHY to them is that it makes them happy and it feels good...is that wrong? Imagine a person saying: "Can you believe this guy? He saw an elderly woman struggling with her groceries, so he helped her carry them and now he's walking away with a smile on his face. The nerve! How dare he feel joy or happiness from helping her; he should simply be doing it because it's the right thing to do." As we approach this topic, I think it's important that we be careful not to judge. There's a quote that stands out from Chris Anderson's book Infectious Generosity: "We need not discount the generosity of others just because they may have additional motives for doing what they do… We should be encouraging each other, not finding reasons to tear each other down." So, if you have the time, watch the video and hear out Elizabeth Dunn as she says "Let's stop thinking about giving as just this moral obligation and start thinking of it as a source of pleasure". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUKhMUZnLuw