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Agenda - Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee - 20240202Town of Aurora Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Agenda Date:Friday, February 2, 2024 Time:10 a.m. Location:Video Conference Meetings are available to the public via live stream on the Town’s YouTube channel. To participate, please visit aurora.ca/participation. Pages 1.Call to Order 2.Land Acknowledgement 3.Approval of the Agenda 4.Declarations of Pecuniary Interest and General Nature Thereof 5.Receipt of the Minutes 5.1 Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes of November 30, 2023 1 That the Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes of November 30, 2023, be received for information. 1. 6.Delegations 7.Matters for Consideration 7.1 Application from The Stratas Foundation; Re: Mental Health Research Funding 4 That the Application from The Stratas Foundation; Re: Mental Health Research Funding be received; and 1. That the Committee provide direction to:2. Grant the funding request;a. Deny the funding request; orb. Defer consideration of the funding request to a futurec. meeting. 7.2 Application from Community Living Central York; Re: Program Support 10 That the Application from Application from Community Living Central York; Re: Program Support be received; and 1. That the Committee provide direction to:2. Grant the funding request;a. Deny the funding request; orb. Defer consideration of the funding request to a future meeting. c. 7.3 Application from the Women's Centre of York Region; Re: Financial Empowerment Program 17 That the Application from the Women's Centre of York Region; Re: Financial Empowerment Program be received; and 1. That the Committee provide direction to:2. Grant the funding request;a. Deny the funding request; orb. Defer consideration of the funding request to a future meeting. c. 8.Informational Items 9.New Business 10.Adjournment Town of Aurora Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes Date: Time: Location: Thursday, November 30, 2023 10:30 a.m. Video Conference Committee Members: Angela Covert (Chair) Michelle Black Robert Gaby Shaheen Moledina Abe Reiss (Vice Chair) Members Absent: Dan Winters Other Attendees: Jason Gaertner, Manager, Financial Management Michael de Rond, Town Clerk Jaclyn Grossi, Deputy Town Clerk _____________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. 2. Land Acknowledgement The Committee acknowledged that the meeting took place on Anishinaabe lands, the traditional and treaty territory of the Chippewas of Georgina Island, recognizing the many other Nations whose presence here continues to this day, the special relationship the Chippewas have with the lands and waters of this territory, and that Aurora has shared responsibility for the stewardship of these lands and waters. It was noted that Aurora is part of the treaty lands of the Mississaugas and Chippewas, recognized through Treaty #13 and the Williams Treaties of 1923. Page 1 of 21 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 30, 2023 2 3. Approval of the Agenda Moved by Shaheen Moledina Seconded by Robert Gaby That the agenda as circulated by Legislative Services be approved. Carried 4. 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. 5. Receipt of the Minutes 5.1 Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes of October 26, 2023 Moved by Michelle Black Seconded by Robert Gaby 1. That the Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes of October 26, 2023, be received for information. Carried 6. Delegations None. 7. Matters for Consideration 7.1 Application from Canadian Mental Health Association - York Region South Simcoe; Re: Mobile Youth Walk-In Clinic (MOBYSS) Moved by Abe Reiss Seconded by Robert Gaby 1. That the Application from Canadian Mental Health Association - York Region South Simcoe; Re: Mobile Youth Walk-In Clinic be received; and Page 2 of 21 Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, November 30, 2023 3 2. That the Committee grant the funding request in the amount of $5,000.00 Carried 8. Informational Items None 9. New Business The Committee discussed the need to ensure charitable organizations are aware of the fund and staff provided a response noting that the Town is working on targeted communications to those charitable organizations. The Committee asked staff to circulate the funding application to the members following the meeting. 