Agenda (Appointed) - Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee - 20250226Town of Aurora
Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee
Meeting Agenda
Date:Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Time:10 a.m.
Location:Video Conference
Pages
1.Call to Order
1.1 Appointment of Committee Chair
That a Committee member be elected as Chair of the Mayor's
Golf Classic Funds Committee for a two-year term (2025-2026).
1.
1.2 Appointment of Committee Vice Chair
That a Committee member be elected as Vice Chair of the
Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee for a two-year term
(2025-2026).
1.
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 December 11,
2024
1
That the Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee meeting
minutes of December 11, 2024, be received for information.
1.
6.Delegations
7.Matters for Consideration
7.1 Application from Learning Disabilities Association of York Simcoe; Re:
Funding Request for Summer Camp
4
(Deferred from Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting of
December 11, 2024.)
That the Application from Learning Disabilities Association of
York Simcoe; Re: Funding Request for Summer Camp be
received; and
1.
That the Committee provide direction to:2.
Grant the funding request; ora.
Deny the funding request; orb.
Defer consideration of the funding request to a future
meeting
c.
7.2 Application from Hill House Hospice; Re: 2025 Walk for Compassionate
Care
8
That the Application from Application from Hill House Hospice;
Re: 2025 Walk for Compassionate Care be received; and
1.
That the Committee provide direction to:2.
Grant the funding request; ora.
Deny the funding request; orb.
Defer consideration of the funding request to a future
meeting
c.
7.3 Application from The Salvation Army Northridge Community Church; Re:
Funding for 2025 Programs
11
That the Application from The Salvation Army Northridge
Community Church; Re: Funding for 2025 Programs be received;
and
1.
That the Committee provide direction to:2.
Grant the funding request; ora.
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:
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
10 a.m.
Video Conference
Committee Members: Angela Covert (Chair)
Michelle Black
Robert Gaby
Shaheen Moledina
Dan Winters
Members Absent: Abe Reiss (Vice-Chair)
Others Present: Jason Gaertner, Manager, Financial Management
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 10 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 14
Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes
December 11, 2024 2
3. Approval of the Agenda
Moved by Michelle Black
Seconded by Shaheen Moledina
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 September 5,
2024
Moved by Robert Gaby
Seconded by Dan Winters
1. That the Mayor's Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes of
September 5, 2024, be received for information.
Carried
6. Delegations
None
7. Matters for Consideration
7.1 Application from Learning Disabilities Association of York Simcoe; Re:
Funding Request for Summer Camp
Moved by Michelle Black
Seconded by Robert Gaby
1. That the Application from Learning Disabilities Association of York
Simcoe; Re: Funding Request for Summer Camp be deferred to a
meeting in the new year.
Carried
Page 2 of 14
Mayor’s Golf Classic Funds Committee Meeting Minutes
December 11, 2024 3
8. Informational Items
None.
9. New Business
None.
10. Adjournment
Moved by Michelle Black
Seconded by Dan Winters
That the meeting be adjourned at 10:08 a.m.
Carried
Page 3 of 14
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Application to Receive 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 *
Learning Disabilities Association of York Simcoe
Address
Street Number and Name *
9030 Leslie St
City/ Town *
Richmond Hill
Page 4 of 14
Province *
Ontario
Postal Code *
L4B 1G2
Contact Information
Email Address *
helga.sirola@ldays.org
Phone Number *
(905) 884-7933
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 14
Learning Disabilities Association of York Region
9030 Leslie Street, Unit 216
Richmond Hill, ON L4B3L8
Tel: 905-884-7933 Fax: 905-770-9377
E-mail: info@ldays.org Website: www.ldays.org
Affiliated with the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario and the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada
To Whom It May Concern,
We at the Learning Disabilities Association of York Simcoe (LDAYS) would like to request $5000 from the
2025 Aurora Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic. We are extremely excited to potentially participate in this event
and we believe any amount of proceeds would go a long way in helping us better serve the residents of
Aurora.
LDAYS is a non-profit organization that advocates and works with students and adults with a
primary diagnosis of learning disabilities (LD) and/or ADHD. The funds from this event will go towards our
summer camp, which will entail a 2 week fully subsidized camp in Aurora for children of ages 7-12 with
LDs and/or ADHD. The camp activities will include outdoor swimming, nature walks, arts and crafts, with
an additional focus on building social skills in a safe and encouraging environment. We will be using our
established Social Skills program that is curriculum based and covers topics such as communication,
relationship building, emotional regulation, self-esteem, self-advocacy, problem solving, and internet safety.
Each day will consist of learning sessions interspaced between activities and play that are designed to help
develop these skills. We have been running our summer camp in Aurora for over 23 years, and are excited to
bring it to Aurora this summer free of charge.
