When Dan Murray talks about why he chose to support Thrive Community Support Circle, he doesn’t start with numbers.
He starts with community.
“What made us decide to support Thrive was the need around the new building,” Dan explains. “We were interested in supporting a capital project like that, and the inner city of Winnipeg really needs that kind of investment.”
For Dan, who has lived in Manitoba his whole life, and for his son Grayson, who has grown up in Winnipeg, the decision felt personal. Supporting Thrive wasn’t just about a project — it was about their city.
“It’s important that we support Winnipeg,” Dan says. “Especially where the need is greatest right now.”
Although their business is based in the suburbs, they know what’s happening downtown.
“When you go downtown, you see how many people are struggling. There are a lot of mental health challenges. People are living on the street,” Dan reflects. “Those people need support. But where you really want to see the help is with young people — making sure they have a roof over their head, food in their stomach, and an opportunity to be educated.”
As they learned more about Thrive’s daily work — supporting youth with parenting essentials, advocacy, food security, mental health supports, scholarships, community programs, and a licensed child care centre — something clicked.
“The way you support people,” Dan says, “it’s almost like parents helping the families around them. From that standpoint, it just seemed like a great organization.”
Grayson agrees. In a city that often makes headlines for its challenges, it matters to see organizations growing their presence and showing up consistently.
“You hear about a lot of trouble going on in the news every day,” Grayson says. “So it’s good to know there’s active support happening and that Thrive is trying to grow that presence in downtown Winnipeg.”
For Dan giving to Thrive felt right — not because he claims to know everything about the organization, but because they saw genuine leadership, real need, and real action.
“We felt good enough to make a significant donation,” Dan shares. “There are a lot of great people involved in supporting Thrive, and we’re pleased to be part of it.”
Their support helps ensure that young people in Winnipeg have access to stable child care, food, mental health support, advocacy, and safe community spaces — not just today, but for the long term.
Because when community steps up for community, real change happens.
And that, as Dan might say, just makes sense.