10. Adjournment Moved by Shaheen Moledina Seconded by Abe Reiss That the meeting be adjourned at 10:45 a.m. Carried Page 3 of 21 100 John West Way Aurora, Ontario L4G 6J1 (905) 727-3123 aurora.ca Application to Recieve Funds The Aurora Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic has raised over $1 million to date and has financially assisted several community organizations to provide much needed services to residents living in the Town of Aurora. Recipient selection is conducted annually by the application review and disbursement committee of the Town of Aurora Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic and is based on the information provided in this application. Funding Criteria and guidelines; Individual applicants and community groups must demonstrate financial hardship or a limited means to retain funds in another manner. Individual applications demonstrating financial hardship will be kept confidential. Individuals and organizations may not receive funding for more than two consecutive years. Funding requests for more than $5,000 in a calendar year will not be accepted. Funding requests for more than 50% of an initiative will not be considered and applicants must demonstrate how the remaining funds will be or have been obtained Applications should demonstrate a benefit to the residents of the Town of Aurora that receiving the funding will provide Successful applicants will be required to report back in any way they deem appropriate regarding the utilization of funds within six (6) months of receiving funds Name of Individual or Community Group * The Stratas Foundation Address Street Number and Name * 283 Patterson St. City/ Town * Newmarket Page 4 of 21 Province * Ontario Postal Code * L3Y 3L9 Contact Information Email Address * info@stratasfoundation.com Phone Number * (647) 453-2571 On a separate document, please outline your initiative and any supporting documentation you have. The information being provided should align with the funding criteria guidelines found above. Please attach your documentation with this this form. Page 5 of 21 283 Patterson St. Newmarket, ON L3Y 3L9 Cover Letter: To Whom It May Concern, My name is Liam Hunt, President and co-founder of the Stratas Foundation, a registered charity based in York Region. In 2018, I and a childhood friend, Benjamin Cowderoy, founded Stratas as a not-for-profit organization in Newmarket, the town where we grew up together and still call home to this day. Motivated by our personal experiences with mental health-related issues in high school and university, Ben and I created Stratas to help reduce the stigma associated with mental health in Canadian youth, and to sponsor primary scientific research in the mental health field. To date, we have funded 17 mental health research projects in Canada, conducted by promising post-secondary students and scientists across the country. In 2021, our initiative was recognized with the Bell Let’s Talk: Community Heroes award at Toronto’s OMNI King Edward Hotel. The award gala was put on by the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores), the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), and the national branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). There is a severe shortage of available funding for mental health research in Canada, making many research projects financially untenable for young scientists and scholars. This leaves everyone—whether in Aurora, the wider York Region, or nationwide—worse off. Everyone has a stake in the mental health crisis, and primary research helps us uncover the causes and treatments for these stigmatized illnesses. Stratas has helped alleviate this funding shortage, but we need your help. As donor fatigue has set in for many, Stratas has not been able to fund mental health research projects at the same pace we did at the outset. We’re writing to the Town of Aurora to humbly request assistance in this regard. In 2024, our organization is aiming to distribute $10,000 in mental health research funding, to high-priority projects carefully chosen among applicants by our Selections Committee. We are requesting $5,000 from the Town of Aurora to cover half of this project’s costs. The rest of the project would be covered by funding provided by other donors, as well as from the board of director’s personal financial contributions. Page 6 of 21 If approved for funding from the Town of Aurora, we promise to allocate this entirely to a researcher from Aurora or a project significantly based in Aurora. If no Aurora applicants are available, preference will be given to those from York Region. Your support is crucial in continuing our mission and directly benefits the Aurora community. Thank you for considering our request. Sincerely, Liam Hunt President and Co-Founder The Stratas Foundation Project Description: This funding will be allocated to one or more Aurora-based mental health researchers at a Canadian university or research institute. Stratas provides funding to local-level youth scientists and researchers at universities in Canada, selecting research proposals with only the highest potential impact and potential for improving mental health outcomes among targeted communities. This program will provide financial resources to a researcher in need of supplementary funding for a community-level mental health workshop program for Indigenous youth. Every year, our Selections Committee fields dozens of applications for partnership from local graduate students and post-docs seeking funding for mental health workshops and focus groups. This initiative seeks to work toward solving the youth mental health crisis and the broader Canadian mental health crisis in which one out of 5 Canadians will be diagnosed with a mental illness in their lifetime. Stratas will not be directly involved in the research process, but rather