Making wishes come true - QACE Conference helps Foundation help sick kids

Students from across Canada who attended the Queen’s Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (QACE) Conference in October were presented with an intriguing challenge: Devise an ‘E-strategy’ for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Canada® to help it generate awareness and philanthropy among various age groups, but especially the younger, tech-savvy generation.

This was no theoretical exercise. All delegates were encouraged to rise to the challenge and develop a strategy that would incorporate such electronic tools as social media websites, online fundraising and e-commerce. While a panel of judges decided on the best proposal, the strategies developed by more than 100 of the country’s top business students were presented to the Foundation for possible implementation.

“We must keep up with the changing technological landscape to raise awareness and funds and attract volunteers but,most of all, to grant more wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions,” said Jennifer Ritter, CEO of the Foundation, when the partnership was announced.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was the 2009 Social Entrepreneurship Challenge Sponsor. Its contribution not only enhanced the delegate experience, but also funded the prize for the best proposal,which was donated to the Foundation in the winners’ names.

A team of 10 QSB Commerce students came up with the winning strategy designed to engage high school students and encourage them to raise funds for the Foundation through the use of an online portal.