Accomplishments, Awards and Accolades
The success of Eva’s Initiatives has resulted in a great response from the community and its growing reputation for innovative, proactive work with homeless youth has resulted in many awards and accolades. The following list demonstrates its role as an instrument of positive change:
- 2010 More Than Words Award, Harlequin (Family Reconnect Program).
- 2008 Vital Person Award, The Toronto Community Foundation (Eva’s Phoenix).
- 2007 Vital Person and Vital Ideas Awards, The Toronto Community Foundation (Eva’s Phoenix).
- 2005 Promising Approach, National Secretariat on Homelessness, based on sustainable partnerships, effectiveness and replicability (Eva’s Phoenix).
- 2005 Harry Jerome Award, Community Service Category, Black Business and Professional Association.
- 2005 City Livability Award, Urban Leadership Awards, Canadian Urban Institute.
- 2004 Best Practices in Affordable Housing Award, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (Eva’s Phoenix).
- The Major Leonard Frost Award, Ontario Association of Hostels, for “providing opportunities for clients to move from consumers of hostel services to contributing members of the community”.
- Cited by the Toronto Board of Trade as a best practice model of private and public partnerships in creating long-term solutions for the homeless crisis (Eva’s Phoenix).
- The Peter J. Marshall Innovation Award, Association of Municipalities of Ontario – this award is for an innovative initiative for alternative service delivery and partnership and is made to one municipal project from nominations selected from across Ontario (Eva’s Phoenix).
- First recipient of Canadian Auto Workers Social Justice Fund – Millennium Fund.
- Youth participants in the Phoenix Print Shop have won several industry awards, such as the Toronto Club of Printing House Craftsmen’s Student Achievement Award.
- One of two recipients in 2000 from The Hilary M. Weston Foundation for Youth, for a new landscaping apprenticeship program.
- A partnership project between the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, The Shout Clinic and Eva’s Initiatives to explore Harm Reduction programming for street youth. For this project, a pilot project has been initiated at Eva’s Satellite.
Prix pour l’innovation 2011
CIBC
Dévoilement du nom des lauréats
Dans le cadre de la sixième édition des Prix Eva’s Initiatives pour l’innovation, trois lauréats se sont illustrés par leur travail exceptionnel auprès des jeunes sans abri. Vingt quatre organismes qui interviennent auprès de jeunes sans abri répartis dans tout le pays ont posé leur candidature à Eva’s Initiatives. Un jury composé de six personnes bien informées sur la prestation des services aux jeunes sans abri a examiné toutes les candidatures. Il avait pour mandat de sélectionner trois lauréats parmi de nombreux candidats qui ont présenté des projets impressionnants et novateurs en cours de réalisation dans les communautés, grandes ou petites, à l’échelle du Canada.
Les trois organismes lauréats 2011, récompensés pour l’importance accordée aux services de soutien intégré destinés aux jeunes sans abri sont les suivants :
- Phoenix Youth Programs pour l’initiative Phoenix Prevention Program & Community Development Initiative in Mulgrave Park(Halifax, NS)
- Resource Assistance for Youth (RaY) pour l’initiative RaY Emergency Shelter & Transition (REST) (Winnipeg, MB)
- Bathurst Youth Centre pour l’initiative Bathurst Youth House (Bathurst, NB)
Lauréats 2011
Resource Assistance for Youth pour RaY Emergency Shelter and Transition (REST) Winnipeg, MB
Resource Assistance for Youth (RaY) est une halte-accueil/un centre de ressources pour venir en aide aux jeunes sans abri et de la rue. RaY offre un continuum of services et de programmes incluant : services répondant aux besoins fondamentaux, services d’approche en matière de toxicomanie et de santé mentale, défense des droits, services d’aide au logement, programme de préparation à l’emploi et apprentissage de l’autonomie.
RaY Emergency Shelter and Transition (REST) a pour but de procurer aux jeunes sans abri et à ceux susceptibles de le devenir des solutions de rechange au réseau de refuges d’urgence tout en assurant leur transition vers un logement à long terme, abordable et sécuritaire. Ce qui signifie favoriser les rapports des jeunes de la rue avec les locateurs autant du secteur public que privé.