will oversee the program and provide counselling and financial funding where it is needed—building on a process that we have honed since our first campaign was successfully carried out in 2019. One overarching goal of the program is to publish the findings of our study in a high impact factor, peer-reviewed academic journal. We will track and measure the outcomes of our program goals by the following means: Page 7 of 21 (1) Collect a written attestation from funding recipient at one-year follow-up indicating to which journals their research findings have been submitted for publication and their acceptance status. The written attestation will also include a statement indicating where their findings have been publicly presented to community members (e.g., academic conferences, public talks, mental health podcasts, etc.), as well as indicating the downstream community benefits to Aurora. (2) Collect a qualitative quarterly report that will clearly indicate whether their original progress timelines are being met and will summarize their findings and observations of public importance to date. (3) Lastly, overall project success will be determined by the qualitative follow-up report provided by the researcher and lead organizer, who will attest to whether their project has been completed and the findings ready for dissemination/publication. Brief Description of Our Organization: Stratas is a community hub for young and early-career scholars, students, and scientists to receive funding in the form of micro-grants and scholarships to conduct peer-reviewed research in critically underfunded mental health sciences at accredited universities and research institutes in Canada. Stratas is also engaged in community education and knowledge translation, using our social media platforms to translate peer-reviewed research in the mental health fields into actionable, easy-to-understand digests for the general public, including the translation and promotion of studies specifically involving marginalized groups such as Black and Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQ+ people, and women, who are most vulnerable to the systemic effects of mental illness. How much funding are we requesting?: $5,000 What is the total budget for the overall project?: $10,000 How much money have we raised to date? CA$48,000 How this project will have an impact on improving access to mental health care, supports and services in the Aurora community: Page 8 of 21 Our project will help advance public education in the mental health sciences by providing financial relief to Aurora-based students and scientists for whom a lack of public resources deters career advancement. There is a funding shortage for mental health sciences through government-issued grants. The Canadian Institute of Health Research allocates only 4% of its budget to mental health sciences. We're meeting the needs of the academic mental health community, and translating their knowledge to improve mental health literacy for the residents of Aurora, York Region, and beyond. What are the measurable indicators of the project’s outcomes? 1. Written attestations from one or more Aurora or York Region-based researchesr given at a five-month follow-up period, indicating to which journals their research findings have been submitted for publication and their acceptance status, as well as how their findings can benefit the Aurora community. 2. Written attestations from award recipients at one-year follow-up indicating where their findings have been publicly presented to community members (e.g., academic conferences, public talks, mental health podcasts, etc.) 3. Qualitative quarterly reports will clearly indicate whether their original progress timelines are being met and will summarize their findings and observations of public importance to date. 4. Holistic benefits are determined by the number of co-authors, supervisors, and assistants listed on each quarterly progress report, and will include written notes on the career progressions of each individual directly benefiting from Stratas’ funding. 5. Downstream community benefits will be roughly approximated by the number of impressions and engagements generated by our social media summaries of each project’s findings via Facebook and Instagram’s social analytics tools. Lastly, overall project success is determined by the qualitative follow-up reports provided by the researchers, who will attest to whether their projects have been completed and are ready for dissemination/publication. Page 9 of 21 100 John West Way Aurora, Ontario L4G 6J1 (905) 727-3123 aurora.ca Application to Recieve Funds The Aurora Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic has raised over $1 million to date and has financially assisted several community organizations to provide much needed services to residents living in the Town of Aurora. Recipient selection is conducted annually by the application review and disbursement committee of the Town of Aurora Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic and is based on the information provided in this application. Funding Criteria and guidelines; Individual applicants and community