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AGENDA - Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee - 20210730Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 10 a.m. Video Conference Public Release July 27, 2020 Town of Aurora Additional Items to Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 10 a.m., Video Conference •Revised Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Index •Application (g) – York Region Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers Public Release July 27, 2020 Town of Aurora Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda (Revised) Date: Thursday, July 30, 2020 Time and Location: 10 a.m., Video Conference This meeting will be held electronically as per Section 20.1 of the Town's Procedure By- law No. 6228-19, as amended, due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency. 1. Approval of the Agenda 2. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof 3. Receipt of the Minutes Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes of December 5, 2019 Recommended: That the Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee meeting minutes of December 5, 2019, be received for information. 4. Delegations 5. Matters for Consideration 1. Applications Received to Date (a) Abuse Hurts (b) Welcoming Arms (c) Women’s Centre of York Region Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda (Revised) Thursday, July 30, 2020 Page 2 of 2 (d) The Salvation Army of York Region (g) York Region Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers (Added Item) Recommended: 1. That Application (a), Application (b), Application (c), Application (d), and Application (g) be received; and 2. That the Committee provide direction to either: a. Grant funding request; b. Deny funding request; or c. Defer consideration of funding request to a future meeting. 6. Informational Items 2. Verbal Update from Town Clerk Re: Committee Updates Recommended: 1. That the verbal update regarding Committee Updates be received for information. 7. Closed Session Recommended: That the Committee resolve into a Closed Session to consider the following matter: 3. Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees (Section 239(2)(b) of the Municipal Act, 2001); Re: Application (e) – Kinark Child and Family Services 4. Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees (Section 239(2)(b) of the Municipal Act, 2001); Re: Application (f) – Kinark Child and Family Services 8. Adjournment      York Region Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers Office: 361 Eagle Street, Newmarket ON L3Y 1K5 kwarner@roseofsharon.com 905.716.3953 Additional Items to Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (g) Page 1 of 10 361 Eagle St Newmarket, ON L3Y 1K5 ⃒ 905-853-5514⃒www.roseofsharon.com Registered Charity No 13323 5903 RR0001 June 17, 2020 Mayor Tom Mrakas Aurora Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic Aurora Town Hall 100 John West Way, Box 1000 Aurora, Ontario, L4G 6J1 Via email: clerks@aurora.ca Dear Mayor Mrakas, For 35 years, Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers has offered life-changing resources which support vulnerable young mothers (under 25 years) while they build greater stability in their children’s lives. Since 1985, we have offered free supportive programs and educational services each year to close to 300 prenatal and parenting young mothers and their children. Our Mission is to: “Empower young mothers to embrace their strengths and support the future they envision for themselves and their children .” We have a strong long-standing relationship with the community of Aurora:  We provide free parenting and personal development support services to 32 Aurora/Newmarket young women and their children.  We currently offer our ‘All Babies Count’ – prenatal program that promotes healthy pregnancies in a friendly and welcoming space to 20 Aurora/Newmarket pregnant and parenting youth.  Early in Rose of Sharon’s history, the agency operated a residential home in Aurora at the historic 50 Tyler Street location. Residential services ended in 1985 when the need for day programs across York Region increased. During COVID-19, everyone is focused on staying healthy including our mothers who are caring for babies and young children. We are not letting the pandemic stop us from connecting with youth parents when they need us most, so we have adapted our services to offer the essential support that young families will immediately benefit from:  We are delivering emergency family care packages of food and baby care supplies.  We are offering 1-on-1 counselling support through telephone calls, text messages and driveway chats to ensure that families remain safe and continue to be supported.  We have provided online high school courses so students could work towards their graduation and education goals.  We are developing and facilitating online workshops focused on prenatal health, mother and child health/wellness and parenting workshops that can be accessed from home. We appreciate that normal charity golf tournaments have been put on hold. While we adjust to the new normal and what that means, our young mothers need to be supported now more than ever and we are committed to being here to help them. Additional Items to Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (g) Page 2 of 10 361 Eagle St Newmarket, ON L3Y 1K5 ⃒ 905-853-5514⃒www.roseofsharon.com Registered Charity No 13323 5903 RR0001 We are asking the Town of Aurora to consider donating $5,000 in support of Rose of Sharon’s COVID-19 essential services. Your donation will fund:  $3,750 – To purchase baby care supplies (formula, cereal, food, diapers, wipes) for 25 family emergency care packages that will be delivered to high-needs families during the pandemic. These supplies are not offered at local food banks.  