En guise de soutien à REST, le gouvernement du Manitoba s’est engagé à fournir de 2 à 4 unités de logement au sein d’un ensemble domiciliaire du Manitoba afin de procurer aux jeunes des logements de transition. Ces logements s’avèrent une alternative aux refuges d’urgence destinés aux jeunes qui fuient des situations de violence, ne sont plus admissibles au système de bien-être de l’enfance, sont en attente de traitements ou ont besoin d’un logement supervisé à court terme avant de s’engager à habiter un logement stable.
Grâce au programme de préparation à l’emploi de RaY, les jeunes se sont occupés de l’entretien des cours et des façades extérieures d’un certain nombre de maisons de chambres du quartier en faisant partie de l’équipe de nettoyage de RaY. Ce qui a permis aux jeunes de RaY d’avoir la possibilité d’accéder en premier à ces logements. En effectuant ce travail directement avec les propriétaires de maisons de chambres dans le cadre de l’initiative REST, RaY aidera les locateurs à l’entretien de leurs propriétés tout en étant en mesure d’apporter du soutien aux jeunes qui occupent ces unités. On s’attend à ce que les jeunes logés grâce à REST respecteront un plan de travail qui finalement leur permettra de déménager dans un logement indépendant à long terme. <
Cette participation directe avec les propriétaires de maisons chambres démontre le côté innovateur de REST. Grâce à l’exploitation des ressources disponibles dans la communauté (des logements maisons de chambre abordables), RaY est en mesure de rendre plus efficaces les réseaux d’aide d’urgence pour les jeunes à risque, sans que l’organisme doive devenir propriétaire de logements ou en aménager lui-même.
Pour de plus amples renseignements, consulter le www.rayinc.ca
Phoenix Youth Programs pour le Phoenix Prevention Program et la Mulgrave Park Community Development Initiative Halifax, NS
Phoenix est un organisme communautaire sans but lucratif, qui établit des liens avec des jeunes sans abri ou susceptibles de le devenir, âgés de 12 à 24 ans. Les programmes de Phoenix se concentrent sur les éléments suivants : prévention, intervention d’urgence, refuge d’urgence, milieu de vie structuré et supervisé de longue durée, vie autonome, acquisition de compétences personnelles, études, services de santé, et soins postcure.
Le programme de prévention a pour but de collaborer avec la communauté afin d’offrir des possibilités intéressantes aux jeunes aux prises avec la pauvreté, le racisme, un haut taux de criminalité dans le secteur où ils vivent. Le travail de prévention vise à renforcer chez les jeunes, un sentiment de confiance, d’efficacité, de compétence, d’affection, et de participation tout en consolidant leurs relations avec les pairs, la famille, l’école, et la communauté.
La Mulgrave Park Initiative s’emploie à résoudre les problèmes scolaires et communautaires auxquels sont confrontés bon nombre de jeunes du secteur laissés pour compte et qui affichent des comportements à risque élevé, voire criminels. On s’est aperçu que les périodes particulièrement problématiques étaient après les heures de classe et durant les mois d’été alors que les jeunes s’ennuyaient parce qu’ils n’avaient rien à faire faire. De plus, on était préoccupé de l’image négative que les jeunes avaient d’eux et de la rupture de leurs relations avec la famille, l’école, et la communauté. On a remédié à cette situation par une approche à plusieurs volets qui comprend un programme d’été destiné aux adolescents; un programme parascolaire pour les ados, comprenant des activités culturelles, récréatives et artistiques; possibilités de services communautaires; tutorat et mentorat; et un programme de repas à l’école secondaire premier cycle.
Voici de quelles façons cette initiative est innovatrice :
- Les intérêts et les besoins exprimés par la communauté constituent le moteur du programme : on ne propose pas de solution toute faite à la communauté.
- L’initiative a donné aux jeunes la possibilité de s’approprier et de contribuer à l’élaboration des programmes et de participer à des activités valables pour eux.
