BRANT FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Annual

Report

2016-2017

Index

02 Mission, Vision and Core Values

03 Message from the President

04 Message from the Program Director

05 Student Nutrition Programs Statistics

06 Student Nutrition Programs Locations

07 Thank You to our Generous Donors & Sponsors

08 Highlights from the Year 2016-2017

09 Financial Report from the Treasurer

10 Staff and Board of Directors

11 Funders and Major Contributors

1

Mission Statement

Brant Food For Thought is a not-for-profit registered charity that contributes to a child’s ability to learn by facilitating and supporting Universal Student Nutrition Programs in elementary and secondary schools in , the and Six Nations of the Grand River.

Vision Statement

We envision healthy and vibrant school populations supported by thriving community partnerships.

Core Values

1. Nutrition is a fundamental determinant of healthy child development. 2. Good nutrition positively affects a child’s ability to learn. 3. Universal Student Nutrition Programs should provide equitable access to the most nutritious foods possible. 4. The community has a collective responsibility for the well-being of our children.

History

Since 1998, Brant Food For Thought has been supporting the healthy development of children and youth in our community to arrive at school well-nourished and ready to learn, by facilitating healthy breakfast meals and nutritious snacks to students before, during and after the school day, served within safe and nurturing environments.

We provide support to universal Student Nutrition Programs through financial resources, public awareness, networking and fundraising opportunities, volunteer skills training and recognition.

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Message from the President

The 2016-2017 program year was filled new community partnerships, a stronger governing Board and greater measures to supporting quality standards for universal student nutrition programs.

Brant Food For Thought programs continue to provide, not only the nutritional support that students need for the school day, but sound nutritional modelling of the most nutritious food choices that support their healthy development and contribute to a child’s ability to learn to their full potential, now and for the future. Our strategic direction is focused on four key organizational messages:

1. Universal access to student nutrition programs provides a welcoming, non-stigmatizing environment for all students to participate in versus providing nutrition to marginalized target groups only. 2. Programs model the most nutritional food choices available for children and youth to support the nutrition environment at the school and to provide an opportunity for participants to transfer their nutrition knowledge and skills to the home environment. 3. Community partnerships and volunteerism are key components to program sustainability and success. 4. We are committed to being accountable to our donors and to the public and to share the collective good work of the organization.

The Board of Directors have focused this past year on strengthening their governance model, ensuring proper policies are in place, updating the by-laws and terms of reference of the organization. We welcomed back a previous Board member and added two new school principals to the Board table.

The strength of our programs has always been the dedicated support of more than 500 educational and community volunteers who invest their caring and hours of volunteer service in student nutrition programs. Our volunteers have our unending thanks and appreciation for their contribution of time and talent. They are making a real, positive difference for so many young people in Brantford and in the County of Brant. We were pleased to recognize so many dedicated multi-year volunteers at our Annual Volunteer Appreciation event in May and celebrating program successes at the 8th Annual Breakfast For Champions breakfast gala.

As we move into the future, our partnership continues to provide strong leadership and direction for the organization, navigating challenges as needed, creating efficiencies in programming, forging new partnerships and embracing opportunities for growth. Brant Food For Thought has gone digital, using their online social media platform to share the great work of the organization, along with program successes and the extraordinary contributions of our volunteers. As we approach our 20th year of supporting and facilitating universal student nutrition programs in our communities, we will continue to build awareness of the need for student nutrition and to strengthen our community and donor relationships to maintain and expand our endeavors in the future.

Sherron Birkett, Board President

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Message from the Program Director

Brant Food For Thought enjoyed another successful school year in 2016-2017 facilitating and supporting universal student nutrition programs and services in our community. With the ongoing support of funders and generous donors, along with the tireless commitment of more than 500 dedicated volunteers and educational staff, Brant Food For Thought was able to support 60 individual student nutrition programs with over 10,000 students benefitting weekly from a healthy breakfast or nutritious snack. Our amazing volunteers are the driving force of nutrition programs.

In May of 2016, Brant Food For Thought and Platinum Sponsor Investors Group, hosted the 8th Annual Breakfast For Champions, our signature charity breakfast gala held at the sponsored New Covenant venue. This year’s event did not disappoint and boasted lots of carrot appeal. Guest speakers, Rebecca Sherbino and Colleen Graham of the Raw Carrot Soup Entreprise delighted our audience with their story of creating meaningful employment for adults on social disability, along with delicious signature gourmet soups for the retail market. Our carrot and apple mascots were on hand for the event and guests were treated to photo opportunities with the mascots at the photo booth in the foyer, courtesy of Edge Imaging. We greatly appreciate the ongoing support of our event sponsors, and all the generous businesses and community donors who support annually. The culture of giving is still alive in our community.