Baby care supplies cost approximately $150 per family per month. We have delivered over 400 packages since the beginning of the pandemic! We anticipate this number will continue to increase before the end of COVID-19. The current total monthly cost for baby care supplies is estimated at: $7950. Currently 100% of this expense is being covered by Rose of Sharon. We do not have dedicated funding for this unexpected expense and over time this will result in financial hardship for our charity.  $1,300 – To purchase 1 Laptop (HP Probook with Microsoft operating software) for frontline staff who are working from home during the pandemic and are offering online support. Our Parenting and Personal Development team is currently running mother and baby internet-based workshops on topics like: prenatal and baby health, parenting tools, child development, healthy meals on a budget and family resources. Counsellors are staying connected with our families through technology – checking on their well-being and offering support to help reduce the high levels of stress and anxiety that young mothers are experiencing while being in isolation. Once the pandemic is over, the laptop will continue be used by Rose of Sharon’s support staff.  As per the funding guidelines, Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers has not received funding support from the Town of Aurora since 2017. Your gift will help Aurora young mothers connect with the family resources and baby care supplies that they need most during this pandemic. We truly appreciate your consideration of our request. Rose of Sharon is a registered York Region charity (13323 5903 RR0001). I have attached a copy of our Annual Report which provides an overview of our charity. If you would like additional information, please feel free to contact me through my personal cell: or by email: kwarner@roseofsharon.com. Sincerely, Karen Karen Warner Fund Development Manager Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers Additional Items to Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (g) Page 3 of 10 ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 Additional Items to Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (g) Page 4 of 10 Over the 2018-19 fiscal year at Rose of Sharon, we spent time reflecting on our many accomplishments and planning the future direction of the agency. During the past year, we embarked on a Mission and Values clarification process with the help of a consultant. We recognized the need to redefine our agency’s guiding statements as we move into a new three-year strategic plan in 2019-20. With input from staff, volunteers, board members and young mothers, our new Mission and Values reflect a diverse array of perspectives as well as our 34-year history. We are honoured to share our new Mission and Values statements with you on the next page. In the 2018-19 year, we made great strides in our efforts to make our programs, services and spaces more trauma-informed. At Rose of Sharon, a trauma-informed approach begins with understanding the physical, social and emotional impacts of trauma on an individual and taking this into consideration when interacting with participants, staff, volunteers and board members. As an agency, we created and launched a Trauma-Informed Care training video which has been used to educate all volunteers, board members and community partners on what it means to be trauma-informed at Rose of Sharon.We would like to thank and acknowledge the extraordinary contributions of our dedicated staff and volunteers. To our partners and donors, we extend our heartfelt gratitude as you enable us to provide programs and supports to every young mother and child that walks through our doors. To our young mothers and their children, our immense gratitude for allowing us to walk this journey with you. As we enter our 35th year of service, we look forward to working with our caring community of supporters to offer hope and belonging to the young families we serve.Board Members2018–19 FISCAL YEARSusan LaRosa CHAIRLisa Purdy VICE CHAIRThomas Reid TREASURERKirsten Eastwood SECRETARYBob Interbartolo APPOINTED Lynn Conforti DIRECTORJonathan Earle DIRECTORAmber Smith DIRECTORAndree Vincent DIRECTORJoe Gorman DIRECTORLeft: Susan LaRosa, Board Chair Right: Anna Pavan, Executive Director Executive Director and Board ChairREPORTAnna Pavan EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Susan LaRosa BOARD CHAIROur ValuesOur MissionEmpowering young mothers to embrace their strengths and support the future they envision for themselves and their children. CourageWe honour courage by embodying acceptance, empathy and respect for every individual. InclusivityWe embrace diversity by creating open and welcoming spaces and programs. BelongingWe foster connections to create meaningful relationships and a culture of belonging for young mothers. ResponsivenessWe develop innovative practices to meet the evolving needs of our families. 2018–19 Annual Report3Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers2Additional Items to Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (g) Page 5 of 10 “Being able to talk to my counsellor and let everything out has made space for me to focus on parenting, and my kids are growing up great.”When I was 16, I found out I was pregnant with my first child. I wanted to complete high school, but it felt impossible. Being pregnant at my “regular” school was very hard. When the guidance counsellor told me about Rose of Sharon, I felt hopeful about completing school while also becoming a mom. Growing up, my family didn’t show a lot of affection and my mom was always working. I didn’t feel I knew how to “be a mom.” When it came to parenting my own kids, Rose of Sharon taught me so much. If I was having difficulties addressing my children’s behaviour, the staff showed me techniques that made addressing these concerns much easier. I learned how to take care of my kids, and I learned a lot from other young moms I met at Rose of Sharon. I’m proud to say I completed high school at Rose of Sharon. Since then, I have continued to take part in group