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Home > About Us > In the Community > Charities Win as Local Tech Company Plays "The Apprentics"

In the Community

Charities Win as Local Tech Company Plays "The Apprentice"

Kelowna, BC (March 20, 2008) Just before ten o'clock on a Thursday morning as company staff were called into the board room, most were unaware of the task that lay ahead. Gord Hotchkiss and Bill Barnes, co-founders of local technology company Enquiro, had secretly planned Enquiroâ??s own version of "The Apprentice" as a team building exercise.

After giving brief instructions and notification that the next four-and-a-half hours of company time were being set aside for something special, the company was split into two teams and each was given key tasks. Each team was to elect a charity, a leader, a name for the team, and raise as much money as possible, within the given time frame, for each charity. The Kelowna Rockets Hockey Team had contributed game tickets - 20 for each of the two teams - to be used as collateral for the fundraising efforts.

One team, named Enquiro for Kids, set to work devising a way to maximize the hard cash for their charity of choice, the BC Children's Hospital, which is the only pediatric acute care hospital in the province. Each year it receives more than 170,000 patient visits from sick and injured children all over BC. Enquiro for Kids decided to sell single tickets for $100 each or offer the Rockets tickets as a pair, packaging them with three hours worth of “couples” golf lessons, all for $500. Individual donations were also welcomed, but the catch was that these donations or pledges had to be received by 2:30 pm the same day.

Time flew by as team members used personal and professional contacts, including several within their building, to generate donations. Most of the cash came from the corporate deals but other personal donations topped up the pot to a staggering $6,292.

The second team, the Big Wheelers, chose the KickStart Bikes for Kids program. The Bikes for Kids program delivers bikes, helmets and bike locks to needy and disadvantaged kids in the Kelowna area. By 2:30, the team raised nearly $3,000 for the cause, which means that up to 30 bikes and gear works its way to needy kids. Enquiro management ended up topping up the two teams impressive amounts with a corporate donation to bring the grand total to $10,000.

"Scott Isfan from Kick Start was just amazed," explained Rich Deakin of Enquiro. "Prior to our call, his day was planned out to be a few quiet meetings and some paperwork. Then BAM! here we come!" Deakin added, "Scott was telling us how moms actually cry when their kids get given a free bike. As a mountain biker, I had to hold back a little bit when he told us that story. I was really touched. I feel fortunate to work for a company like Enquiro that sees the big picture. Not only do we work hard, we play hard too."

At the end of the day's activity Enquiro staff filed back into the boardroom to find out which of the two teams had won the challenge. Applause and cheers filled the room when it became clear how much had been mobilized through the collective efforts. Not only had the company donated a day's worth of work, the team members had worked together, and the big winners were the two charities. To quote Amanda Sayfy of BC Children's Hospital Foundation, "WOW!!! ...thank you so much for your hard work. I am so impressed. Thanks so much for thinking of BC Children's Hospital for your project...thank you and congratulations!

Enquiro wishes to recognize the following individuals and organizations, plus many others that contributed:

  • Bayside Furniture www.baysidefurniture.com
  • Benson Edwards www.bensoncolaw.ca
  • Club Penguin www.clubpenguin.com
  • Jopa Builders
  • Kelowna Cycle www.kelownacycle.ca
  • KGH Operating Room staff
  • Meyers Norris Penny www.mnp.ca
  • Provisiondata Systems www.provisiondata.com
  • Richard Montgomery www.appletriathlon.com
  • Stardyne Technologies www.stardynetech.com
  • Tops Drywall
  • Rick Wright at Valley Mitsubishi
  • West Manufacturing westmfg.promarkdesigns.com

About Enquiro
One of North America's leading search marketing firms, Enquiro has worked with some of the world's best known brands. Its strategies are based on industry research and expertise in usability, and natural and sponsored search. Enquiro has also authored eye-tracking studies which have given marketers a greater understanding of user interaction with the major search engines and defined "Google's Golden Triangle."

Enquiro prides itself in a corporate culture which fosters personal development, a strong team ethic and involvement in the community. Its employees have contributed to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Red Cross, local Food Banks, and CIBC Run for the Cure. Enquiro made the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 in 2004, and has been listed on Profit 100 Canada's Fastest Growing Companies for 2005, 2006 and 2007. Gord Hotchkiss, Enquiro CEO and past chairperson of the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO), has led the company since its founding in 1999 and has been recognized as a local business leader (2004 Entrepreneur of the Year).

Media Contact
Andrew Spoeth, Enquiro, 250.861.5252 ext. 221, andrew@enquiro.co