This program will serve the Aurora residents by offering a safe, engaging, and positive space for like-
minded individuals to practice their social skills, form connections, and build confidence in themselves and
their abilities. Social skills are particularly important life skills for children with LDs and/or ADHD, as they
often lack self-confidence or may feel inferior to others. Building these skills can increase their self-esteem,
improve their self-awareness, empower them to self-advocate, and contribute to their overall success in
school and work. According to the Learning Disability Association of Ontario, the incidence rate of LDs is
estimated to range as high as 10% or more of the population, though there is more statistical evidence from
demographic sources for a range of 4 to 6%. In the YRDSB, 54.2% of all students with an identification have
a learning disability (The Regional Municipality of York, 2019). A Canadian study concluded that children
with LDs have fewer reciprocal friends, lower quality of friendship, lower social acceptance, lower academic
self-concept, and poorer social skills than their normally achieving non-LD peers, with only 11.3% of these
individuals ranking their social skills as high (PACFOLD, 2005). Students with LDs can be successful when
properly supported and solid coping skills are developed. Creating a space and community of like-minded
individuals will help our participants feel included and supported by one another.
We plan to use the received funding to subsidize the camp for students in low to middle-income
households. We project the total cost of our camp to be $12,000, thus we are asking for $5,000 to help us
subsidized 12 students. As a Non-Profit, we are fully sustained by community support and are constantly
looking for donations and funding, especially since we do not currently have a sponsor for our Social Skills
program. With $5000 we will be able to subsidize 12 children ages 7-12 who have been diagnosed with an
LD and/or ADHD and live in low to middle income households in Aurora. Children born to low-income
families are less likely to have access to services that would treat their LD and inform and reduce stigma
surrounding their disability. Historically, programs like our summer camp are expensive and can be
unaffordable and financially straining on families with children identified with an LD and/or ADHD. Often
children with ADHD are expected to pay for additional
Page 6 of 14
Learning Disabilities Association of York Region
9030 Leslie Street, Unit 216
Richmond Hill, ON L4B3L8
Tel: 905-884-7933 Fax: 905-770-9377
E-mail: info@ldays.org Website: www.ldays.org
Affiliated with the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario and the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada
support at camp programs, which can be costly to the parents and isolating to the camper. Funding will give
the opportunity for individuals in low to middle income households in Aurora to participate in a subsidized
learning experience and summer camp that will provide lifelong skills and help build a stronger foundation
for their future.
Should the LDAYS be selected as one of the recipients for the 2025 Aurora Mayor’s Charity Golf
Classic this year, we will gratefully recognize this donation through all of our communication outlets with
our clients in the community. We would promote our participation in the event throughout the whole
process, leading up to the event, during the event and after the event has taken place. We would do this
through articles in our agency newsletters that are emailed to over 300 of our association’s members, our
website, our organization’s social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook (currently followed by
approximately 22,000 individuals combined), and our emails to parents whose children have signed up for
camp.
We strongly believe that funding of $5000 for our summer camp would largely benefit the LD and
ADHD community in Aurora, especially those in low to middle income households. We thank you for your
consideration and we hope that you will choose us to participate in your event this year.
The cost for the location and facilitators fees will already be subsidized by Bingo funds we have secured for
2025 the camp.
We thank you for your time and consideration,
Helga Sirola
Executive Director
Learning Disabilities Association of York Simcoe
Page 7 of 14
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Application to Receive 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 *
Hill House Hospice
Address
Street Number and Name *
36 Wright Street
City/ Town *
Richmond Hill
Page 8 of 14
Province *
Ontario
Postal Code *
L4C 4A1
Contact Information
Email Address *
joannegiannakopoulos@hillhousehospice.com
Phone Number *
(905) 737-9308
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 9 of 14
Charitable Business No. 869834648 RR0001
36 Wright Street, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 4A1
info@hillhousehospice.com
hillhousehospice.com
T: 905-737-9308
January 22, 2025
2025 Aurora Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic
Town of Aurora
100 John West Way, Box 1000
Aurora, Ontario L4G 6J1
Hill House Hospice: 2025 Walk for Compassionate Care
I am writing to formally apply for support from the Town of Aurora for our upcoming annual Walk for Hill House
Hospice, scheduled for Sunday, May 25, 2025 (www.walkforhillhousehospice.com). This year's event, proudly
presented by Canso Investment Counsel Ltd., aims to rally support for our mission of delivering expert medical
care and unwavering compassion to individuals facing life-limiting illnesses. Hill House has no municipal
boundaries and our patients include residents of the Town of Aurora, which does not have a residential hospice
within its borders.
As the first residential hospice in York Region and the second built in Ontario, Hill House Hospice proudly serves
120 patients annually, alongside their families and caregivers. Our commitment to inclusivity allows us to
welcome people without prejudice or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, culture, religion, abilities, gender,
or sexual orientation. Beyond the traditional medical approach, we include alternative therapies to promote
holistic wellness. Our caring complementary therapists provide patients and families with music therapy,
aromatherapy, reiki, therapeu tic touch, reflexology and more recently dog therapy. They help manage pain and
symptoms, decrease anxiety, help with relaxation, create an outlet for emotional expression, provide a
connection to others and help decrease feelings of isolation.