programs. One that really helped me was “Relationship Remix.” I did not see healthy relationships modelled for me in my family. When you grow up in a bad situation, you don’t understand how things can be different. Because of what I’ve learned, I know that I am in a healthy relationship with my partner. To everyone involved with Rose of Sharon, I would like to say thank you. You have made my life easier to handle. Being able to talk to my counsellor and let everything out has made space for me to focus on parenting, and my kids are growing up great. It also made space for me to focus on myself, which is very important. This never would have happened without Rose of Sharon. I would not be where I am today. In our 2018 participant survey, young moms who received support from Rose of Sharon reported the following improvements in their lives:95% improved family stability93% improved decision-making skills for themselves and their childrenOur Impact and Participant Outcomes12scholarships awarded49mothers participated in parenting and personal development group programs 154mothers participated in our prenatal program (All Babies Count)In the 2018–19 fiscal year, Rose of Sharon served309 MOMS and215 CHILDREN94% improved parenting capacity85% improved interpersonal relationships91% improved sense of self-worth93% increased hope for the futureResults are based on survey responses received in December 2018 from Rose of Sharon Parenting and Personal Development Program participants during the 2018 year. Left: Sarah at Rose of Sharon | Right: Sarah and her kidsIN THE WORDS OF A ROSE OF SHARON PARTICIPANTRose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers2018–19 Annual Report54Sarah’s StoryAdditional Items to Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (g) Page 6 of 10 Thank youTO OUR amazing donors and volunteers who make Rose of Sharon’s work possible!Additional Items to Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (g) Page 7 of 10 Rose of Sharon, a charitable organization, relies on the generosity of the community to help fulfill its mission. On December 11, 2017, my wife Melisa and I welcomed our son, Joseph Picone, into the world. It was by far the most breathtaking experience of my life. Words and stories simply cannot capture the magic of that moment, nor can they describe the life-changing challenges that all parents face as soon as they welcome a new life into the world. Melisa and I were blessed to have family support and guidance throughout Melisa’s pregnancy and since Joseph’s birth. I can’t imagine how we would have done it without all the help—help that so many of us take for granted because we have it.When I first learned about Rose of Sharon, I realized just how many mothers can’t get the help they need from their own support networks. Rose of Sharon fills this void. By supporting them when they need it most, Rose of Sharon gives young mothers and their children a chance to have an incredible life.The opportunity to provide other parents the same kind of support that Melisa and I have received from our families is an absolute no-brainer. We choose to support Rose of Sharon because all young families deserve help and support, and Rose of Sharon ensures those who need help receive it.$10,000+Ecclesiastical Insurance The Fyfe FoundationThe Meeting House Spectrum Health Care Foundation$2,000 to $4,999CIBC Children’s Foundation Country Toy Tea Johnson & Johnson Marion Ethel Kamm and Frederick John Kamm Foundation York Region Paramedic Services Winter Charity Gala $5,000 to $9,999Deutsche Bank F.K. Morrow Foundation The George Lunan Foundation JBS Foundation MSB Mechanical Inc. Our Lady of Grace Parish Sun Life Financial “By supporting them when they need it most, Rose of Sharon gives young mothers and their children a chance to have an incredible life.” A BIG THANK YOU TOAll Our DonorsThank you to all our individual donors, community groups, local businesses, private foundations and corporate partners—at all levels of giving—for your support throughout the year. We couldn’t do this work without you. You make a great difference in the lives and futures of young families in York Region. Note: We have not included individual donors in this list out of respect for their privacy. Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers82018–19 Annual Report9Vincent’s StoryWHY I GIVE TO ROSE OF SHARONAdditional Items to Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (g) Page 8 of 10 “There is so much hard work that goes into making Rose of Sharon a reality—I was honoured to become a part of that.” I absolutely love working with young children and the joy, youth and playfulness they all exude. Taking the step to apply as a volunteer for Rose of Sharon came from a place of passion and appreciation. There is so much hard work that goes into making Rose of Sharon a reality—I was honoured to become a part of that.Everyone needs support when things get difficult, and Rose of Sharon gives so many people hope and a sense of RevenuesFederal Government$178,590Provincial Government$123,315Municipal Government $338,439Catholic Charities$295,021Donations/Fundraising $463,636Other Revenue$3,849$1,402,850ExpensesPayroll and Related Costs $839,180Program Costs$263,672Building and Occupancy Costs$178,647General and Administrative Costs$120,330$1,401,829April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019Rose of Sharon would like to thank its volunteers for their invaluable support and dedication to the agency’s mission.community in those times. After all, no road is long in good company.I never fail to find meaning in volunteering at Rose of Sharon. I am filled with a sense of purpose when I see smiles on the children’s faces or put a baby to sleep in my arms, when a child and I create artwork together, or when I hear a simple thank you from moms and staff.When I am with the kids, I want them to feel important, cared for and acknowledged; I think this can go a long way in ensuring their healthy