- Elle met l’accent sur le côté préventif d’un organisme dont la mission est de s’attaquer au problème de l’itinérance, soulignant l’importance de chercher à diminuer les facteurs de risque et à augmenter les facteurs de protection pour les jeunes.
- Son approche se veut holistique parce que l’évaluation de chaque programme ou activité
- Tient compte de son apport créatif pour susciter chez les jeunes un sentiment de confiance, de compétence, et de participation.
- Tient compte de sa contribution pour donner aux jeunes un sens profond de leur lien avec la famille, l’école et la communauté
- Tient compte de son soutien envers l’opinion des jeunes, de leurs familles, et des résidants de Mulgrave Park sur les inégalités que subit la communauté
- Les participants et leurs familles liés à l’initiative Mulgrave Park peuvent être dirigés vers des services de counselling offerts, au besoin, par l’entremise de Phoenix et améliorant ainsi, pour cette communauté, l’accès aux services.
Pour de plus amples renseignements, consulter le : www.phoenixyouth.ca
Bathurst Youth Centre pour l’initiative Bathurst Youth House, Bathurst, NB
Situé au sein d’une ville de 13 000 habitants et comptant une population environnante de 80 000 âmes, le Bathurst Youth Centre offre aux jeunes un endroit sécuritaire pour faire naître et vivre un sentiment d’appartenance. Au cours des dernières années, le personnel du centre a perçu un besoin pressant de procurer du soutien aux jeunes sans abri et à ceux susceptibles de le devenir qui, sans logement et soutien adéquats, ont peu de chances de développer leur potentiel.
Bien que Bathurst possède un refuge d’urgence où les jeunes sans abri peuvent demeurer durant une courte période, la Bathurst Youth House répond au besoin de la communauté d’avoir un logement de transition et des services à plus long terme pour les jeunes de 16 à 21 ans dans la région Chaleur. En ce moment, le logement de transition le plus proche pour les jeunes est situé à près de 100 km de la communauté.
La Bathurst Youth House, actuellement en voie d’aménagement, devrait ouvrir ses portes en 2011, comptant 3 chambres à coucher et une capacité d’hébergement de 6 jeunes. Tous les jeunes devront fréquenter un établissement scolaire ou travailler dans la communauté, et recevront du soutien grâce à des possibilités de perfectionnement des compétences, y compris les compétences requises pour partager les tâches domestiques et entretenir un logement indépendant.
La province du Nouveau-Brunswick donne son appui au projet en établissant le logement de transition adjacent au refuge d’urgence dans un édifice qu’elle possède. Il s’agit d’un duplex où le logement de transition devra occuper une moitié de l’édifice et le refuge, l’autre partie. Les deux établissements partageront les bureaux réservés au personnel, selon un modèle de dotation conçu pour utiliser le personnel affecté aux services du refuge, déjà sur les lieux. Cette mesure assure la présence de personnel 24 heures par jour, 7 jours par semaine et des liens permanents avec les conseillers en emploi, les travailleurs sociaux et des services d’approche qui peuvent assurer la gestion de certains cas. On procède actuellement à une collecte de fonds afin de pouvoir rénover les lieux, tout en cherchant du financement supplémentaire auprès des paliers supérieurs de gouvernement.
Pour de plus amples renseignements, communiquer avec le Bathurst Youth Centre en composant le 506-549-3215.
Notre commanditaire
Les Prix Eva’s Initiatives pour l’innovation bénéficient du généreux soutien financier de CIBC. Un prix de 5 000 $ sera décerné à chaque organisme lauréat au cours d’une cérémonie de remise des prix dans sa communauté.
Contexte
Jury
Lauréats précédents
Contexte
Eva’s Initiatives et CIBC ont encore fait équipe afin d’offrir trois nouveaux prix de 5 000 $ chacun à l’intention des organismes s’occupant de jeunes sans abri ou à risque de le devenir.
Nouveau cette année : Les prix sont attribués à des projets qui sont entièrement mis en ouvre et opérationnels ou encore en cours d’élaboration.
