2012Annual Report
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2012 ANNUAL REPORT 3 We believe that, together, we will Address from the continue to transform lives and our Board President & society. Chief Executive Officer YWCA Toronto is an organization of determined optimists. It was this determined optimism that enabled us When 100,000 abused women are to open the YWCA Elm Centre in 2012. forced to flee to shelters every year, it The YWCA Elm Centre, which offers is hard to believe that we will ever end 300 units of affordable, supportive violence against women. housing, is the largest affordable housing project to be built anywhere in Canada When the list of people in need in more than a decade. of affordable housing in Toronto exceeds 160,000, as it now has, it is Throughout the world, 2012 was marked hard to believe that we will ever end ROSEMARY MOODIE by much pessimism. Of course, there is President, Board of Directors homelessness. much to be concerned about. However, YWCA Toronto believes that when we When girls continue to be bombarded by lean into those difficulties, our shared degrading, sexist images in the media, it commitment, compassion, courage and is hard to believe that our girls will grow HEATHER McGREGOR creativity prevails – and the results are up confident, healthy and empowered. Chief Executive Officer stunning and inspiring. And yet, YWCA Toronto does believe. As you read YWCA Toronto’s Annual YWCA Toronto is transforming the lives Report and reflect on the life-changing of women and girls in our city because services we provide, we hope you will of our visionary donors, generous agree that what the YWCA is able to volunteers, committed staff and accomplish, with the support of other determined program participants. determined optimists, is cause to believe. 2 “We believe In 2012, the YWCA Elm Centre officially opened, creating 300 units giving a of affordable housing. woman keys The YWCA Elm Centre is the largest affordable housing project to be built anywhere in Canada in more than a to a home decade. We increased our permanent housing units from 248 in 2011 to 548 unlocks in 2012. opportunity.” YWCA Toronto believes in building and advocating for more affordable housing. Research and experience clearly demonstrate that access to stable, affordable housing transforms lives: mental health improves, social isolation diminishes, children’s school performance improves, self-esteem grows and employability increases. That is why we believe in helping women get keys to their own home. 4 “We believe Women who have been abused and traumatized turn to YWCA when abused Toronto, usually in desperation. They are desperate for safety. They are women find desperate for an out. YWCA Toronto provides help and shelter, they hope. In 2012, we offered support and a range of shelter and temporary can find housing options to 1,287 women and themselves.” children. Once women are safe, and with support from our specialized staff with expertise in areas including mental health, parenting, employment and permanent housing, women heal and start to plan their futures. Then they start creating those futures and the lives they want. When we believe in women, women start believing in themselves. 6 With Canada’s only full-time Girls’ Centre and an extraordinary girls’ “We believe summer camp, Tapawingo, YWCA Toronto knows that girls need space girls need and support to discuss the struggles they face and build the capacity to a room of overcome those struggles. Girls need programs that are designed to meet their needs, some of which are quite their own.” different from the needs of boys. At YWCA Toronto, girls have a room of their own. In 2012, they used that “room” to talk about online bullying, discuss healthy relationships, build self-esteem, take risks, create their own girl-positive media and start building their futures. In 2012, YWCA Toronto girls’ programs helped 1,001 girls believe in themselves. 8 Families who have experienced trauma and violence find resources “We believe to heal and strengthen at YWCA families can Toronto. Strong families provide support and heal and comfort to endure life’s challenges and pain. Strong families nurture thrive.” confidence and enthusiasm that inspire dreams and risk-taking. YWCA Toronto offers a range of programs to families who have experienced trauma and violence. With counselling, parenting classes, support groups and highly specialized childcare services, YWCA Toronto helps families believe they can create better lives for themselves. In 2012, 1,098 parents and children found resources and support in our family programs to help them thrive. 