Farewell to our 1% for All Children

When IT Unlock was founded, I already had a plan to combine business and social causes. A few years later, in 2010, we created the program 1% for All Children and have pledged 1% of our profits to help sick kids.

We started with something very simple, a logo. A good friend of mine, Tien Dat Nguyen, a fantastic and talented artist, designed that logo for us. When we received Dat’s email, my wife and I were at the outfitter Lac du Beau Regard. We were comparing several designs that he suggested. We also asked the guests for their opinions and we chose the one you see above.

Time flies.  It has been five years in a row that we have donated to hospitals such as CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation and Shriners Hospitals for Children. Those donations were not big amounts. It was a small contribution from our small company but we were dedicated. Whether it was a good or bad year, we have always donated.

(Our first fundraising poster, by Tien Dat Nguyen.)

At that moment, our program was inspired by 1% For The Planet. Except that helping sick kids was a cause that activates our heart. From inspiration to inspiration, it led us to found Give First today, where our goal is pledging 50% of our profits to provide foods and school supplies to poor kids.

So, what’s my point? I am saying that life is short. I have decided to do things that energize my heart and shouldn’t you do the same? Whatever the causes are, as long as I can be useful to humanity, I’ll be happy.

With our new Give First program, I want to say farewell to our 1% For All Children program. It is time to turn the page. The sick children’s cause is still close to my heart, however.

IT Unlock has become bigger than five years ago but our contribution is still small compared to others. I still have a lot of things to learn and grow. Hopefully, I’ll have the continuous joy of doing business and helping humanity for the rest of my life.