Les gagnants seront choisis parmi les organismes ayant fait preuve d’innovation dans l’un ou plusieurs des moyens suivants :
- Offrir des services aidant les jeunes sans abri ou susceptibles de le devenir à acquérir leur autonomie
- Indiquer des moyens permettant de prévenir l’itinérance chez les jeunes ou d’y mettre fin
- Inclure des stratégies écologiques ou environnementales dans leurs programmes
- Faire participer les jeunes à des activités qui favorisent leur leadership
- S’engager dans des collaborations de recherche et des projets de démonstration
Pourquoi offrir un Prix Innovation?
Grâce à ces prix, nous voulons reconnaître d’autres organismes qui ont une approche novatrice auprès de jeunes qui sont sans abri ou risquent de le devenir.
Jury
Eva’s Initiatives a grandement apprécié l’aide que lui ont apporté les six membres du comité de révision. Ce jury pancanadien a fait preuve de diligence dans l’examen et l’évaluation des candidatures et leur mandat consistait à choisir les trois lauréats. Voici les membres du Comité de révision 2011 :
| Céline Bellot | Professeure adjointe à l’école de service social, Université de Montréal |
| Rachel Gray | Directrice des initiatives nationales, Eva’s Initiatives |
| Darrell Lechman | Saskatoon Youth Community Arts Programming |
| Bruce Pearce | Développement communautaire, St. John’s Community Advisory Committee on Homelessness (comité consultatif communautaire sur les sans-abri) |
| Jenny Vengris | Ville de Hamilton |
| Robert Wilmot | Directeur, Broadway Youth Resource Centre |
Lauréats 2010:
- Covenant House Vancouver et l’Inner City Youth Mental Health Project (Vancouver, BC)
- Boys and Girls Clubs de Calgary pour The Infinity Project (Calgary, AB)
- Le Street Youth Planning Collaborative (Hamilton, ON)
Lauréats 2009:
- Groupe communautaire l’itinéraire for the initiative Le magDVD le 3e Œil (Montréal, QC)
- The Laing House Association pour son programme Youth Speak : Breaking Down Stigma One Classroom at a Time (Halifax, NS)
- Parkland Youth Homes Society pour son Street Ties Youth Outreach (Red Deer, AB)
Lauréats 2008:
- SIDA/AIDS Moncton Moncton pour son Youth Asset Program (Moncton, NB)
- YWCA of Greater Toronto pour son Peel Youth Village Residential Democratic Living Program (Mississauga, ON)
- Coming Home Society pour son Young Wolves Lodge (Vancouver, BC)
Lauréats 2007:
- Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs pour leur Kelowna Downtown Youth Centre
- Saskatoon Community Youth Arts Programming Inc. pour son Urban Canvas Project
- Les Maisons Transitionnelles 03 pour leur programme de logement et de soutien à l’intention de jeunes parents
Lauréats 2006:
- Broadway Youth Resource Centre
- Mères et Monde (Québec City)
- SKETCH Working Arts for Street-involved and Homeless Youth
2011 Awards for Innovation
CIBC
2011 Winners Announced!
In this sixth year of Eva’s Initiatives Award for Innovation, three winners are being recognized for their outstanding work with homeless youth. Eva’s Initiatives received 24 applications from organizations working with homeless youth across Canada. A six member panel, knowledgeable about services for homeless youth, reviewed all applications and selected three winners from among the many applicants with impressive and innovative projects underway in communities across the county.
The three winners for 2011, recognized for their focus on supports for at-risk and homeless youth, are:
- Phoenix Youth Programs for Phoenix Prevention Program & Community Development Initiative in Mulgrave Park (Halifax, NS)
- Resource Assistance for Youth (RaY) for RaY Emergency Shelter and Transition (REST) (Winnipeg, MB)
- Bathurst Youth Centre for Bathurst Youth House (Bathurst, NB)
The Eva’s Initiatives Award for Innovation is generously sponsored by CIBC. Each winning organization receives a prize of $5,000, presented at an awards ceremony in their community.
2011 Winners
Resource Assistance for Youth for RaY Emergency Shelter and Transition (REST) Winnipeg, MB
Resource Assistance for Youth (RaY) is a drop-in/resource centre supporting homeless and street-entrenched youth. RaY offers a continuum of services and programs including basic needs services, street outreach, addictions and mental health outreach, advocacy, housing support, pre-employment program and life skills training.
