Riaz Mamdani builds a legacy with Strategic Group’s Let’s Eat! campaign

In 2012, Riaz Mamdani was presented with an idea by one of his Team Members. He realized immediately that the idea, with the right support, could grow and develop into something extraordinary. Since that day three years ago, Mr. Mamdani has not been disappointed with the decision to put his energy and commitment behind Strategic Group’s Lets Eat! campaign.

Strategic Group of companies with a focus on real estate, and of which Riaz Mamdani is the CEO, has established a list of values for the organization that is championed by every member of the company. (Employees are referred to as Team Members). The Let’s Eat! campaign underscores the established values of Impact (making a difference) Pride (each team member is proud of his /her involvement) and Legacy (efforts made to grow the program bigger than the year before).

The idea behind Let’s Eat! was based on the simple fact that it is estimated that 90,000 Canadians (http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/Media/News-Releases/HungerCount-reveals-alarmingly-high-need-for-food.aspx) access food banks across the country monthly and four out of every ten of those people are children. As we drill down, we find that last year in Calgary, where Riaz Mamdani’s head office (http://money.ca/you_and_your_money/riaz-mamdani/) is based, The Calgary Food Bank (http://www.calgaryfoodbank.com/) – a non-profit organization offering residents of Calgary access to nutritional food in times of need – fed over 130,000 Calgarians with their emergency food services program. The reach of this food bank stretches beyond Alberta, with 63 national food banks receiving food donations from the Calgary Food Bank. Operating solely from the generosity and donations from Calgary residents and businesses, The Calgary Food Bank has been able to provide 486,000 meals and snacks to over 110 local agencies that provide emergency support annually.

Understanding the value that comes with community engagement, Riaz Mamdani provided his Team Members with the necessary support through resources across his organization resulting in the development of a marketing and branding initiative to engage all Team Members as well as the tenants in Strategic Group’s owned and managed buildings.  Riaz Mamdani comments, “Initiatives like the Let’s Eat! campaign, are a big part of Strategic Group’s engagement with Calgary (http://lifeasahuman.com/2014/making-a-difference/riaz-mamdani-did-what-at-the-toss-riaz-fundraiser/) and I always look forward to participating in the current year as well as rising to the challenge to raise more and more for those that need it the following year.”

This year alone, Strategic Group, together with tenants, contractors, family and friends, raised 4,043 pounds of food for the drive and cash donations. Riaz Mamdani matched the cash donation amount penny for penny, making a significant contribution to the grand total of donations from Strategic Group’s four-day drive.