groups must demonstrate financial hardship or a limited means to retain funds in another manner. Individual applications demonstrating financial hardship will be kept confidential. Individuals and organizations may not receive funding for more than two consecutive years. Funding requests for more than $5,000 in a calendar year will not be accepted. Funding requests for more than 50% of an initiative will not be considered and applicants must demonstrate how the remaining funds will be or have been obtained Applications should demonstrate a benefit to the residents of the Town of Aurora that receiving the funding will provide Successful applicants will be required to report back in any way they deem appropriate regarding the utilization of funds within six (6) months of receiving funds Name of Individual or Community Group * Community Living Central York Address Street Number and Name * 575 PENROSE ST City/ Town * NEWMARKET Page 10 of 21 Province * Ontario Postal Code * L3Y5L5 Contact Information Email Address * danielle.gibb@clcy.ca Phone Number * (905) 898-5775 On a separate document, please outline your initiative and any supporting documentation you have. The information being provided should align with the funding criteria guidelines found above. Please attach your documentation with this this form. Page 11 of 21 575 Penrose Street, Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 5L5 T 905.898.3000 F 905.898.6441 E info@clcy.ca clcy.ca January 25, 2024 Michael de Rond Aurora Mayor's Charity Golf Fund 100 John West Way Aurora ON L4G 6J1 Dear Michael, Thank you for your consideration of support of Community Living Central York (CLCY). Support from the Aurora Mayor's Charity Golf Fund will enable people with a developmental disability to achieve their fullest potential within their community. For 70 years, through dedicated programs and tailored resources, CLCY has empowered individuals with a developmental disability to develop essential life skills, secure meaningful employment, and foster deep connections within their community. Community support, such as yours, will not only enhance their quality of life, but also contribute to a more inclusive and thriving society where every individual, regardless of ability, can lead a fulfilling life. Together, we can make a significant and lasting impact ensuring a community where everyone belongs. CLCY supports over 750 individuals and their families with day, evening and weekend programs, respite for families, community living supports (15 homes), support independent living (40 individuals), and associate family program for those who reside in Whitchurch Stouffville, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Newmarket and Township of King. In addition, we have partnered with over 40 employers in York Region and provide employment skills training to individuals, so they are prepared for the workforce. We have a long-standing history of stability, impact, and support in our communities, and we are committed to removing barriers to ensure inclusion. Your consideration of support of $5,000 will make a significant difference and enable us to provide essential programming for those most vulnerable. Thank you for your time and consideration. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please feel free to contact me directly. We look forward to the possibility of support to create a community where everyone belongs. Sincerely, Danielle Gibb Director, Fund Development Page 12 of 21 -~ COMMUNITY LIVING ~ Central: York ~ 70 years Empowering Every Journey Together we can enable individuals with a developmental disability to achieve their fullest potential. A community where everyone belongs! Contact: Danielle Gibb, Director, Fund Development danielle.gibb@clcy.ca www.clcy.ca Page 13 of 21 A community where everyone belongs! Community Programming Provides meaningful connections while delivering programming that motivates, encourages, and educates participants daily on living their best lives. Supported Independent Living We provide a variety of support to 40 individuals living independently in York Region. We promote inclusion, friendships and a community where everyone belongs! Community Living Homes We have 15 homes in central York Region supporting 72 individuals. Associate Family Program Provides a caring home environment by matching potential families with individuals. Respite Program Provides Associate families with respite and enables the person supported to build new relationships and access their community. Evening and Weekend Programs Employment Cooking Art Therapy Literacy Wellness Founded in 1954 Community Living Central York (CLCY) is a non-profit, charitable organization which provides support to people who have an developmental disability living in Newmarket, Aurora, King, Whitchurch- Stouffville, and East Gwillimbury. We have had a long-standing history of stability, impact and commitment to removing barriers to ensure inclusion. In 2023 we supported 750 individuals in central York Region with a developmental disability. We offer day, evening and weekend programs (sports, cooking, art therapy, etc), respite for families, community living supports (15 homes) and supported independent living (40 individuals). In addition, we have partnered with over 40 employers in York Region and provide employment skills training to individuals preparing them for the workforce. Enabling individuals with a developmental disability to achieve their fullest potential. 