130 Canadian Franchise Association http://www.cfa.ca | http://www.LookforaFranchise.caF
or the team at Clintar Landscape
Management, giving back to the
community has always been an
important part of the job, and a
defining value for the company since
it opened for business in 1973.
“It’s embedded in our culture,”
says Terry Nicholson, Clintar’s Vice
President of Operations. “So many of
our franchisees give back because
that’s the way things have always
been done here.”
The commercial and corpo-
rate landscape business is not just
known for its impeccable year-
round maintenance services. For
more than 40 years, Clintar franchi-
sees across the country have made
it a habit to get involved in the towns
and cities where they reside, and
encouragement from head office is
a big reason why.
“Whether it’s volunteering time
or sponsoring sports teams or vari-
ous hospital foundations, we ask
employees to participate any way
they can,” Nicholson says.
And while upper management
never shies away from supporting
franchise partners who give back
locally, Clintar’s President and CEO
Steve Sinodinos was eager to get
employees contributing to a national
cause when he joined the company
in 2015.
“When Steve came on board, he
was already aware of wish grant-
ing by Make-A-Wish Canada,” says
Kimberly Khoury, Clintar’s Client
Service Director. “Once we learned
more about the Foundation and the
amazing work they were doing for
children and their families, it just
made sense for us here at Clintar to
get involved. Plus, with Make-A-Wishoperating across Canada, it provides
an opportunity to reach more fran-
chisees across the Clintar franchise
system, so we can support as many
wishes as possible.”
A world-renowned charity, Make-
A-Wish famously grants wishes
to children with life-threatening
medical conditions. “Our goal is to
create joy during a time of incred-
ible stress,” says Chris Pon, Vice
President of National Alliances and
Brand at Make-A-Wish Canada. “We
want to give hope to children and
their families.”
And hope is exactly what chil-
dren feel after one of their wishes
is granted. The Foundation recently
conducted a study with former wish
children who are now healthy adults,
and the results were astounding.
Just over 70 per cent of respondents
said they believe their wish contrib-
uted to saving their lives, while 97
per cent said their wish improved
their mental health at the time.
Pon says wishes usually fall into
one of four categories: I wish to go,
I wish to have, I wish to meet, or I
wish to be. When a wish is granted,
the organization “makes it unique,
personal, and free from any finan-
cial obligation on the part of the
families.”
Make-A-Wish officially came to
Canada in 1983 after three years
operating stateside. In the 34 years
since, more than 6,800 Canadian
wishes have been granted, and
Make-A-Wish chapters have opened
across the country, from the Yukon
to Nova Scotia.
Since partnering with the Founda-
tion in 2016, Nicholson and Khoury
say they have seen widespreadfranchise support. “Our franchisees
don’t just donate money, they show
their support at their locations.”
Pon says simple acts that bring
awareness to the organization don’t
go unnoticed by Make-A-Wish Can-
ada. “Each franchisee has the oppor-
tunity to be the voice of Make-A-
Wish in their community, and every
contribution makes a difference,” he
says. “Supporters like Clintar make
our mission possible.”
Clintar uses a combination of
customer, employee, and franchise
engagement to contribute to Make-
A-Wish. And while donations are
raised in various ways, it’s Clintar’s
50/50 raffle that has been the most
popular initiative team members
have gotten behind. Half the money
raised for the company-wide raffle
draw goes towards granting a wish,
with corporate matching the total
amount before names are drawn.
In addition to monetary con-
tributions, Nicholson and Khoury
are quick to recognize the franchi-
sees and their employees who get
involved simply by donating their
time volunteering with Make-A-
Wish. Franchise partners have even
been known to use their professional
services to redesign backyards for
Make-A-Wish children who wished
to have an accessible playground in
their backyard.
For the time being, Clintar is
moving full steam ahead with its
Make-A-Wish partnership, and has
committed to supporting the char-
ity for the foreseeable future. “It’s all
about giving,” Khoury says. “Help-
ing families that are struggling, and
supporting them is important to all
of us here at Clintar!”GIVING BACK
I Wish To...
Clintar Landscape Management is
helping to make children’s dreams
come true with Make-A-Wish CanadaBy Kristin Di Tommaso