Founder
CAT ROSS
Cat Ross signs off each of her electronic messages with a quote by Helen Keller: “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do something I can do.” Cat has consistently proven that she will continue to take on personal challenges and accomplish philanthropic deeds—because she can. She has been dubbed the “philanthropic guru” by her friends, family, and colleagues; a character trait entrenched at a very young age.
Cat was raised in a philanthropic family and learned early in life that giving of oneself benefits many. In grade school, Cat volunteered in the life-skills program to help educational assistants working with students living with exceptionalities. This experience was a catalyst for future good deeds. An empathy-filled, young Cat Ross decided in Grade 8 that she was going to do a project on HIV/AIDS to broaden her knowledge about people living with the effects of a disease that once carried a deep-rooted stigma. She never forgot the lessons learned while researching about HIV/AIDS and decided to embark on a mission that would take her to the remote outskirts of Nairobi, in a place called Kibera—a community riddled with orphaned children left behind by AIDS-afflicted parents.
Cat’s selflessness is far-reaching, and her passion for making a difference extends to every corner of her life. Through working at various humanitarian jobs in Winnipeg, including The Weekend to end Breast Cancer, the Community Respite Service, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, UNICEF Canada, the Eat So They Can Campaign, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, and most recently Big Brothers Big Sisters of Winnipeg, Cat has demonstrated her relentless willingness to give back to the community. Her desire to help those living with the effects of HIV or AIDS also permeated her professional development; as an adult, she was invaluable in supporting and providing companionship to clients living with HIV or AIDS at Nine Circles Community Health Centre. Another local beneficiary of Cat’s altruism is Siloam Mission—an agency that offers programs and services to homeless and marginalized people in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The agencies that have benefited from Cat’s kindness are widespread; her generosity is limitless.
In 2005, Cat decided she wanted to turn her humanitarian efforts global. She organized her first Kenya Mission Benefit Concert, a concert featuring local bands who were so easily captivated by her energy that they continue to support Cat in her mission today. Cat captures the attention of many people, from radio, entertainment, and schools to contiguous charities and global volunteer agencies. She enthusiastically shares her passion, thus infecting others with her “can-do” attitude. Her inaugural fundraising project provided her with the resources to launch her first distribution trip to Kenya. Once in Kenya, Cat worked in four HIV/AIDS clinics in the Kibera slum, monitoring nutrition and medication intake as well as administering massages and stretching exercises. Upon her return to Canada, Cat caught the attention of several schools and organizations and was regularly requested to provide speaking engagements. She has spoken with local media and organizations, and at elementary and secondary schools, universities, and conferences. She was featured twice—once in 2006 and again in 2007—in the Uptown Magazine, in which she described her work in Kenya as “a life-altering experience “ that “makes you realize that there’s so many larger issues out there.”
Cat’s second Kenya Mission Benefit Concert on New Year’s Eve, 2007, provided her with additional resources to help send her to Kenya for the second time. When in Kenya, she volunteered at the Kibera School of Hope teaching all subjects, including general life skills, conflict resolution, health, sanitation, study skills, as well as extracurricular activities. Through her fundraising events leading up to this trip, she raised enough money to supply the Kibera School of Hope with much-needed text books for every subject, and supply the Ushrika Clinic with a large shipment of basic medical supplies. Cat’s generosity has touched the lives of thousands of people in Kibera and has helped them receive necessities for life that many people take for granted.
Cat had also acted as a sponsor for two boys in the Dominican Republic through Children International. It was important for her to make a difference in their lives by ensuring their basic needs were met. After approximately seven years, their families became self-sufficient. Cat decided, at that point, to become a Global Parent, thus supporting an entire community and several children.
To round off her impressive list of non-stop commitments, Cat founded The Kenya Initiative for Development & Sustainability Inc., also called K.I.D.S. Initiative, in March, 2010. She assembled a group of professionals who, like Cat, are passionate about bettering the future of children globally while inspiring children locally by participating in service learning projects and educational activities. Cat’s commitment to providing aid to those in need will likely continue for a very long time.
Some people give through a one-time bequest. Others choose to give during their lifetime in order to see the impact of their contribution and to share in the joy and rewards of giving. For as long as Cat lives, she will continue to build relationships with beneficiaries and partner agencies, and she will continue to inspire her family, friends, staff, and others to improve the lives of those in need. Why? Because she can.