February 2010
I would like to thank you for your consideration to support Women’s Centre of York Region (WCYR).
In 2009, donations helped us to:
- Distribute 227 Holiday Hampers, helping 437 children
- Provide 130 backpacks to 130 children and 17 women going back to school
- Provide end of month food support to 971 women (2928 family members)
- Support 301 women in counselling (2698 hours of direct service)
- Work with 265 women to create safety plans
- Engage 149 women in our Making Changes life skills program
As a not-for-profit agency, Women’s Centre of York Region relies on funding and fundraising to help women who have been abused or who are at risk of homelessness. Our current funding means we are just able to deliver the same level of service, but we know, based on 2009, that demand for services will continue to grow in 2010, especially as we are also being challenged to respond to a whole new range of clients who need our services as a result of the economy.
One in five Canadian women lives in an abusive relationship. 29% of York Region residents living in poverty are children under the age of 18. Likely someone you know could use (or may already have used) our services.
So, we are asking for your continued support.
The Ripple Effect
The work we do is amazing, helping women gain independence, feel worthy again, and regain their voice. These are women who are mothers, workers, and volunteers, so when these women feel empowered and good about themselves, you can only imagine how that benefits their families, workplaces, and communities.
We invite you to be part of The Ripple Effect, a campaign launched in 2009. When a small stone is thrown into water, there is an immediate splash, followed by on-going ripples that change the water’s surface and look of the shoreline. We believe that when we take small, meaningful, and conscious actions, the ripple effect can be seen and felt throughout a community.
Here is the ripple effect when you donate to WCYR:
- $15 a month means one more family can access our Last-Week-of-the-Month program. Funds are used to purchase grocery gift cards, allowing families to make their own food choices, based on cultural needs and food sensitivities.
- $80 helps two more children access school supplies through our Back-to-School program. This means mothers can spend money on food and other basic needs. Children can go back to school with confidence, knowing they have the supplies necessary for learning.
- With $200, one woman can participate in a full Making Changes session. This program builds self-esteem, develops key life skills, such as communications and increases her ability to return to work.
In 2010, we have identified additional ways to support WCYR with your time, talent and treasure:
Women’s Centre of York Region is committed to engage supporters in the work that we do, and create long-lasting relationships. Take a quick look at what we are planning for the upcoming year, and check our online calendar on the left side of the screen - on days highlighted in green we are hosting events that might interest you:
- Providing a quarterly ROI update to all donors - where donations were used, increased capacity, outcomes for clients, upcoming programs where investment could be made, and opportunities for collaboration.
- Offering three Open Houses to be held in February, May and October, providing all supporters the chance to visit the Centre, talk to staff, clients, volunteers, and "experience" programs.
- Developing education sessions of interest and benefit to our supporters such as financial workshops (tax, planned giving, retirement planning) and health/well-being (healthy cooking).
- Sharing any proprietary research, including outcomes from assessments of counselling and economic development programs.
We understand that times are hard and that the economy is affecting us all. We ask you to consider WCYR in your donation planning, mindful of the far-reaching impact that our programs have within your community. Your donations stay in York Region, helping women close to home. To find out how you can be part of WCYR’s Ripple Effect Campaign, please call feel free to contact me at 905-853-9270 x101.
Thank you,
Kirsten Eastwood
Executive Director
Below are some additional ways you can make a ripple:
Individual Donors
Corporate Donors
Third Party Events
Attend One of Our Events
Wish List
More information about donating and fundraising:
Donor Bill of Rights
Association for Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethics
Thanks to Joe Dunning of Proximity and Michaela O’Connor of One Voice Designs for their creative support.
|
