Who we are?
Swag for Kids is a non-profit foundation organization that helps individual kids reach their educational or athletic learning goals. We raise funds by auctioning off swag (donations by generous celebrities, businesses, award shows) and we use the money to fund educational or athletic activities for kids across North America.
The swag is turned into funds for the fees and equipment costs that might otherwise stop a kid from joining in an educational or learning opportunity. Applications are accepted by, or on behalf of, any child who may be unable to participate in a sporting, creative or learning opportunity because of financial barriers.
Every request is important, whether it be bus fare for music lessons or fees for science camp. Our Board of Directors meets on a quarterly basis to review requests and make awards based on available resources.
Swagforkids.org was founded by Greg Strong, president of The Curam Group; a man with access to the many benefits and perks that come with leadership and success.
Board of Directors
Gregory Strong, President of THE CURAM GROUP
Thom Bennett, President of BENNETT INSURANCE AGENCY
Robert Ford, Partner in GOWLINGS LAW
Shaun McEwan, Chief Financial Officer, Wi-LAN
Andrew Turner, CEO and founder of JETSTAR
Gregory Strong
Greg Strong has been a strategic thinker all his life, from the rocky cliffs of Newfoundland to the Hill in Ottawa, and later the beaches of Orlando and Vancouver, his leadership and creativity have thrived on helping people cope with complicated issues and critical events. In 2001, Greg founded The Curam Group, a firm that specializes in implementing strategic initiatives on behalf of its clients. Curam, which takes its name from the Gaelic for caring, has a long list of clients that attest to its caring nature.
Before establishing The Curam Group, Greg served as vice president of Corporate Communications for Calian Technology Ltd (TSE: CTY), where he acted as the company's primary liaison with government officials at the municipal, provincial, federal and international levels; and implemented corporate branding strategies to boost the company's image and manage relations with its shareholders, prospective investors and staff.
Greg excels in bringing branding strategies to life, designing the marketing mix to inform, educate and advance a strong brand identity. In a fiercely competitive high-tech market, Greg raised the dynamic Kanata-based company's profile both nationally and internationally.
Graduating Carleton University with a degree in Sociology and Political Science, Greg has always been an active participant in area fundraising activities and regularly donates his time and services. He is a recipient of the Top 'Forty under 40' Ottawa Business Journal award, granted to people who will shape the economic future of Ottawa, in recognition of outstanding business leadership, direction and focus.
Thom Bennett
Thom Bennett has spent the past thirty years amassing a wealth of business experience and marketing success. As president of Bennett Insurance Agency, Thom achieved Canada-wide recognition by two major global insurance companies – Great-West Life and Manulife Financial, who welcome his leadership in pioneering effective employee benefits and programs. In all, Thom oversees the day-to-day management of over $11,000,000 in client premiums.
Since joining Great-West Life 24 years ago, Thom has been a member of the prestigious President’s Club 18 times and is now a lifetime member. Nine years in a row, Thom was awarded Large Group Producer for the Ottawa Region; five times Selectpac Producer; and twenty times President’s Council of Great-West Life – and Manulife Financial's Small Group Leaders award.
Thom is active in community partnership and volunteer foundations. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the St. Patrick’s Home Foundation, a volunteer on the Fundraising Committee for St. Vincent’s Hospital and a member of South Ottawa Kiwanis, where he assists in major fundraising endeavours and distribution of charitable donations to people, families and charitable groups – like Meals on Wheels.
Thom is a member of the Silver Sticks Committee of the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club – a high profile group of influential Ottawa executives aimed at promoting the success of the club and of Senators'management/ players' participation in the community and local charities. Thom was appointed to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Board of Governors in March 2008, and later in June, to the Geriatric Day Hospital at the Élisabeth Bruyére Health Centre.
Robert Ford
Robert (Bob) Ford is a partner in Gowlings' business law department working from the Gowlings Kanata Technology Law Office, a specialized office of Gowlings dedicated to servicing the particular needs of technology and biotechnology companies and those investors that fund them.Bob provides advice to both senior and emerging technology and biotechnology companies, investment banks, private equity and venture capital investors in domestic and cross border equity and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, technology/biotechnology licensing transactions and corporate reorganizations. He has advised clients in a variety of commercial industries, including biotechnology, semi-conductor, networking systems, hardware, software, web-based and e-businesses.
Bob brings valuable practical experience and perspective to his clients having served as entrepreneur-in-residence with Celtic House Venture Partners (a leading venture capital firm), President & CEO of Ardesic Corporation (acquired December 2001), General Counsel at TimeStep Corporation (acquired August 1999) and Vice-president of Finance, Legal and Corporate Relations at Castleton Network Systems Corporation (acquired November 1998). From 1994-1997, Bob practiced law with a prominent Vancouver law firm.
Bob is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia (1994) and the Law Society of Upper Canada (2000). He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons.) from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and a LL.B. from the University of British Columbia.
Bob has served as director and corporate secretary for a number of corporations and is currently a director the Canadian Internet Registration Authority and Chairman of its Governance Committee. Bob is a recipient of a 2003 Top 'Forty under 40' Award presented by the Ottawa Business Journal in recognition of his successes in business and law.
Shaun McEwan
Shaun is the CFO for Wi-LAN, a recognized pioneer in the design, development and delivery of broadband wireless technologies. As chief financial officer, Shaun is responsible for all financial and fiscal management aspects of Wi-LAN's operations including business planning, accounting, budgeting and financial reporting.
Shaun has more than 16 years of experience in finance and executive leadership. Prior to joining Wi-LAN, he held the position of CFO at BreconRidge, where he was responsible for overall financial management. His many accomplishments while at BreconRidge include private placement transactions that raised more than $40 million as well as completing numerous corporate acquisitions.
Prior to BreconRidge, Shaun served in increasingly senior positions at Calian Technologies, first as CFO and then as president and CEO. During his tenure at Calian, Shaun was responsible for all financial affairs of the publicly traded company, helping to grow revenues to more than $125 million. Shaun has also held senior executive positions at Microstar Software, and led the company's initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 1993. Shaun is a Chartered Accountant.
Andrew Turner
In August 2005, Andrew Turner founded THE JETSTAR GROUP and within two years internationally recognized brands like PEPSI, TROPICANA, AMP Energy Drink, Trojan Condoms and FRITOLAY have retained JETSTAR in Canada as sole Agency of Record for all their music and entertainment initiatives.
Graduating university with a degree in psychology, Turner began his career with the CANADA COUNCIL in their intensive and acclaimed 1-year Artist Management program. Shortly thereafter, he landed at THE AGENCY, where he was credited with signing THE CRASH TEST DUMMIES and worked with acts like THE TRAGICALLY HIP, KIM MITCHELL, SARAH MCLACHLAN and others.
After returning to school to complete an MBA in Strategic Marketing, which he received with distinction from the University of Toronto, he entered the world of brand management where his first assignment was working on WELCH’S and OCEAN SPRAY. However in 1995, when former colleagues in the marketing world began approaching him about integrating music with communication plans, Turner founded BAT CAVE, which went on to become Canada’s leading Experiential Youth marketing agency.
BAT CAVE produced many national marketing properties including THE PEPSI TASTE TOUR, ALLEY CATS SCRAMBLE, B&H GOLD SERIES, and the MOUNTAIN DEW ALL STAR SKATE TOUR.
Then in 2003, when BAT CAVE was acquired by N5R, Turner took a much-deserved hiatus to reflect and “watch the leaves change color and spend time with my son in Muskoka”, he explains. It comes as no surprise that while replenishing his batteries he came up with a new marketing model…which would eventually become JETSTAR, and Turner hasn't looked back since.