Our program focus this past year was to create efficiencies within student nutrition programs and help our program volunteers achieve greater compliance with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services – Student Nutrition Program Nutrition Guidelines. In October of 2016 and based on successful pilots in the previous year, Brant Food For Thought launched (2) new nutrition initiatives: the School Fresh Produce Box program and the White Milk program. These programs were designed to help build volunteer capacity within a student nutrition program where shopping for large quantities of white milk and fresh produce was a challenge. This innovative approach to food procurement helps eliminate financial barriers to program success and provides the convenience of food delivered directly to a school. Local produce supplier, Forte Produce, and Crown Dairy, based out of , have partnered with Brant Food For Thought to provide high quality, fresh, local and grown produce and white milk, delivered directly to schools at a fair price. The City of Brantford – City Grant, facilitated by the Brant Community Foundation, provided a $10,000 grant, enabling us to purchase (3) double sliding door refrigerators to provide adequate and safe storage of milk and fresh produce in schools participating in the nutrition initiatives.

The 11th Annual Holiday Gift Wrap Booth, held during the month of December and until the 24th at the Lynden Park Mall, is the other signature fundraiser, and generated the highest sales to date in support of Brant Food For Thought and student nutrition programs. A total of 376 volunteers from 37 nutrition programs and from the community logged over 1,036 volunteer hours to support our cause. Participating nutrition program volunteers were remunerated in “nutrition program dollars” for 858 hours contributed to running the gift wrapping booth. We applaud them for their dedication and sincerely appreciate their efforts in making this an annual success.

Brant Food For Thought continues to maintain strong partnerships with our Lead Agency, Haldimand-Norfolk REACH, the City of Brantford, and the Brant United Way, along with our national partners, Breakfast For Learning and Breakfast Club of Canada. We have strengthened our communication strategy to share our impact in the schools and how the organization is making a real difference for children and youth in our community.

I wish to extend my sincere thanks to our Board of Directors and the agency staff for their dedication and contributions to our mission—together we make a great team! I look forward to the upcoming school year with optimism as we invest in our children and youth today for a healthy and vibrant community tomorrow!

4 Gisèle Budgell, Program Director

Student Nutrition Programs - Statistics

“A student in my class almost never brings any kind of fruit or vegetable in his lunch. Each day, he is happy to select a fruit or vegetable from the bin in addition to other items! His lunch is very small--usually two starchy items like crackers and a sweet. The Snack bin may provide the only fruit or vegetable he ever gets.”

School Teacher

Breakfast and Early Morning Meal Programs

Provide a healthy start to each day by ensuring nutritious choices from 3 or 4 food groups, with fruit, vegetables, milk products and wholesome grains. Breakfasts are facilitated in school gymnasiums, classrooms or

Grab ‘n Go style.

Programs: 34 Participants: 5,536 Meals Projected: 851,827

Healthy Snack Programs—Mid-Morning and After School

Provide fresh fruits and vegetables, milk and milk products and wholesome grains, with a minimum of 2 food groups at every snack.

Facilitated in school classrooms and community agencies.

Programs: 19 Participants: 3,687 Meals Projected: 506,528

Please note: Brant Food For Thought supports students nutrition programs on Six Nations of the Grand River through a generous annual corporate donation, as specified by the donor. We currently support approximately 1,000 students in (7) individual school programs.

5

Student Nutrition Programs - Locations

Agnes G. Hodge Public School New Beginnings Resource Centre Arts After School Kids Northland Gardens Family Centre Assumption College North Park Collegiate V.S. Banbury Heights School Notre Dame School Bellview Public School Oakland-Scotland School Blessed Sacrament School Paris Central School Boys and Girls Club of Brantford Parks & Rec—City of Brantford Branlyn Community School Parks & Rec—County of Brant Brantford Collegiate Institute Paris District High School Brier Park Elementary School Pauline Johnson Collegiate V.I. Burford District Elementary Prince Charles School Cedarland Public School Princess Elizabeth School Centennial-Grand Woodlands Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary Central Public School Section 23 – St. Leonard’s Community Services Christ The King St. John’s College Echo Place Elementary School St. Mary Catholic Learning Centre Ecole Dufferin St. Patrick School Graham Bell—Victoria School St. Peter School Grand Erie Learning Alternatives St. Pius X Catholic School Grandview Public School St. Theresa Catholic School Greenbrier Public School E.E.C. Ste. Marguerite-Bourgeoys Holy Cross School Stepping Stones Resource Centre Jean Vanier Catholic Elementary Terrace Hill Breakfast Club King George School Tollgate Technological Skills Centre Lansdowne-Costain School Turning Point Program Major Ballachey School Woodman Cainsville School