growth and development. These children never stop learning when they’re in the Child Development Centre, and I like to believe that playing a role in helping them learn is transformational for them and me.FinancialREPORT60%19%13%8%33%21%24%12%9%<1%Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers2018–19 Annual ReportKalea’s StoryWHY I VOLUNTEER AT ROSE OF SHARON1110Additional Items to Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (g) Page 9 of 10 Rose of Sharon Services For Young Mothers 361 Eagle St. Newmarket, ON L3Y 1K5 PHONE: 905-853-5514 FAX: 905-853-5949 TOLL FREE: 1-877-516-3715 EMAIL: information@roseofsharon.com WEBSITE: www.roseofsharon.com TWITTER @roseofsharon_85 INSTAGRAM @roseofsharon_85 FACEBOOK Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers Charitable Registration No. 13323 5903 RR0001 Additional Items to Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (g) Page 10 of 10 Public Release July 23, 2020 Town of Aurora Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Date: Thursday, July 30, 2020 Time and Location: 10 a.m., Video Conference 1.Approval of the Agenda 2. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof 3.Receipt of the Minutes Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes of December 5, 2019 Recommended: That the Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee meeting minutes of December 5, 2019, be received for information. 4.Delegations 5.Matters for Consideration 1.Applications Received to Date (a)Abuse Hurts (b)Welcoming Arms (c)Women’s Centre of York Region (d)The Salvation Army of York Region This meeting will be held electronically as per Section 20.1 of the Town's Procedure By-law No. 6228-19, as amended, due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency. Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Page 2 of 2 Recommended: 1. That Application (a), Application (b), Application (c), and Application (d) be received; and 2. That the Committee provide direction to either: a. Grant funding request; b. Deny funding request; or c. Defer consideration of funding request to a future meeting. 6. Informational Items 2. Verbal Update from Town Clerk Re: Committee Updates Recommended: 1. That the verbal update regarding Committee Updates be received for information. 7. Closed Session Recommended: That the Committee resolve into a Closed Session to consider the following matter: 3. Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees (Section 239(2)(b) of the Municipal Act, 2001); Re: Application (e) – Kinark Child and Family Services 4. Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees (Section 239(2)(b) of the Municipal Act, 2001); Re: Application (f) – Kinark Child and Family Services 8. Adjournment Town of Aurora Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes Date: Thursday, December 5, 2019 Time and Location: 10 a.m., Leksand Room, Aurora Town Hall Committee Members: Barb Allan, Wendy Browne, Rosalyn Gonsalves, Nancy Harrison, Koula Koliviras, and Beverley Wood Member(s) Absent: Heidi Schellhorn Other Attendees: Jason Gaertner, Manager of Financial Management Services, and Michael de Rond, Town Clerk The Appointment of the Chair and Vice Chair was considered following Delegation (a). Appointment of Chair and Vice Chair Moved by Beverley Wood Seconded by Rosalyn Gonsalves That Nancy Harrison be appointed as Chair of the Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee; and That Koula Koliviras be appointed as Vice Chair of the Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee. Carried 1. Approval of the Agenda Moved by Rosalyn Gonsalves Seconded by Koula Koliviras That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved. Carried Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Minutes Page 1 of 4 Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, December 5, 2019 Page 2 of 4 2. Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof There were no declarations of pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.50. 3. Receipt of the Minutes None 4. Delegations (a) Michael de Rond, Town Clerk Re: Committee Orientation The Town Clerk presented an overview of the roles and responsibilities of an advisory committee, committee members, the chair, and staff. He noted the importance of an advisory committee as a tool for civic engagement and highlighted various aspects of procedure, including the Town’s Procedure By- law and the new Code of Conduct for Local Boards. Moved by Beverley Wood Seconded by Barb Allan That the comments of the delegation be received for information. Carried 5. Matters for Consideration 1. Round Table Discussion 2019 Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic Funds – Funding Application and Disbursement Process The Committee discussed whether there would be a cheque presentation to organizations who receive funding, and a process for reporting how the funds were spent. The Town Clerk agreed to report back regarding this at the next meeting. Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Minutes Page 2 of 4 Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, December 5, 2019 Page 3 of 4 There was further discussion regarding whether there is a need for a yearly deadline for applications. The Committee agreed to not impose a deadline and see how that works for the current year. Moved by Wendy Browne Seconded by Barb Allan 1. That the Round Table Discussion regarding 2019 Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic Funds – Funding Application and Disbursement Process be received and the comments of the Committee be referred to staff for consideration and action as appropriate. Carried 2. Applications for Review a) All Kids Can Play The Committee reviewed the application in detail. There was discussion regarding various aspects of the program and its importance to the community. The Committee agreed that the application meets the criteria to receive funding from the Mayor’s Charity Golf Tournament. Moved by Wendy Browne Seconded by Beverley Wood 1. That Application (a) be received; and 2. That the Committee grant funding to All Kids Can Play in the amount of $5,000. Carried b) Youthspeak The Committee reviewed the application in detail, and discussed the program and the experiences of the participants. The Committee agreed that the application meets the criteria to receive funding from the Mayor’s Charity Golf Tournament. Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Minutes Page 3 of 4 Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, December 5, 2019 Page 4 of 4 Moved by Beverley Wood Seconded by Wendy Browne 1. That Application (b) be received; and 2. That the Committee grant funding to Youthspeak in the amount of $4,400. Carried 6. Adjournment Moved by Rosalyn Gonsalves Seconded by Beverley Wood That the meeting be adjourned at 11:05 a.m. Carried Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Minutes Page 4 of 4 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (a) Page 1 of 2 Abuse Hurts is a national, charitable organization that has served Canadians since 1993. Abuse Hurts aims to raise awareness about the true cost of neglect and abuse and supports dozens of organizations nationally, including children’s services, victim’s services, shelters, and other agencies, that deal with children, women, and men whose lives have been affected by abuse. We offer a unique service in York Region, providing support to agencies in Aurora, and surrounding areas for women escaping abuse with their children. Many times the women leave with the clothing on their back and don’t have as much as a fork, let alone housewares and furniture. Agencies such as the Yellow Brick House, Victim’s Services, and Children’s Aid to name a few do not have the capacity to provide what we are able to provide. We also provide toys at Christmas for some of these agencies. We get referrals from these agencies, and we are able to provide the women with gently used clothing for themselves, and their children. We also provide housewares, small appliances, bedding, toiletries, and other much needed items for them to set up their new home. From time to time we will help with furniture, but as we no longer have the warehouse space, we can refer them to agencies where they can acquire what they need. Many times the women may just need some help with clothing so they can get back into the workforce. The York Police or the OPP have also brought us women that they have rescued from human trafficking. Often these women also just leave with the clothing they are wearing, and need a whole new wardrobe. In addition to women coming in on a weekly basis to get help, once a month we hold a “Make-over day” where the women come and get totally pampered. They get their hair, make-up and nails done, as well as select some beautiful slightly used clothing. We provide a hot lunch, and make it a fun day. It truly gives them a lift. We are just planning our Make-over day for February 24th and six of the women are coming from the Yellow Brick House. Many years ago we also did “Dream Wishes” for abused and neglected children dealing with abuse. Due to funding we stopped the program, but we want to start it up again, as there are so many children needing a “lift”. The average wish cost is $ 500, as it may be dinner and a movie for a family of four, or an i-pad. These children don’t need a lot, but they need something to make their lives a little brighter. I know our agency is a much needed help to the front line workers who have come to depend on us for help. We are experiencing some financial difficulties as costs have gone up with rent, supplies that are not donated, an increase in women and children needing help, and a downturn in donations. We have some fundraising events coming up later in the year, but we are in a severe cash crunch right now. We would appreciate you considering our request for a $ 5,000 donation to help us over this difficult period. Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (a) Page 2 of 2 x x x x x Welcoming Arms 44 Metcalfe St, Aurora, ON L4G 1E6 welcomingarms@live.ca 905-726-1483 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (b) Page 1 of 3 44 Metcalfe Street Aurora, ON L4G 1E6 www.welcomingarms.ca 905.726.1483 ATTN: Town of Aurora Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic, February 12, 2020 Application Review and Disbursement Committee Dear Mayor Tom Mrakas and Committee, Welcoming Arms is a registered charity in Aurora, Ontario (#80392 9652 RR0001), founded in 2006 when several local churches coordinated efforts to better serve low-income/marginalized members of our community. Now with additional local partnerships and community volunteers, we seek to help those in need to experience a fuller participation in society - by providing social, economic, and spiritual support. Programs are centred on the individual needs of our visitors, and include community meals (Martha's Table and Welcome Table), open to anyone in need from Aurora and surrounding communities. For eligible Aurora residents only, we also offer monthly access to grocery gift cards, toiletries and referrals to other community services (Bridging the Gap), as well as seasonal programs (Back-to-School backpacks, Christmas Assistance, income tax preparation help, Giving Garden). Welcoming Arms is a place of friendship and hope; a caring, listening ear; where all are treated with dignity. Our mission is to relieve the burden of poverty in our community. In 2019: - Bridging the Gap had 1,396 visits (up from 1,226 in 2018) and provided over $57,000 in grocery gift cards (average $40/household/month) - Welcome Table served 4,461 people (average 100 guests per week and recently increasing to 120) - Martha’s Table served 50-70 guests per week (in Sep-Dec 2019, a total of 874 guests) While the number of visitors to our programs has been increasing, our funding base has not yet been able to catch up. Over the past two years, Welcoming Arms’ revenue was short vs