A newly established non-profit social enterprise serving Guelph and Wellington County, launched its website today: GivebackVillage.ca.
Thanks to the support of over 50 local non-profit organizations, corporate and retail partners, and a $101,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). MPP for Guelph, Liz Sandals, joined OTF representative Molly Kriksic in congratulating the GiveBackVillage.ca board at the official launch held at Innovation Guelph on Nov. 30.
“This grant is an investment in our community’s well-being. I’m delighted to see so many non-profit organizations and businesses coming together in this entrepreneurial way to support the operational costs of our local non-profits. The importance and value of their work to our community cannot be overestimated,” remarked Sandals.
Joanne Grodzinski, chair of GiveBackVillage.ca, commented to over 70 guests, as she cut the “virtual ribbon” and launched the site, “We are so very grateful to all of our community partners who are working together to help us launch this unique social venture in our community. We know that the public will embrace the concept of social purchasing by shopping online, and, at the same time, support their own neighbours. We are thankful to all of our supporters, and especially to the Ontario Trillium Foundation, for their commitment to social innovation.”
GiveBackVillage.ca is an online marketplace where consumers can purchase many local products and services at a discounted price. All of the items found on the site are produced by Guelph and Wellington’s non-profit community or provided by local businesses. Through a transparent granting process, all of the surplus funds raised from this social enterprise are donated back to local charities and non-profit organizations. The general public will be able to shop through the e-commerce site in early spring of 2013. For more information, visit www.givebackvillage.ca