The goal of RaY Emergency Shelter and Transition (REST) is to provide homeless and at-risk youth with alternatives to the emergency shelter system while supporting their transition to safe and affordable long-term housing. This includes building bridges between street-involved youth and both public and private sector landlords.
In support of REST, the Government of Manitoba has committed 2-4 units within a Manitoba Housing complex to provide youth with transitional housing. This housing offers an alternative to existing emergency shelters for youth who are escaping abusive situations, have “aged out” of the child welfare system, are waiting for treatment, and/or who require short-term supported accommodation before they commit to a long-term living arrangement.
Through RaY’s pre-employment program, youth have been maintaining the yards and outer facades of a number of neighbourhood rooming houses as part of RaY’s cleaning crew. These connections have led to RaY’s youth being given first opportunities to access these accommodations. By working directly with rooming house owners as part of the REST initiative, RaY will be helping landlords maintain their properties while being able to provide support the youth who occupy the units. The expectation is that the youth housed through REST will follow through on a work plan that includes eventually moving into independent long-term housing.
REST is innovative in its direct involvement with rooming house owners. By harnessing resources that are available in the community (affordable rooming house accommodation) RaY is well positioned to make emergency support systems work better for at-risk youth, without the burden of the organization owning or developing the housing itself.
For more information www.rayinc.ca
Phoenix Youth Programs for the Phoenix Prevention Program & the Mulgrave Park Community Development Initiative Halifax, NS
Phoenix is a non-profit, community based organization connecting with at-risk and homeless youth, ages 12 to 24. Phoenix programs focus on prevention, crisis assistance, emergency shelter, long-term supportive and structured living, independent living, personal skill development, education, health services, and after-care services.
The goal of the prevention program is to work collaboratively with the community to develop meaningful opportunities for youth challenged by poverty, racism, and high crime rates in the area where they live. The prevention work seeks to increase youths’ sense of confidence, self efficacy, competence, caring, and contribution while strengthening the individuals’ connections with peers, family, school, and community.
The Mulgrave Park Initiative seeks to address school and community concerns that many youth from the area were falling through the cracks and engaging in high risk behaviours and crime. After-school hours and summer months were identified as particularly problematic times when youth were bored with little to do. Further, there was concern about the youths’ negative self-image and about the breakdown of relationships with family, school, and the community. The response was a multi-pronged approach that includes a summer program for teens; a teen after-school program with art, cultural and recreational opportunities; community service opportunities; tutoring and mentorship; and a lunch program at the junior high school.
This initiative is innovative in a number of ways:
- The expressed interests and needs of the community are the drivers of the program: there is no ‘pre-packaged’ solution proposed to the community.
- The initiative has created opportunities for youth to have input and ownership in program development and be engaged in things that are meaningful to them.
- It brings a prevention focus to an organization whose mission is to address homelessness, underlining the importance of trying to decrease risk factors and increase protective factors for youth.
- The approach is holistic in that every program or activity is assessed for
- How it creatively feeds into youths’ sense of confidence, competence, and contribution
- How it contributes to youths’ sense of connection to family, school, and community
- How it supports the voice of youth, their families, and Mulgrave Park residents in the face of inequities facing this community
- Participants and their families connecting with the Mulgrave Park initiative can be linked into counselling services offered through Phoenix if the need arises, thereby improving this community’s access to services.
For more information: www.phoenixyouth.ca
Bathurst Youth Centre for the initiative Bathurst Youth House, Bathurst, NB
Located within a city of 13,000 with the population in the surrounding area at about 80,000, the Bathurst Youth Centre offers young people a safe place to meet and experience a sense of belonging. In recent years, staff at the centre have become increasingly aware of the need to provide assistance to homeless and at-risk youth who, without adequate housing and support, have few opportunities to reach their potential.
While Bathurst has an emergency homeless shelter where homeless youth can stay for a short-term, the Bathurst Youth House addresses the community’s need for longer term transitional housing and supports for youth 16 to 21 in the Chaleur region. At present, the closest transitional housing for youth is almost 100 km away from the community.
