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Blog
Ross Mackie: Caring Friend to Grandview Kids
The Mackie family has a long history of contributing to the strength of Durham Region. It started with a family farm, having cattle and growing tomatoes, and grew into a trucking company that is now more than 90 years old.
For Ross Mackie, his love of trucks started in the shed of his family farm where he’d go out to visit his family’s new tractor as a young boy and climb up to sit on the top of it. “I’ve always really loved the smell of gasoline,” says Ross, who today is an accomplished businessman and valued friend of Grandview Kids.
Ross’s life path didn’t take a typical route. He got expelled from school when he was only 16 and soon headed out on a trip to Whitehorse with a friend. His love of road trips and cross country travelling began with this adventure, and upon returning to Durham Region, he started working in the family trucking business which was once known as Mackie The Mover.
“Over the years, I saw the company continue to get bigger and bigger,” says Ross. “I’ve loved the business and interacting with the people in the industry. It’s all been quite exciting and wonderful.”
It’s important for Mackie Group—which today includes Mackie Transportation Inc., Mackie Moving Systems and Mackie Harley-Davidson—to give back to the community that built them. This culture of giving is what has inspired Ross to give generously to Grandview Kids. There are also two Mackie tractor trailers that run up and down the highway every day done up with Grandview graphics. Seeing these trucks makes Ross and the entire Mackie family so proud to be associated with an organization like Grandview Kids.
“Coming to [Grandview Children’s Centre] has been a real highlight for me,” says Ross. “There are really great things happening here every day.”
Ross’s son, Dean describes his dad as a kind, generous, honest, and sincere businessman who truly cares about his customers and contributing to his community in a positive way. Dean’s grandson, Caleb came to Grandview for speech therapy, which has contributed to the Mackie Family’s desire to help other kids live their best life.
If Ross had to give advice to young people today, he would say: “Commit yourself to whatever your dreams are, work hard, and don’t give up.”
According to Dean, this advice is right in line with who his dad his. “My dad always believed in himself and everyone around him,” says Dean. “Whether it was managers or suppliers at all levels, he never had any ego when dealing with people.”
Thank you, Ross for your incredible friendship to Grandview Kids. Our community is stronger because of your generosity and hard work.
Get Corporate Exposure in Durham Region–While Also Supporting Grandview Kids!
You may have seen the Dufferin Concrete Ready-Mix Drum pass by you on the road, and in the coming year, it could be your corporation’s logo on the side of the drum.
Dufferin Concrete cares deeply about supporting the health and vibrancy of the communities it works in. In 2007, they launched the Dufferin Concrete Ready-Mix Drum Program as a way to raise funds for kids in a number of regions throughout Ontario. In 2012, the program came to Durham Region and made the commitment to support the work of Grandview Children’s Centre.
Participants who sponsor the Ready-Mix Drum Program have their logo proudly displayed on two trucks for one year. One truck is based at Dufferin Concrete’s Bowmanville location and the second at Dufferin Concrete’s Whitby location. The working trucks travel throughout Durham Region for approximately 250 days per year.
For an investment of $2,500, your company’s logo will be put on the side of a Dufferin Concrete truck from January 2020-December 2020. Grandview Kids will also promote your support on our website and emails, through social media, and at one of our events.
We would like to thank our 2019 Dufferin Concrete Ready-Mix Drum Program sponsors: Hard-Co Sand & Gravel, A.R.B Landscaping Supplies, City Homes and Langille’s Truck Parts for their continued support.
Are you interested in learning more about this incredible sponsorship opportunity? Click here to learn more and download the sponsorship package.
A Grandview Volunteer and Fundraising Champion
Leah is a busy individual. As well as being a mother to three-year-old twin girls who once came to Grandview Children’s Centre for services, she works as a developer at IBM. For the last year, Leah has also been volunteering with the Early Learners Group at Grandview. She’s loved her volunteer role so much, that she approached her employer to see if there were additional ways she could support our work.
Turns out that IBM has a grant program that makes donations to community groups on behalf of their employees. Leah applied last fall and received a $2,000 grant for Grandview Kids. She recently visited our Oshawa location to present us with this very generous contribution, where she also had the opportunity to visit with Tulip, the therapy horse.
Thank you to IBM for your remarkable generosity, and to Leah for being both a volunteer and an incredible fundraising champion.
This support will help Grandview Kids to provide paediatric and rehabilitation services and specialized programs for kids with physical, communication, and developmental needs. Because of IBM and Leah, more kids will be empowered for today and into the future.
Many Canadian corporations have employee giving and grant programs that could help Grandview kids to life their best life. When in doubt about what your company provides–just ask! So much is possible when we come together as a caring community.
DWWAP Gives Back to Grandview Kids—In Such An Inspiring Way!
The on-site therapy pool at Grandview is a safe and positive place where kids can comfortably experience the joy of being in the water. For the last 20 years, members of the Durham Warm Water Aquatic Program (DWWAP) have also been using our pool to hold exercise classes for seniors. Every week, DWWAP holds eight classes for up to 96 people, giving their members a chance to relieve pain and build strength, while also taking into consideration their individual physical needs.
“These classes have kept me out of a wheelchair,” says Joy Higgins, President of DWWAP. “Exercising in the water gives you more of the benefit without as much effort.”
Grandview’s heated pool is the only one available for DWWAP to use in Durham Region. The members love having the chance to cross paths with Grandview kids, or see them peeking in through the round windows overlooking the pool. Having their classes at Grandview also offers a unique opportunity for intergenerational interaction between seniors and children.
When DWWAP—a registered charity—received a H.S.T. tax refund, its members knew right away what they should do with the money. They came to Grandview Kids with a very generous $5,000 donation to be put toward supporting Grandview’s life-changing programs and services for children and youth.
“Grandview has supported us so much,” says Arlene Inkster, Chair of DWWAP. “We are always looking to give back as much as we can.”
Thank you DWWAP for making this very generous gift to Grandview Kids. It’s a pleasure to have you as part of the Grandview community.