1 Page 14 of 21 Need for CLCY supports “We don’t give people with developmental disabilities enough credit. You never know what is possible until people are given the opportunity.” Jim Alexander - A business owner who employs individuals from CLCY 1 in 5 Canadians have a developmental disabilities Facts Service Type (FY22/23) Spaces available Service Requests Group Homes 20 1552 Supported Independent Living 18 835 Associate Family 0 262 Community Day Program 14 2220 Respite 21 2069 Last year we received so many requests for supportive services. Community Living Central York has not received additional funding from the government as more individuals and their families are turning to us for programming support. In addition, cost continue to rise and inflation soars. Support from community is vital to continue and expand our quality programs and services to ensure a community where everyone belongs! As our population Transition Youth The individuals Escalating food ages, senior programs support who turn to us for costs are making focussed programs the transition from support are often each day a will address their school into at risk of challenge to eat unique needs adulthood teaching homelessness as healthy food and ensuring they them the skills affordable housing purchase the continue to be necessary to live is a significant necessities to live active and engaged independently struggle in York a quality and members of the within the Region. We help dignified life. community. community. navigate these tough times. We need to expand and enhance our support in providing clinical, mental health, and addiction supports to individuals. We ask for your consideration of support which will empower our individuals to achieve their fullest potential in a well informed community. Together we can create a community where everyone belongs. Thank you for your consideration to empower and improve the quality of life for our most vulnerable individuals in York Region. Page 15 of 21 Board of Directors FY 2023/24 Sarah Vienot - President Sabina Fjodorova – Vice President Kevin Cash - Treasurer Brad Rogers - Director Darryl Dioso - Director Claude Duval - Director Glenn Thomson - Director Graham Goddard - Director Darryl Gray - Director Plinio Cardoni - Director Matthew Reid - Director Jennifer Sheldrake - Director Theresa Taylor - Director Andrew Fagan – CEO Thank you for your consideration of support! By making this empowering investment you are enabling individuals with a developmental disability to achieve their fullest potential. Community Living Central York 575 Penrose St, Newmarket, ON L3Y 5L5 www.clcy.ca Charitable Registration # 119056307RR0001 Page 16 of 21 100 John West Way Aurora, Ontario L4G 6J1 (905) 727-3123 aurora.ca Application to Recieve Funds The Aurora Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic has raised over $1 million to date and has financially assisted several community organizations to provide much needed services to residents living in the Town of Aurora. Recipient selection is conducted annually by the application review and disbursement committee of the Town of Aurora Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic and is based on the information provided in this application. Funding Criteria and guidelines; Individual applicants and community groups must demonstrate financial hardship or a limited means to retain funds in another manner. Individual applications demonstrating financial hardship will be kept confidential. Individuals and organizations may not receive funding for more than two consecutive years. Funding requests for more than $5,000 in a calendar year will not be accepted. Funding requests for more than 50% of an initiative will not be considered and applicants must demonstrate how the remaining funds will be or have been obtained Applications should demonstrate a benefit to the residents of the Town of Aurora that receiving the funding will provide Successful applicants will be required to report back in any way they deem appropriate regarding the utilization of funds within six (6) months of receiving funds Name of Individual or Community Group * Women's Centre of York Region Address Street Number and Name * 207-16775 Yonge Street City/ Town * Newmarket Page 17 of 21 Province * Ontario Postal Code * L3Y 8J4 Contact Information Email Address * lioras@wcyr.ca Phone Number * (905) 716-9102 On a separate document, please outline your initiative and any supporting documentation you have. The information being provided should align with the funding criteria guidelines found above. Please attach your documentation with this this form. Page 18 of 21 Attention: Aurora Town Mayor’s Charity Golf ABOUT US Since 1977, the Women's Centre of York Region (WCYR) has offered a safe place where women can get the support to build