planned expenses (-$32,000 in 2019, as per attached). For our 2020 budget, we have evaluated and adjusted our eligibility criteria to ensure our limited resources are directed to those most in need, and made the difficult decisions to discontinue providing transit tickets and to slightly reduce the per person amount for our Christmas Assistance program. However, even with these cuts, our planned sources of revenue (including funding applications to foundations) may not all be realized to cover our 2020 core supports to those who are struggling in Aurora. We are grateful to our seven partner churches who each provide a monthly contribution to our operating budget, but as their membership numbers are generally declining, they are unable to increase what they donate to Welcoming Arms. We run an annual Trivia Night fundraiser and are so thankful for the Pine Tree Potters Guild’s generosity in donating proceeds from their annual Empty Bowls event. In 2019, we added community fundraising campaigns at Thanksgiving and Christmas (to be repeated again in 2020, to invite more private donations), and we also plan to apply for the Hoedown this year. However, most of these income sources arrive in the fourth quarter, so July/August 2020 are still projected to be our leanest months. Thus, receiving $5,000 from the Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic in 2020 would help ensure Welcoming Arms can offer a $40 grocery gift card this August to all 125 Aurora visitors (our monthly average), while we work towards securing additional sustainable funding sources. Thank you for considering this application. Please advise if further supporting documentation is required. Sincerely, Bonnie Thamm Evans, Executive Director Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (b) Page 2 of 3 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (b) Page 3 of 3 x x x x x Women's Centre of York Region 207-16775 Yonge Street, Newmarket, ON L3Y 8J4 lioras@wcyr.ca (905) 853-9270 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 1 of 16 March 20, 2020 Aurora Mayor’s Charity Golf Tournament Women’s Centre of York Region has been making a difference in the lives of women, from across York Region, for 43 years! We are a multi-resource centre offering programs and services to all women who identify the need for change in their lives. Our VISION is for all women thriving personally, socially, and economically. Our MISSION is to bring hope, support and learning to women on their journey of self-discovery and empowerment in order for them to thrive personally, socially and economically. We are a unique agency in York Region, providing supports and services for women going through significant transitions – leaving an abusive relationship, going back to work, trying to get off social assistance, or even starting a business. The majority of women seeking help from WCYR have experienced violence, have limited income, have low participation rates in the labour market, or have experienced other barriers that make it difficult for them to contribute to their communities and live their lives to their fullest potential. On average we serve over 850 women and their children every year. All our services are provided free of cost. Currently, we have a 2-5 month waitlist for access to our programs. We intend to reduce this time by increasing the number of groups we offer and hours available for counselling. As a registered charitable organization (CRA# 13485 9024 RR0001) we are funded by The Regional Municipality of York, Ontario Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services, and United Way of Greater Toronto. While we are in receipt of these funds we are still required to fundraise approximately 25% of our annual budget. By raising funds we can reduce our waitlists, offer more groups, and counsel more women. Our goal is to help women develop sustainable livelihoods. For more information on our programs and services, please see the attached document. We are grateful for the opportunity to submit a letter of interest to explore the possibility of benefiting from the Aurora Mayor’s Charity Golf Tournament. We are requesting consideration in order for us to increase the amount of women we serve this year. Our intention is to get more women off our waitlists and into programs and services as soon as possible. Our greatest need is in our Making Changes program. Making Changes costs us $84,646. Currently, we receive funding for this program through the United Way of Greater Toronto. We are funded for $67,824. We have to fundraise $16,822. We are asking the Aurora Mayor to consider funding us with $5,000. The remaining money will be raised through fundraising efforts including our annual Mother’s Day Brunch. Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 2 of 16 Please contact us to register Phone: (905) 853 – 9270 ext. 100 Email: info@wcyr.ca Making Changes is a unique program offering a personal life skills development group. There is no other program like this available in the region. We currently have a waitlist of over 100 women. Making Changes is run throughout the Regional Municipality of York. We are currently offering two groups in Aurora. Our waitlist has over 40% of women requiring access to our Making Changes program in Aurora. We are working towards offering more groups, to address the need, within the Town of Aurora. Funds received from the Mayor’s Charity Golf Tournament will be used to create more groups, Making Changes, within Aurora. Making Changes includes four modules and spans across the year. The skills addressed are Self-Empowerment, Effective Communication, Healthy Boundaries, and Managing Conflict. It is a one-of-a-kind program offered exclusively through Women’s Centre of York Region. This service has been recognized by hospitals, doctors, and therapists across the region as a program credited to the improvement of the woman’s health and well-being. We appreciate your consideration of our application to