As of this year, HMA has been in business for 20 years! When HMA began, it was just Harvey running the show himself. He eventually realized that as much as he loved having conversations with himself, he needed a few people around to help him grow the business.

An office was found, coffee machine purchased, and more and more clients came on board. Soon Harvey was employing a team of the best fundraising professionals in the business and working with many of Canada’s leading non-profits!

To mark the 20th Anniversary, the Toronto and Vancouver staff met in Vancouver for a week of strategic planning with HMA’s business consultant, Elizabeth Crook from Orchard Advisors. These strategic planning sessions reminded everyone how lucky we are to work together in helping great causes across Canada and internationally. Because we wanted to do some more good and hang out together- the HMA gang headed to the UBC Farm for an afternoon of hard work! The light rain and arduous labour ☺ did not deter our staff and everyone loved being out in nature and lending a hand to a beautiful part of the UBC community and our city!

Strategic planning and some dirty work were wonderful... but the highlight of the week was definitely the look on the Harvey’s face as he entered the HMA Surprise 20th Anniversary Party!

Entirely unaware, Harvey walked into the Wicklow Pub with his lovely wife, Marcia, expecting a romantic personal anniversary (he was hardly fazed by Marcia’s purse with yoga mats and juggling balls).  Instead, he was greeted by Vancouver friends and colleagues, past and present, that he has collected over the last 20 years in fundraising.  The evening was filled with warm words, fond memories, beautiful tributes and, of course, dirty jokes, courtesy of long time friend and colleague, MC Bill Tieleman.  As the sun set over False Creek, we all raised a glass to Harvey and the work he has done and to another exciting 20 years to come for him and HMA! Cheers!

While we had the whole staff in town, we decided to put them to work at the UBC farm!