What we've learned at Facebook is that with more than 18 million active users across the country, Canadian charities have the potential to use the social network to engage and inspire people to tap into their connections, helping to raise awareness and donations.

When Dana Florence gave birth to triplets on January 1, 2008, life changed -- dramatically. The triplets were born 15 weeks premature and the fight for their lives began, enduring many procedures and surgeries to keep them alive.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has told Canadians: "Free your pennies from their prisons at home and donate them to charity." However, he does not want you to liberate American pennies from the prisons in your home by donating them to charity.

Jack Layton will be remembered more as a myth than as a man. What does this mean in practical political terms? Well, nothing gets donors reaching for their wallets faster than plucking their heart strings.

I have fundraised, borrowed money, volunteered time and made numerous sacrifices over the past seven years to send my daughters to private school and I suspect that I will continue to do so over the next 10 years. So why do I do it? Very simply, I value the character formation of my daughters.