“In order to get students to try new foods, we came up with ‘Try It Tuesday’s’ – we give students different foods for them to try, such as kiwi, cauliflower, broccoli, hummus, etc. I had a parent call to find out what “green” fruit we served as her son enjoyed it and wanted some for home. It turned out to be kiwi. The students now call Wednesday’s “Cucumber Wednesday” as they know that on Wednesday’s they get cucumbers.” School Secretary / Breakfast Program Coordinator

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Thank You to our Generous Donors & Sponsors

21st Century Signs Ecole Ste. Marguerite-Bourgeoys Mark's Work Wearhouse Adesa Auctions - Kitchener & Egg Farmers of Canada Marlene Topper AG Home Renovations Egg Farmers of Ontario MCAP Agnes G. Hodge School parents Elaine Bahlieda Michael & Liann Lubrick Aleksandar Garkov Energy+ Inc. Michael & Melanie Mears Alex Felsky Eric and Glennis Stoyles Michele Wapshaw Alice and Richard Reeve Escape key Millards Chartered Professional Assumption College Essential Physiotherapy Accountants Awesome Pillows by Jane Goldspink Ethel Noyes Ministry of Children and Youth Services Balfour St. United Church Evangel Church Mothers Pizza Brantford Better Living Essentials Evi Deloukas Nancy McCulloch Bird Kingdom Family Care Chiropractic Nationwide Truck & Trailor Service Birley's Coffee Service FirstOntario Credit Union New Covenant BMO Bank of Montreal Followers of Christ Nicol Florist Limited Braemar House School Forte Produce North Park Collegiate Branlyn Community School parents Friends of Brant Food For Thought OLG Corporation Brant Auto Painting Friendship House Optimist Club of Paris Brant Community Foundation Fundamental Fitness Conditioning Paris Central School Brant County Health Unit Galuppi Hair Design & Aesthetics Patricia's Ladies Wear Brant County Parks & Recreation Gates Canada Inc. Paul Davis Systems Brant County Roads Association Gayle Cunningham Pauline Johnson Collegiate Brant Haldimand-Norfolk Catholic DSB GEDSB Social Committee Pencar Brant Mutual Insurance Giant Tiger Foundation Ray Minna's Bird Feeders Brant News Glen Morris School students Remax - Andy Lair Brant United Way Graham Bell - Victoria School Resurrection School Brantford Blast Grand Erie District School Board Rev. Ted Black - Brantford Model Brantford Collegiate Institute Grand Erie Elementary Teacher's Railroad Brantford Expositor Federation Robert and Elizabeth Goodfellow Brantford Nissan Grand Erie Learning Alternatives Robert and Tara Miller Brantford Profesional Fire Fighters Grand Experiences Robert Gee & Shelley Stanzlik Local 460 Grand River Cruises Roderick MacNeil Breakfast Club of Canada Grandview Public School RTO Brant District #40 Breakfast For Champions supporters Greg and Kim Anderson Sacred Heart Catholic School parents Breakfast For Learning Gunther Mele Simply Wonderful - Kim Anderson Brian and Mary Jane Cochrane Haldimand-Norfolk R.E.A.C.H. Smakdab! Pottery Brier Park School Halton Food For Thought Sonoco Canada Corporation Burford District Elementary School Harold and Margit Offenhammer Spence Print Solutions Burnbrae Farms Healthy Rabbit Brantford St. John's College Culinary Arts Butcher & Restaurant Supply Holiday Gift Wrap Customers Students Carol Ann Sloat Holstein Canada St. Patrick School Cayman Windows and Doors In Memory of Alex McNiven St. Pius X School Centennial Grand-Woodlands School Investors Group – Kevin Reid Stephen and Sherri Lepp Central Public School Investors Group – Glenn Gaudet Stephen Iverson Chamber of Commerce Business After J.H. Young & Sons Ltd. Stephen Smith & Dorothy Woltz Hours Jaimee Stamer Foundation Charity Of Hope Jean Vanier Catholic Elementary Strodes BBQ & Deli - Brian Witteveen Chef Tracy Winkworth Jennifer Nicol Sweet Bakery Chief of Police Geoff Nelson Jennifer Ringuette – Epicure Ted Lehman Christmas Buskers at Lynden Park Mall Jillian Telfer The Bicycle Shop City of Brantford Kathy Hockin The Grocery Foundation Cowan Insurance Group Paris Keith Telfer - 1759033 Ontario Ltd. Toonies For Tummies Campaign Crown Attorney's Office Brantford Kneaded Care Inc. TreeHouse Private Brands Darryl and Judy Maidment Kolton Stewart Underground Conduit solutions Dave Levac, MPP Brant Kuri Tec Corporation United Way of Burlington Dave Ryan Kuriyama Canada Inc. United Way of Greater Dave's No Frills Leonie Hollett Vanessa Gasparotto Deb MacLeod – Epicure Liaison College Southcoast Veranova Properties Limited Debra Skoretz Lifetouch Canada VIA Rail Canada Devlin's Country Bistro Lococo's Waterford Firefighters Association Dr. Steve and Sharon Somerton Lori Henderson West Brant Window World Drayton Entertainment Ludlow's Men's Wear Wilfrid Laurier University – Dwayne D. Budgell Funeral Home Ltd. Lynden Park Mall Brantford Echo Place School parents Magenta Insurance Professionals Inc. Women of Greenbrier Presbyterian 7 Ecole Dufferin Major Ballachey School Your Neighbourhood Credit Union