Hill House Hospice plays a pivotal role for hospice care in York Region. While our operational funding is partially
supported by the provincial government's Ministry of Health, the remaining 50% must be sourced through
community contributions. Through initiatives like our annual Walk and the generosity of donors, we can
continue to provide our end-of-life services at no cost for our patients, including vital support for caregivers. We
remain accessible to all, regardless of their financial circumstances.
Despite recent economic and fundraising challenges for charities including the postal strike that has impacted
mail in donations, we remain steadfast in our dedication to providing our services free of charge and
maintaining a high staff-to-patient ratio to ensure unparalleled care and support. In light of this, we seek the
Town of Aurora's support through a donation of $5,000.00 from the Mayor's Charity Golf Classic. Your
contribution will directly impact our ability to address our most pressing needs and sustain the quality of care
that our patients deserve.
We express our sincere gratitude for considering our request. Thank you for your time, consideration, and past
support to help Hill House Hospice provide comfort and dignity to those on their end-of-life journey.
Respectfully,
Joanne Giannakopoulos, CFRE
Director of Development
Hill House Hospice
Page 10 of 14
100 John West Way
Aurora, Ontario
L4G 6J1
(905) 727-3123
aurora.ca
Application to Receive 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 Salvation Army Northridge Community Church
Address
Street Number and Name *
15338 Leslie Street
City/ Town *
Aurora
Page 11 of 14
Province *
Ontario
Postal Code *
L4G 7C4
Contact Information
Email Address *
angela.covert@salvationarmy.ca
Phone Number *
(905) 895-6276
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 12 of 14
The Salvation Army
Canada & Bermuda
Ontario Division
Northridge Community Church
15338 Leslie St.
Aurora, ON L4G 7C4
Tel: 905 895 -6276
Email:
northridge.info@salvationarmy.ca
www.northridgesa.com
William and Catherine Booth Lyndon Buckingham Lee Graves Fred and Carolyn Reid
Founders General Territorial Commander Officers / Pastors
February 14, 2025
To: The Aurora Mayor’s Charity Golf Classic
Dear Committee members,
The Salvation Army, Northridge Community Church is applying for $5000.00 for
ongoing funding needs programs that will occur during 2025. Each are distinct
but all support the needs of invidividuals and families living with Aurora, ON. Our
goal for overall donations for this fiscal was not fully met during the 2024
Christmas season. Kettles did well but due to the mail strike our cash/cheque
donations were reduced.
FOOD BANK:
The Salvation Army, Northridge Community Church has a weekly supplementary
food bank to families/individuals and homeless persons.. Many come monthly
while others book appointments when needs arise. On average we provide food
to 180 people per month.
Food donations come from community/church members; businesses and two
delivery trucks coming from the York Region Food Bank and The Salvation Army.
The majority of food received are non-perishable canned/boxed items.
We are currently in the position of need to purchase produce, eggs, milk and
meat products. We are thrilled with our partnership relationship with the York
Region Food Network from whom we can purchase produce at a greatly reduced
price – this makes for a win / win for both or our organizations.
SINGLE PARENTS’ FOCUS GROUP (Empowerd Moms):
I had requested some funding for this program last year. In full transparency – I
had to postpone the group till March of this year as enrollment was low and with
other work demands I could not focus on the needs of this group. So the $500
fund earmarked from last year’s grant was put towards the food bank. BUT, I
am happy to say that due to relationship building after our Christmas Toy
program we were able to connect with more moms who now have expressed
interest in the program.
Page 13 of 14
Page 2
The group will start on March 18th and run till June 10th. So far 12 moms have
registered themselves and 23 children. As we provide dinner for all and
childcare for the children the costs of the program have increased. But I am
excited by that – I believe the mothers will greatly benefit from the material,
discussion, connection and mentorship.
Empowered Mom’s program includes videos, journalling and discussion. Topics
include: Emotional Health, Wellness, Financial Stability, and Parenting.
Empowered Moms is a Christian based program that welcomes people of all
faiths and life experiences.
CLOTHING VOUCHERS; GIFT CARDS; BACK PACK PROGRAM (OVERALL
FINANCIAL SUPPORT)
Needs have increased. We support community members in need with
• clothing vouchers to The Salvation Army Thrift Store;
• gift cards for gas and food;
• provide specific personal items for homeless folk as well as
showers/laundery services;
• and for September 2025 we wish to increase the number of children we
will serve in our back pack program
Thank you for your consideration,
Angela Covert
Angela Covert
Manager, Community and Family Services
905.895.6276 ext. 204 Angela.covert@salvationarmy.ca
Page 14 of 14