Founder & CEO of Swag Bag Inc.
Meet Farah Bhanji, the Founder and CEO of Swag Bag Inc. Farah is a humanitarian and entrepreneur; she is also an acclaimed visionary award winner who graduated from Ryerson University. In 2004, she became the pioneer award recipient of the Cadillac Fairview Visionaries in Retail Innovation. In 2005, she was the proud recipient of the Perrenial Inc. Creative Solutions Award, the Wal-mart Award and became a member of the Golden Key Academic Society. Later that year, she was also awarded the Joe Jackman Innovations Award and again with a second Wal-mart Award. Known for her optimism, hard work, and dedication, some of her mentors include Mahatma Gandhi, Anthony Robbins, Mother Theresa, Oprah Winfrey, James Roswell Quinn, and Princess Diana along with a list of other influential people.
For over 7 years, Farah Bhanji has dedicated her life to developing a Humanitarian Corporation that connects businesses with consumers and their communities through charitable gifting. In launch of Swag Bag Inc., she introduced The Celebrate Life Awareness Campaign as a means to collectively bring people together to share and easily access information, tools and resources that support the cancer education and allow for the peoples voices to be heard. Cancer has affected Farah on a personal level in which she had lost her grandmother, uncle, younger cousins and best friend. Through these experiences, she has learned the true value of life and each moment it brings.
For over 7 years, Farah Bhanji has dedicated her life to developing a Humanitarian Corporation that connects businesses with consumers and their communities through charitable gifting. In launch of Swag Bag Inc., she introduced The Celebrate Life Awareness Campaign as a means to collectively bring people together to share and easily access information, tools and resources that support the cancer education and allow for the peoples voices to be heard. Cancer has affected Farah on a personal level in which she had lost her grandmother, uncle, younger cousins and best friend. Through these experiences, she has learned the true value of life and each moment it brings.
Testamonies
“Her leadership, energy, and partnership skills inspire confidence in innovative outcomes, and offer every promise of success.” “The mission and principles of Swag Bag Inc. are impressive for the strength of their strategic planning, operating details and the way business, consumers, and charities are brought together. The approach is professional and ingenious, and a welcome addition to a market that is progressive, competitive and socially aware.” Sheldon Levy, President of Ryerson University
"As a winner of the Perennial award while at Ryerson's School of Retail Management, Farah demonstrated not just a flare for creative retail thinking but also a real entrepreneurial spirit. She may be young, but watch out for this one!" Chris Lund, CEO of Perennial Inc.
"As a winner of the Perennial award while at Ryerson's School of Retail Management, Farah demonstrated not just a flare for creative retail thinking but also a real entrepreneurial spirit. She may be young, but watch out for this one!" Chris Lund, CEO of Perennial Inc.
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November 21, 2013
I would like to extend a sincere Thank you to the Legacy Mastery for their contribution and support to our campaign. On November 21, 2013, The Celebrate Life campaign had its first public awareness event at A Woman’s Legacy Show. The event was very successful and drew over 2000 women to Toronto to hear some of todays most empowering and inspiring female speakers who included:
Jan Arden, renowned musician, author and recipient of 8 Juno Awards;
Julia Gillard, the honorable Prime Minister of Australia who was central to the successful management of the 12th largest economy
during the Global Financial Crisis;
Roxana Saberi, an Iranian-American Journalist falsely accused and imprisoned in Iran and author of ‘Between Two Worlds: My Life
and Captivity in Iran’;
Susan Cain, best selling author of ‘Quiet: The Power of Introverts’ which instantly became New York Times bestseller and was
translated into 30 different languages;
Amanda Lang, co-host of CBC TV’s Lang and O’Leary Exchange and author of the best seller, ‘The Power of Why: Simple Questions
that Lead to Success’;
and Kimberly Marr, who ranked in the top 1% of sales in Canada with RE/MAX and author of ‘Your First Home’ and ‘How to Buy US
Real estate for Canadians’.
The Celebrate Life campaign is proud to be supported by the Legacy Mastery.
Jan Arden, renowned musician, author and recipient of 8 Juno Awards;
Julia Gillard, the honorable Prime Minister of Australia who was central to the successful management of the 12th largest economy
during the Global Financial Crisis;
Roxana Saberi, an Iranian-American Journalist falsely accused and imprisoned in Iran and author of ‘Between Two Worlds: My Life
and Captivity in Iran’;
Susan Cain, best selling author of ‘Quiet: The Power of Introverts’ which instantly became New York Times bestseller and was
translated into 30 different languages;
Amanda Lang, co-host of CBC TV’s Lang and O’Leary Exchange and author of the best seller, ‘The Power of Why: Simple Questions
that Lead to Success’;
and Kimberly Marr, who ranked in the top 1% of sales in Canada with RE/MAX and author of ‘Your First Home’ and ‘How to Buy US
Real estate for Canadians’.
The Celebrate Life campaign is proud to be supported by the Legacy Mastery.
July 10, 2013
Dear Friends,
I lost 4 of my loved ones to cancer and not too long ago found out a beautiful soul who took me in when I needed a home also passed away from cancer - she was in her 40's. The word 'cancer' itself brought only negative angst in me. I can still hear my grandmother repeatedly telling me she was going to die and she didn't want to go; putting my life on hold and being there for my 24 year old cousin/brother everyday for 3 months watching him suffer with a tube in his nose that was removing his feces. He had such a passion for cooking and was just accepted into the culinary department at George Brown and because of the cancer, was denied the pleasure to eat. He had such a passion for life and was told he had no time left to live. Another one of my cousins, a twin was just about to turn 19 when he died from cancer, and my best friend and photography coach passed at the age of 65. It’s like the weight was getting heavier, so I decided to somehow change this around into a positive.
As a result, I began to focus on cancer survivors and how much strength, courage and appreciation they have for life. I wanted to be able to gift to them - something to recognize them for their strengths, courage and inspiration while reminding us all how precious life really is. I chose to do this through a launch event for a humanitarian corporation I created called Swag Bag Inc. Originally this 6 month social media campaign was focused on Toronto, Canada but now the interest of our outreach is growing globally. Along my journey I met others who felt the same, including Jeff Karhoff, who painted my vision before I knew him, and who has donated his art work as our logo, “uniting all the cancer ribbons into one” and that is how it all began.
Since then, I have connected with so many Super Stars!, including Paul T Legler ,Randy Cramer and his wife Vicky Klass Cramer, Alli Minarik and Raymund Ong, each with their own story in helping others and who have now joined us as our first Global Ambassadors to represent Celebrate Life and carry it forward. Through them I have learned so much more and realized there was a tremendous need for a platform that is for the people by the people to share information, knowledge, stories and support around cancer. I am happy to volunteer my life to helping those who understand the importance of unity and the importance of helping one another. What began as a focus in Toronto, Canada is continuing to grow globally. My dream is to represent Toronto as the prototype and to see Celebrate Life grow in other cities around the world and join all of us as one.
I must admit, originally I didn't see the bigger picture, and I would like to correct that as we move forward. Celebrate Life is an event not only designed to celebrate the lives of cancer survivors, but to celebrate the lives of all people. Life is precious and each one of us has been given this gift. From here on forward, this event is giving back to cancer survivors and those living with cancer. Thank you for all the lessons I've learned in this short time and all the wonderful people I get to meet along the way. I have never felt so fulfilled. My name is Farah Bhanji, and I am proud to present to you Celebrate Life.
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