A Groundswell for Good: Our Impact

Our Impact Team

Our Impact Team is a group of passionate individuals whose purpose is to find creative ways to give back to our community in ways that truly make a difference. They use imagination and insights from our team to design and champion community involvement programs that mean something to Groundswellers and our community. 

Our company impact ranges from running and participating in Fitness Challenges to assembling holiday boxes filled with essentials for those less fortunate. In 2021 it was collectively decided by every Groundsweller that the majority of donations would go to The BC Children’s Hospital. This inspiring organization advances the research and technologies needed to conquer childhood illnesses.

We are thrilled to work with BC Children’s Hospital for the second year in a row and can’t wait to share what we have coming up in 2022! 

Let’s meet a few members of our Impact Team. 

Gerauld Rivera

Why are you on the impact team? What do you hope to achieve on the team?

When I joined Groundswell, the Impact Team organized a fitness challenge for a cause that easily transformed into sharing of photos of where Groundswellers worked out. It helped us visualize the beauty of Vancouver and the community that we’re giving back to, so I was drawn by how the Impact Team designs these community involvement programs in ways that all Groundswellers are proud of, and I wanted to be part of that mission.

What is important to you at work and in your community? Feel free to share how you give back to your community outside of work.

I grew up in theatre, so I know firsthand how much life in the arts feeds our core as humans. This experience greatly shaped the way I am as a tech consultant. So, when the theatres closed because of the pandemic, I made it a point to support content and organizations like The Actors Fund that ensure those whose livelihoods are onstage and backstage would not stop as well. 

What has been your favorite event/initiative that the Impact Team has run?

In early December 2021, we gathered together safely for a dual event: the Holiday Gift Boxes Initiative for Covenant House Vancouver and the “Ugly” Sweater Contest for the benefit of BC Children’s Hospital. In our jolly garbs, we assembled the boxes, and I could feel the festive spirit in the air that evening. We realized then how much we had truly missed seeing each other in person, as a community of Groundswellers coming together not just in kinship but also with a greathearted ethos for such worthy causes. 

Kathryn Hall

Why are you on the impact team? What do you hope to achieve on the team?

I joined the Impact Team because there is strength in numbers. There is no better feeling than coming together with people and enacting real change. Even when you are a small business or just one person coming together can make a world of difference. By being on the Impact Team, I hope to achieve a noticeable difference in my community. 

What is important to you at work and in your community? Feel free to share the ways you give back to your community outside of work.

 I give to Hogan’s Alley and the Indian Residential School Survivors Society every month. I occasionally support the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre. All of these organizations are local, I have walked through these spaces many times, and it’s essential for me to uplift the people nearest me first. What is making a living for if you cannot support yourself and the ones around you. 

What has been your favorite event/initiative that the Impact Team has run?

The Jericho beach clean-up was excellent, and we made holiday boxes for the covenant house. Those initiatives just really fill my heart. 

What are you most excited about for 2022?

Making a more significant impact than the year before

Alistair Henning

Why are you on the impact team? What do you hope to achieve on the team?

I’m thrilled that Groundswell places such a strong value on giving back to the community since, throughout my career, I’ve consistently aligned with positive, mission-driven organizations.

What is important to you at work and in your community? Feel free to share the ways you give back to your community outside of work. 

It’s always been very important to me to progress my career with companies like Groundswell that are committed to achieving a net positive impact on the world. Outside of work and before COVID, one of my proudest accomplishments in the non-profit space is raising 4,446 volunteer hours for local non-profits by organizing Timeraiser150.

What has been your favorite event/initiative that the Impact Team has run?

Groundswellers are such a fit (and competitive!) bunch that as soon as I heard about our Fitness Fundraising Challenge, I was confident it would be a standout success – which, of course, it turned out to be. I can’t wait until the 2022 edition kicks off!

What are you most excited about for 2022?

2022 will be the second year of our commitment to the BC Children’s Hospital as the main focus of Groundswell’s charitable giving, which is such a fantastic cause! I’m looking forward to expanding how we can help.

Anpurna Lavingia

Why are you on the impact team? What do you hope to achieve on the team?

I joined Groundswell at the tail end of 2021, which was just in time for the last initiative of the year – the Covenant House boxes! Seeing the Company come together for such a great cause made me want to help create more moments like this.

What is important to you at work and in your community? 

I frequently volunteered within my community, at libraries, festivals, and shelters when I was younger. It was eye-opening to me to see how much a small act of kindness can impact someone, so it is important to me to continue this.

What has been your favorite event/initiative that the Impact Team has run?

Since I’ve only experienced one event, I would say the Covenant House. But I have heard lots of good things about other events held like the Acts of Kindness Challenge!

What are you most excited about for 2022?

I’m most excited to work closely with the awesome Impact team members and see what we can create this year!

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Interested in learning more about our team and opportunities?

Check us out! https://gscloudsolutions.com/careers/