Why We Can’t Donate to Every Organization (Even Though We Wish We Could) Giving back to the community
- AprilDawn Jubinville
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Running AJ’s Mystic Mirror Photo Booth has given us the privilege of being part of so many incredible events across Manitoba — weddings, grads, fundraisers, community celebrations, and everything in between. One of the things we value most is giving back. Supporting local organizations, charities, and community groups is something that means a lot to us personally and as a business.
But as much as we wish we could donate to every cause that reaches out, the reality is that we simply can’t.
Every week, we receive 4–5 donation requests from amazing organizations doing meaningful work. We truly try our best to choose 2–3 events a year to support — and somehow, every year, that number grows into 4–5 (or more!) because we have such a hard time saying no. We know how important these events are, and we know how much impact they have.
Still, as a small business — especially during slower seasons — we have to balance giving back with staying sustainable. The more we grow, the more we’re able to donate. But when business slows down, it becomes harder to say yes as often as our hearts want to.
Organizations We’ve Proudly Supported
Even with limited capacity, we’ve been honoured to donate our booths, props, overlays, and gift certificates to so many incredible Manitoba organizations over the years:
Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation Manitoba
We’ve supported multiple events including:
Their curling fundraiser
Their baseball fundraiser
Bikes for Bikers
Their major Night of Miracles Gala
Manitoba Possible
Donated our booth to the Drop Zone event
Drop Zone Event
Epilepsy and Seizure Association of Manitoba
This cause is especially close to our hearts because of my granddaughter’s seizure disorder. We proudly donate our booth to the Maurice Dumontier Golf Tournament
.
Community Events
We love supporting local families and communities:
Holland Family Fun Day — donated the Camper Photo Booth
La Salle Trunk or Treat — donated the Camper Booth
Many local school events, socials, and community fundraisers
Gift Certificates & Auction Support
We’ve donated gift certificates to:
Adoption Options
School fundraisers
Socials
Community raffles
Silent auctions
And many more
June 2026 Donations
Even this month alone, we’ve donated:
Our booth to our local Grade 8 Farewell
Our booth to the Epilepsy and Seizure Association of Manitoba
We’ve also provided discounts, baskets, and additional support to many others.
Why We Can’t Say Yes to Everyone-Why We Can’t Donate to Every Organization (Even Though We Wish We Could) Giving back to the community.
Those who know me know that if I could donate to every cause, I absolutely would. My heart says yes far more often than my business realistically can. But donations come with real costs — staff time, travel, equipment, printing, setup, teardown, and the loss of a date we could have booked at full price.
We’ve already gone well beyond our usual donation limit this year, even during a period where business was slower than normal. We’re just now starting to pick up again, and we’re grateful for every booking that helps us continue supporting the community.
The truth is simple: The more we grow, the more we can give. Every event booked with us helps us say yes to another charity, another school, another family, another cause.
💛 Thank You for Understanding
We appreciate every organization that reaches out to us. We see the passion behind your events, and we admire the work you do. Even when we can’t donate, we’re cheering for you and wishing your fundraiser or event huge success.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our small business — because of you, we’re able to support others.
-Why We Can’t Donate to Every Organization (Even Though We Wish We Could)Why We Can’t Donate to Every Organization (Even Though We Wish We Could) Giving back to the community.
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