Highlights From The Year 2016-2017

Volunteers for 15+ years (Right - L to R) Gisèle Budgell, Program Director, and Marg Barrett, Terrace Hill Breakfast Club Missing from picture: Sherron Birkett, Doreeen Johnson and Barb Telfer

Platinum Breakfast For Champions Sponsor (L to R) Glenn Gaudet, Investors Group, Gisèle Budgell, Program Director, and Kevin Reid, Investors Group

Freggie Appeal at the Brantford Blast Event

City of Brantford – City Grant for $10,000 to purchase large refrigerators for schools

(L to R): Dr. Joanne Tober and Christina Rajsic, Brant County Health Unit, Councillor Cheryl Antoski, Gisèle Budgell, Program Director and Deb MacLeod, 1st Vice-President of the Board of Directors

Charity of Hope Brantford Committee presents $5,000 to Brant Food For Thought 8

Financial Report from the Treasurer

This report represents a condensed summary of the Statement of Funding, Expenditures and Designated Reserves for the year ended March 31, 2017 and should not be construed as the complete financial overview for the fiscal year.

A full copy of the Audited Financial Statements is available on our website at www.brantfoodforthought.ca or a hard copy upon request by contacting the Program Director at 519-759-6164.

Statement of Funding, Expenditures and Designated Reserves For the year ended March 31, 2017

Funding Funding for Student Nutrition Programs $ 340,769 Funding for Community Development and Program Support 120,693 Donations for Student Nutrition Programs 62,336 Community Projects 32,513 Brant United Way 30,000 Interest Income 726 587,037 Expenditures Student Nutrition Programs 412,486 Community Projects 6,254 418,740

Excess of Funding Over Expenditures 168,297

Administration Costs Administration Costs & Professional Fees 7,837 Advertising and Promotion 1,541 Bank charges 330 Mileage 1,529 Office and general, postage 6,693 Rent, Insurance, Telephone 22,232 Repairs and maintenance 1,169 Volunteer Management, Meetings and Training 5,386 Wages and Benefits (2.6 FTE) 121,105 Website management 389 168,211

Excess (Shortfall) of Funding Over Total Expenditures 86

Designated Reserves—Beginning of year 56,705

Designated Reserves—End of year 56,791 9

Staff and Board of Directors

Staff

Gisèle Budgell Judy Maidment Program Director Volunteer Development Coordinator

Nancy Waldschmidt Diana Tedford Community Development Coordinator Administrative Services Coordinator

Board of Directors

Sherron Birkett Jennifer Strome President Brant County Health Unit Public Health Dietitian Deb MacLeod 1st Vice-President Richard Leadbetter Principal, Grand Erie DSB Robert Miller 2nd Vice-President Jennifer McLaren-Gibbons Principal Joshua Laporte Brant Haldimand-Norfolk Catholic DSB Treasurer/Secretary Glenn Gaudet Neil Chopp Investors Group Retired Principal Brant Haldimand-Norfolk Catholic DSB John Poulimenos Principal, Grand Erie DSB

Allan Lovett Legal Counsel Waterous Holden Amey Hitchon LLP

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Funders and Major Contributors

Funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services Administered regionally by Haldimand-Norfolk R.E.A.C.H.

BRANT FOOD FOR THOUGHT 446 Grey Street, Suite 103B, Brantford, ON N3S 7L6 T: 519-759-6164 F: 519-759-3326 www.brantfoodforthought.ca email: [email protected]

Charitable Registration Number 861021947RR0001