10 “We believe YWCA Toronto offers employment families and services and training programs that help women assess their strengths, build new skills and find a way into the communities labour market. work, when However, it is not enough simply to help women get the job. YWCA women can Toronto also advocates for fair wages and good jobs because work.” women continue to make 71 cents for every dollar a man earns and because women, and in particular, racialized women, are often caught in precarious, low-wage work. When women can work, families YWCA Toronto also provides the have greater income security and high-quality, affordable childcare women have more independence and women require in order to work – and decision-making power. advocates for greater access to such care so all women with children who YWCA Toronto helps women work want to work, can work. by providing diverse and specialized employment programs to address We know many women need to work the myriad needs women have at the and want to work. YWCA Toronto various stages of their working lives. helps women work with success. 12 “We believe right to consent – or not – to sex, to the women’s right to work free of harassment and equality is discrimination, are now enshrined in law. YWCA Toronto is proud to be part of the changing women’s movement that is responsible for making these gains – and we are the world.” committed to be part of ongoing efforts to achieve more. Violence, poverty, homelessness and racism continue to disempower many women and girls and deprive them of safety and equality. However, as women gain power, resources and representation we are better equipped Women’s activism has led to impressive to move powerfully towards a society gains in women’s equality in Canada, in which safety and equity has been and around the world. achieved for all women and girls. Women are increasingly well YWCA Toronto believes we are represented in the labour market, achieving great things and will achieve government, post-secondary education much more. and senior leadership positions. Important women’s rights from the 14 We support YWCA Toronto because it is an effective and exciting “We believe organization. in We know our donation is helping transform the lives of women and girls. YWCA The YWCA is also transforming our city, with its vision of equity and Toronto.” empowerment – and the contributions it makes toward this vision. We are proud to be part of YWCA Toronto. ANNE REYNOLDS & DEREK MEEHAN YWCA Toronto donors 16 YWCA Toronto ANNUAL DONORS thanks our donors, VISIONARY FRIEND Stephanie Bowman 1,624 ($25,000+) ($2,500-$4,999) Melanie Burns sponsors, funders Anonymous Anonymous (2) Wendy M. Cecil NEW DONORS The Honourable Margaret McCain Lynda H. Bowles Donette Chin-Loy and partners who The grandchildren of Irma J. Brydson Paul & Ann Brehl Elaine Choptiany Joan & Robert Wright Jessica Butt Sherri Clarkson have made critical Susan Cochrane Sherry Cooper contributions to ADVOCATE Sylvia D. Chrominska Sarah Corman 75 ($10,000-$24,000) Joan E. Eddy Ellen Denoon efforts to improve Catherine (Kiki) Delaney Helen Gurney Gloria Epstein CAMPERS Ruth Mandel Alexandra Horsky Lois Fine the lives of women were subsidized to go to Rosemary Speirs Gale Kelly Judy Foster Phyllis & William Waters Barrett & Joan McDonald Eilert Frerichs and girls in 2012. Camp Tapawingo Julia Ouellette Catherine Gagne LEADER Linda Tuck Chapman Frances Gallop ($5,000-$9,999) Janice Wright Lee Gold Sheldon Burnett John & Judith Grant Sherry Brydson PARTNER Steven Green $2,303,417 million Debra & Barry Campbell ($1,000-$2,499) Liz Greenway Nancy Coxford Anonymous (6) Katherine Gurney raised through cash and in kind donations Emmy Goodman Jim & Linda Graham Susan Hartnett Harriet & Jonathan Goodman Jane D. Allen Christine Helsdon-Tekker Stephen Halperin Rebecca Ruth Allen & Jeffrey Levitt Renee Hill Ana Lopes Tanya Babalow Marion Holmes Jennifer Polo Jill Baptist & Lyn Baptist Maruja Jackman Nancy Ramalho & Jeff Graham Barbara Barde Pam Jolliffe & Karen Takacs PERMANENT Catherine J. Riggall Barbara Becksted Jan Kestle Gail Robinson Maureen F. Bell Janine Kovach 640 HOUSING UNITS Rosalyn Rodgers Jalynn Bennett Christina Kramer Honey & Barry Sherman Sarah Blackstock & Juana Berinstein John Krzysz VOLUNTEERS increased from Carolyn Blakely Signe Leisk CONTRIBUTED 19,233 Cindy Blakely Lindsay Blakely HOURS OF WORK 248 to 548 183 ANNUAL DONORS ANNUAL DONORS & SPONSORS PARTNER Brenda Smith Collier Fitness & Nutrition Inc. FOUNDATIONS Royal LePage Shelter Foundation WEEK WITHOUT VIOLENCE ($1,000-$2,499) continued Sandra & Crawford Spencer Crestview Investment Corporation Anonymous (4) The Schad Foundation SPONSOR Lisa & Steve Lemon Phyllis Tanaka Deutsche Bank AG, Canada Branch The Apotex Foundation Shum Vourkoutiotis Fund at the District 12 - Ontario Douglas Lissaman Jan Ruby & Mary Thomson The Dominion of Canada General Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities Toronto Community Foundation Secondary