Day EIGHT: Giving Thanks

As a continuation from our last blog post, I just wanted to share this video with everyone and extend a few thank you's.

Thank you to the organizations that allowed us to partner with them - The Kristen French Advocacy Centre Niagara, Project Share, Start Me Up Niagara & Out of the Cold, Community Care, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Niagara Health System, and the YWCA. You have really opened our eyes this holiday season and allowed us to truly be grateful for everything we have.

Thank you to our team here at Rinaldi Homes - thanks for all of your generosity, there will be women, men and children receiving gifts for the first time; children with toys to comfort them before going into surgery; families with warm clothes to get through the cold winter nights; and brave children with warm winter items as a sign of their courage.

Also, thank you to our team for all of their hard work this year. We have grown so much over the last couple years and brought the company to new heights. We are so proud of our accomplishments and can't wait to keep pushing the boundary in 2016!

Thank you to all of our trades and companies that we work with on a daily basis. As we grow and continue to push for a high standard of quality, our expectations are exceeded every time by the hard work of our trades.

"It is not happy people who are thankful; it is thankful people who are happy."

Day ONE: A Safe Place to Help, Heal & End Child Abuse

The first organization that we partnered with for the #12DaysOfGiving is the Kristen French Child Advocacy Centre!

I was first introduced to the Kristen French CACN when we participated in their first annual Playhouse Competition! It was such a fun event and it allowed me to be introduced to such an amazing organization in our community. I toured their facility and heard about all of the great work they do for children and families.

As the first dedicated standalone CAC of it's kind in Canada, the Kristen French CACN provides our region with a child-focused and trauma-informed leading practice approach to the investigation and treatment of child abuse. Before the Niagara region had the Kristen French CACN, children and youth were subjected to multiple interviews at multiple locations.

Before CACN

After CACN

I think it's time to hear some stats to realize their true impact in our community:

Niagara Regional Police Service reports at least ONE case of sexual or physical assault on children or youth is investigate each day in our region!! 

In 2013 alone, Niagara Regional Police Service investigate close to 400 cases of child abuse related reports in our region alone.

Since opening in the fall of 2008, almost 2100 children/youth and their caring family members have found a safe place to disclose abuse. 

Most often, 94% of the time, children interviewed at the Center know their alleged abuser. Without help and support, the long term impacts of abuse can be devastating.


On average ONE interview per day takes place at the Kristen French CACN.

Now that you know about their amazing work, let's get to the GIVING! We donated over 70 warm winter items to the centre that they will use to decorate their Christmas tree. When children are done being interviewed, to acknowledge their courage they are given a stuffed animal or a warm winter item that they can take home with them. The staff at the Kristen French CACN are so incredible and they help people feel safe and comfortable during a difficult process, we are glad we could help!

If you want to learn more about the centre, visit http://www.cacniagara.org.

"We make a LIVING by what we GET, but we make a LIFE by what we GIVE." - Winston Churchill

#12DaysOfGiving

Our office has been buzzing and I am so excited to tell you about our holiday program this year!

This season is all about GIVING and why not try and give back to as many people as possible. We want everyone to share in the joy this Christmas and have an amazing holiday season, so we decided to partner with several different charities in Niagara for #12DaysOfGiving! We have been collecting items for the Kristen French Centre, Niagara Health System, YWCA, Project Share, and Community Care. Throughout the 12 days we will be posting pictures of all the goodies we have collected in the office and delivering them to the organizations. We are almost running out of space in our office under the tree - I am so proud with how much our team has stepped up to this huge task!

Make sure you are following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - starting on Sunday, December 13th we will be posting all about the charities and programs we have partnered with. We are so excited to tell you about the amazing work that they all do! 

"Happiness does not result from what we get, but what we give." - Ben Carson