The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) is a member-based not-for-profit organization best known for managing the .CA internet domain on behalf of all Canadians, developing and implementing policies that support Canada’s internet community and representing the .CA registry internationally.

The Snowsuit Fund is an Ottawa-based charity that raises funds to purchase and distribute new, quality-made snowsuits to needy children, 15 years and under, in our community. In a typical season, we distribute approximately 16,000 new snowsuits to qualifying families.

This past Fall, the good people of CIRA decided to run a Virtual Garage Sales in support of The Snowsuit Fund! Employees and management worked together to post gently-used items they no longer needed and promoted their event amongst their families, friends, customers and suppliers. Through their combined efforts, CIRA’s employees raised $745 using the GiveShop marketplace. The event’s success prompted a very generous employee and a fan of round numbers to personally pitch in another $255 bringing the donation amount up to $1,000. This turn of events then inspired CIRA’s CEO, Byron Holland, to match the amount and bring the total donation to $2,000! In The Snowsuit Fund’s language, this would translate into outfitting 40 needy children in snowsuits to this Winter!

Here is what CIRA and The Snowsuit Fund shared with us about their Virtual Garage Sale experience:

“The Snowsuit Fund is honoured and touched by the generosity of the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) for choosing us as its charity recipient of $2000 that will keep 40 needy children warm this Winter! I would be remiss in not mentioning GiveShop, whose online platform made for a perfect collaboration to have such a positive outcome in these challenging times. We are truly grateful to our community supporters. Thank you, GiveShop. Thank you, CIRA.” – Trina Fraser, Chairperson of the Snowsuit Fund volunteer board of directors

“2020 has been a challenge for every organization – but especially for charities, who have lost countless fundraising opportunities that are critical to maintaining their services. When the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) moved our operations online earlier this year, we also committed to finding new ways to support organizations in our community who might need us now more than ever. Our team didn’t disappoint, hosting a virtual garage sale fundraiser via GiveShop that helped us spread the love – and especially, the warmth – to the kids in our community who need it most.” – Byron Holland, President and CEO, CIRA

GiveShop is thrilled to facilitate fundraising events that will help keep vulnerable children warm this Winter! We are incredibly grateful to our corporate partners at CIRA for coming together to fundraise for The Snowsuit Fund, whose tireless efforts continue to make a difference for needy children in our community who need their support now more than ever.

A sincere thank-you to everyone who participated!
The GiveShop Team