self-esteem, the tools to develop a plan of action, and the opportunity to build the skills they need to help themselves and their famili es. The majority of women seeking support are experiencing gender -based violence and related socioeconomic barriers to success. We assist women from all backgrounds and cultures in building confidence and skills, empowering them to transition from hopelessness to prosperity. Our mission is using a strengths-based, trauma-informed feminist approach, we provide opportunities, support and resources to all persons who identify as women on their journey of self-discovery and empowerment. We offer the necessary evidence -informed programs and services to assist women along the Sustainable Livelihood Continuum, all in one place. All of our programs are offered at no cost to the woman. Financial Empowerment is a 6-week group program that empowers women to take greater control of their finances and create a life of financial independence and stability. Women begin by creating a household budget, finding creative ways to reduce monthly exp enses, learning the tools to understand their debt and creating a debt repayment plan, all the way to saving for their futures and creating a financial plan. Upon completion, women receive $60 in grocery gift cards to kick-start their budgets, 5 hours of one-on-one coaching to assist them in achieving their goals and access to free networking events throughout the year. GENERAL OVERVIEW WCYR is seeking support for our evidence -informed programs to assist women in becoming economically independent. Specifically, to support the Financial Empowerment program for women. Financial Empowerment is an existing group programs that WCYR has provided since 2009. Women are referred to the programs through our community partners, York Region referral services, Ontario Works case workers and doctors from Southlake Hospital, as well as from advertising and word of mouth. Financial Empowerment is a 6-week group program that empowers women to take greater control of their finances and create a life of financial independence and stability. Women begin by creating a household budget, finding creative ways to reduce monthly expenses, better understanding their debt and creating a debt repayment plan, fraud identification, digital tools to assist in saving for their futures and creating a financial plan. Upon completion, women receive $60 in grocery gift cards to kick-start their budget, 5 hours of one-on-one coaching to assist them Page 19 of 21 in achieving their goals and access to a minimum of 6 free networking events throughout the year. Most of the women we serve live in poverty or do not have access to their finances due to financial abuse. The pandemic created additional barriers to employment overnight for women, such as childcare and technology, resulting in women accounting for 53% of all job losses across Ontario. The expected outcome for women who complete the Financial Empowerment program includes the ability to independently manage their household expenses to be in a better position to manage her finances, lowering financial stress and making an action plan to re ach financial goals and independence. If a woman has attended a minimum of 4 out of 6 classes, increased confidence and knowledge regarding personal finances, and completed a financial plan to either pay off debt or save for a financial goal, it is considered a successful outcome. WCYR collects qualitative and quantitative data to measure the success of the Financial Empowerment and program. Through post-program surveys, data is collected by facilitator records, observation and program participants. Program facilitators record the number of women who register, attend and complete the program in our internal database. Post -program surveys capture qualitative and quantitative data such as whether the program was helpful to better manage their finances, their opinion and recommendations on service delivery, level of confidence, ability to better manage household expenses, and understanding of workplace skills or financial goals. The program 2022 highlighted outcomes include: Financial Empowerment • 94.44% of program participants reported their ability to track income and spending has improved. • 88.89% of program participants reported an increased ability to manage their household finances and make ends meet. • 100% of program participants said they had their needs met by the program. Financial Empowerment was completely funded through the Regional Municipality of York since its inception in 2009. Unfortunately, the Region made the decision to terminate funding the program effective December 31, 2023 due to changes in their community investments. At WCYR, we know how critical this program is to the women in our community and thus we are seeking funding to continue the program. To provide 2 groups each quarter, the program costs for 1 year are broken down below: Page 20 of 21 Salary $20,000 Program Expenses $10,000 TOTAL $30,000 To date, we have secured $20,000. We ask that the Aurora Mayor consider donating $5,000 towards our Financial Empowerment program. Thank you. Page 21 of 21