Social Good & Social Impact

Project management isn't just for business – it's a transformative force for community good.

PMI’s purpose is to maximize project success to elevate our world. At PMI-DHC, we aim to translate this purpose into tangible community benefits for Durham Region and the surrounding communities, while providing members with opportunities to contribute to meaningful causes.

A message from our Social Impact Lead

“At PMI Durham Highlands, we believe that project management can be a force for good. Through our Social Impact initiatives, we aim to use our skills, networks, and resources to strengthen the communities where we live and work. Whether it’s supporting local charities, championing volunteerism, or advancing social sustainability, every initiative reflects our shared commitment to making a meaningful difference; one project, one act, and one connection at a time.”

Julie Zabizewski, Social Impact Lead

What is Social Good?

Social Good refers to general actions that benefit society, like beach clean-ups or food drives.

Social Good initiatives

2025 Feed The Need in Durham – Warehouse Shift

On Thursday, November 27, 2025, 12 members participated in a hands-on warehouse shift at Feed the Need Durham’s Production Hall, where they worked together to organize donated food into categories and saw the direct impact — how sorted food moves into the FTND system to be distributed to over 70 member agencies across Durham Region.

2025 Shoppers Drug Mart® Run for Women

The PMI-DHC Trailblazers team participated in the 2025 Shoppers Drug Mart® Run for Women in Whitby on Sunday, June 22, 2025 in support of the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.

The team was proud to join more than 1,800 runners and walkers in support of women’s mental health in our community. In addition to the 5K walk/run, the mighty team of five collectively raised $848.79 for Ontario Shores!

Yoga for Mental Health – CAMH Sunrise Challenge

Members of the PMI Durham Highlands Chapter joined Bohemian Bliss Yoga for a Sunrise Yoga Challenge in support of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The early-morning session, held at 5:30 a.m. along the shores of Lake Ontario, was part of the national CAMH Sunrise Challenge, which encourages participants to “rise together” each morning to raise awareness and funds for mental health and addiction services.

This peaceful beachside event embodied mindfulness, connection, and community; reminding participants of the importance of starting each day with intention and gratitude.

Through this initiative, PMI-DHC helped shine a light on the importance of mental well-being and the power of collective action. Together, we continue to rise for mental health.

What is Social Impact?

Social Impact at PMI specifically means leveraging project management skills to create deeper, systemic improvements in non-profit organizations.

Areas of impact

Ontario Project Management Competition & Youth Conference (OPMC & YC)

Since 2021, PMI-DHC has been a proud supporter of the Ontario Project Management Competition (OPMC), an annual event launched in 2017 to inspire and develop the next generation of project professionals.

From the start, our chapter has contributed in many ways—providing logistical, website, registration, judging and speaker support, while also sponsoring cash prizes for winning teams. In addition, several DHC volunteers have been actively involved in planning and event delivery in the early years. Several of our leaders, including Mireille Landry, Lori MacEachern, Heather Ricciuto, and Chigozie Adeyeye, have contributed as speakers, sharing their expertise and inspiring students and young professionals.

At the heart of OPMC is a powerful challenge: "multiple student teams compete head-to-head, applying project management skills to tackle the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)." The SDGs are a set of 17 environmental and humanitarian priorities to be achieved by 2030, offering a vision for a greener, more equitable future—where clean energy and sustainable practices are driving forces for change.

The OPMC has become a cornerstone event for youth in project management, and DHC is proud to continue investing in this initiative. Mark your calendars—the 2026 10th edition takes place on March 29, 2026.

Together, we are supporting young talent, championing the SDGs, and strengthening the future of our profession.

Current and upcoming opportunities