benefit from the Aurora Mayor’s Charity Golf Tournament. Please find attached a summary of our programs and services, as well as, our 2018-19 Audited Financial Statements. With Appreciation, Liora Sobel Executive Director (905) 853-9270 ext 101 lioras@wcyr.ca Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 3 of 16 WOMEN’S CENTRE OF YORK REGION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Transitional and Housing Support Counselling provides women with both emotional and practical support to ensure they (and their children) leave an abusive relationship safely. We assist women exposed to physical, emotional, verbal, Psychological, spiritual and/or financial abuse (from partners, significant others and could include caregivers or other immediate family/household members). We know from reports by the Canadian Women’s Foundation, that poverty endangers women’s safety. Women who leave a partner to raise children on their own are more than 5x likely to live in poverty than if they stay with their partner. There is plenty of evidence showing that abused women often stay in abusive relationships because they know leaving will plunge themselves and their children into poverty. (www.canadianwomen.org/facts-about-women- and-poverty). Women coming to Women’s Centre of York Region seeking Transitional Support Housing Counselling are at high risk for violence and the need for support is immediate. Further to what the Canadian Women’s Foundation reports, we know that if we can ensure women can leave safely and with stable housing supports arranged, they are less likely to wade down the slippery slope to poverty. Additionally, we address the needs of women who face barriers to making these decisions – food supports and access to legal, housing, and financial supports. The main activities of the program include an Individual Transition Plan and Goal Setting & Individual Safety Planning and Goal Setting: 1) Individual Transition Plan and Goal Setting: x Services include the development of a transition plan for each woman x The plan identifies the short-term and long-term goals that a woman would like to achieve and the steps she will need to take to achieve these goals. Goals may include, but are not limited to: o Securing legal assistance; o Finding and maintaining housing; o Applying for social housing; o Securing financial assistance; o Connecting with counselling and other support services; and o Connecting with community resources (i.e. schools, legal, immigration) x The plan will be based on the principles of person-centred planning, self- determination and choice. Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 4 of 16 2) Individual Safety Planning and Goal Setting: x Services include the development of safety strategies or plans for women and their children. x A safety plan identifies the steps a woman (and her children) can take to increase their safety and helps to prepare them for the possibility of further violence. It should include, but is not limited to: o Emergency escape plans for various situations (going to court, in the workplace, at home); o A list of emergency and resource numbers; o A list of items to be stored in a safe place (i.e. ID, clothes, money, etc.) x Safety plans reflect the woman’s immediate personal circumstances, needs and choices. The plan will be comprehensive, concrete, include safety strategies and referrals to appropriate services. Our Transitional and Housing Support Counselling Program is provided in order to: x Increase the safety of women and their children x Assist women and their children by enhancing their self-esteem and maximizing their capacity to live free from violence. x Assist mothers in supporting their children to heal from the effects of witnessing violence. x Assist and advocate for women and their children regarding their health, safety and well-being. Making Changes serves marginalized low and moderate income women 18+ from across York Region who are at different stages of the Sustainable Livelihood continuum. Most women seeking our help have experienced abuse (physical, emotional or financial or a combination), have limited income, have low participation rates in the labour market, are unemployed or underemployed, or experience other barriers that make it difficult for them to contribute to their communities and live their lives to full potential. Many women are sole-support mothers, trying to ensure they have the means to provide for their families or are newcomers to our Region. Our services are offered at no charge; making them accessible to all women. Any woman has access to our program and supports. In a safe and inclusive environment, we meet each woman right where she is and take a holistic approach to working with her, building the self-esteem, confidence and skills to transition her from hopelessness to possibility. Our program is designed to foster meaningful action in participants, enabling them to create sustainable livelihoods where they thrive personally, socially and economically. A livelihood is more than a job – it needs to incorporate social inclusion and community participation, empowerment and independence, and economic and social security. Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 5 of 16 Specifically, the program targets women who: x Realize their lives are not working in the way they desire; x Want to make changes in the way they manage their lives; x Are ready to learn new skills to change behaviours that no longer work so they can live more effectively; x Need to be at the Stabilizing or Engaging phase of the Stages of Transformation continuum to achieve the best success with the program. https://www.canadianwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Sustainable- Livelihoods-Infographic-EN.pdf “Being a part of the Making Changes program has had a profound impact on my overall wellness and ability to interact socially since I have been struggling with PTSD and severe depression” – Client 2018 In addition to the programs outlined above, we also provide the following programs… x Individual Counselling provides emotional support to women experiencing difficulty with self-esteem, anger, depression, discrimination, cultural and settlement adjustment, disability, separation/divorce, body image, isolation, relationship issues, and stress related to poverty or un/employment. x Financial Empowerment helps women create a ‘road map’ for handling their money. Topics include learning to set a budget, money attitudes, repairing and using credit, managing debt and how to be a wise consumer. The financial empowerment program helps women create a life of financial stability. x Enterprising Careers is a career exploration program that assists women with their search for meaningful and sustainable employment. Topics include choosing a new career path, re-entering the workforce through paid or unpaid employment, training and self-employment. The program builds self-confidence as women use a variety of tools and resources to identify their interests, skills and values. x Women’s Centre of York Region offers financially vulnerable women attending our programs basic support such as food resources, personal care items, back-to-school backpacks and school supplies, and help with transportation. Eligibility for this tangible supports assistance is based on program participation and financial need. Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 6 of 16 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 7 of 16 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 8 of 16 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 9 of 16 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 10 of 16 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 11 of 16 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 12 of 16 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 13 of 16 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 14 of 16 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 15 of 16 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (c) Page 16 of 16 Thank you for considering our request for assistance. We are encouraged with how the town of Aurora and so many others are doing what they can to step up and step in during times of significant crisis. I appreciate you entertaining some of the financial needs that we face as we continue to work with the great people in our communities. Many people will know that The Salvation Army is heavily engaged with meeting a myriad of community needs 365 days a year for those in greatest need. In the heart of being truly a ‘not for profit’ organization, we do all that we can to pour as much of our resources back into the lives we care for. In our efforts to meet the needs of youth and youth in crisis we continue to develop partnerships with YRDSB, The Catholic School board YRP, specific community groups focused on meeting needs of youth and youth in crisis and many more. These diverse partnerships have helped us understand the diverse and complex needs of youth and youth in crisis. Since the COVID19 crisis began the types of services (the practical application of these services) that we provide have had to be reevaluated and diversified. With complex social and physical distancing limitations we have been forced to provide many of the services through online platforms. This obviously is not ideal as we truly lean into one on one and group relationships and strategic programming that serves youth and youth in crisis . Changing the format and the delivery of how we do this relationship programming has taken a turn to lean into technology a great deal more. Though there have been some very sharp learning curves along the way we are very confident that the services that we have been providing have been very effective. We meet with groups of youth online 4 times a week providing anything from cooking classes, emotional support groups, specific talk groups that are aimed at stretching how we see ourselves and the world around us. Within these online programming strategies we offer strong adult leadership and parental structures. Our programs provide opportunities for teen leadership development, trust, friendship, prizes, laughter, entertainment, interactive activities; overall care and support. Within the structure of the services that we offer youth we have a team of over 12 adult leaders and parents that give hours of their time freely to support these great youth. To execute these online services we are currently dealing with some old technology 5.5yr plus Mac Book Pro that has limitations and can create practical setbacks and barriers. We are looking to purchase newer technology (​https://www.apple.com/ca/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro/13-inch-space-grey-2.0ghz-quad-core-p rocessor-with-turbo-boost-up-to-3.8ghz-512gb​) to run our online meeting forums, leadership development opportunities, friendship groups etc. Funding In addition to this newer tech we are looking to purchase a gold membership to ‘DYM’ (​www.dymmembership.com​). This membership will provide for us more relevant and interactive tools for students and their parents. At the end of the day we realize that for the foreseeable future we will need to become more flexible in the way we offer relationship and student engagement. Our hope is to not only provide service to our students (the leaders of tomorrow) but to continue to provide that service Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (d) Page 1 of 2 with quality and excellence. Each day, with our current resources this is becoming more difficult. The amount we are requesting is $2500.00 We are looking to move forward as soon as possible. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration Matt Delaney The Salvation Army of Central Yok Region 15338 Leslie St. Aurora 647-201-3241 matt.delaney@northridgesa.com Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Thursday, July 30, 2020 Application (d) Page 2 of 2