Currently in development, the Bathurst Youth House is expected to open in 2011, with 3 bedrooms and capacity to house 6 youths. All youth will be expected to be in school or working in the community and will be supported through skills development opportunities, including the skills required to share in household tasks and maintain independent housing.
The project has the support of the Province of New Brunswick to locate the transitional housing adjacent to the emergency shelter facility in a building owned by the province. The building is a duplex, with the transitional housing planned to occupy one half of the building and the shelter in the other. Staff offices will be shared between the two facilities with the staffing model designed to make use of the staff already on site for the shelter services. This ensures 24/7 staffing and ongoing linkages with employment counsellors, social workers, and outreach workers who can provide some case management. Fundraising is currently underway for resources to renovate the space, with additional support being sought from senior levels of government.
For more information, contact Bathurst Youth Centre at 506-549-3215.
Our Sponsor
The Eva’s Initiatives Award for Innovation is generously sponsored by CIBC. Each winning organization receives a prize of $5,000, presented at an awards ceremony in their community.
Background
Review Panel
Past Winners
Background
Eva’s Initiatives and CIBC have teamed up to offer three annual awards for organizations working with homeless and at risk youth.
New this year: Awards may go to projects that are fully implemented and operational or still in the developmental stage.
Winners will be community organizations demonstrating innovation in one or more of the following ways:
- Delivering services that help homeless and at-risk youth achieve greater self-sufficiency
- Demonstrating ways to help prevent or end youth homelessness
- Including green or environmental strategies in their programs
- Engaging youth in ways that foster leadership development
- Entering into research collaborations and demonstration projects
Why offer an Award for Innovation?
The goal of the awards is to recognize other organizations that are doing innovative work with youth who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
Review Panel
Eva’s Initiatives is grateful for the assistance received from the six members of the review panel. This cross-Canada panel diligently reviewed and evaluated all applications, and were responsible for selecting the three winners. The members of the review panel for the 2011 awards were:
| Céline Bellot | Associate Professor/ Professeur adjointe école de service social Université de Montréal |
| Rachel Gray | Director of National Initiatives for Eva’s Initiatives |
| Darrell Lechman | Saskatoon Youth Community Arts Programming |
| Bruce Pearce | Community Development, St. John’s Community Advisory Committee on Homelessness |
| Jenny Vengris | City of Hamilton |
| Robert Wilmot | Manager, Broadway Youth Resource Centre |
Past Winners
2010 Winners:
- The Street Youth Planning Collaborative (Hamilton, ON)
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary for The Infinity Project (Calgary, AB)
- Covenant House Vancouver & The Inner City Youth Mental Health Project (Vancouver, BC)
2009 Winners:
- Groupe communautaire l’itinéraire for the initiative Le magDVD le 3e Œil (Montréal, QC)
- The Laing House Association for the program Youth Speak : Breaking Down Stigma One Classroom at a Time (Halifax, NS)
- Parkland Youth Homes Society for Street Ties Youth Outreach (Red Deer, AB)
2008 Winners:
- SIDA/AIDS Moncton for the Youth Asset Program (Moncton, NB)
- YWCA of Greater Toronto for Peel Youth Village Residential Democratic Living Program (Mississauga, ON)
- Coming Home Society for Young Wolves Lodge (Vancouver, BC)
2007 Winners:
- Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs: Kelowna Downtown Youth Centre
- Saskatoon Community Youth Arts Programming Inc.: Urban Canvas Project
- Les Maisons Transitionnelles 03 for their housing and support program for young parents
2006 Winners:
- Broadway Youth Resource Centre
- Mères et Monde (Québec City)
- SKETCH Working Arts for Street-involved and Homeless Youth
Canadian Tire Jumpstart
Jumpstart
Canadian Tire Jumpstart is one of Eva’s greatest champions and most generous donors. Jumpstart’s mission, to support unique initiatives aimed at increasing access to sport and recreation, embodies Eva’s RecAction program. Youth at the shelters get active and challenge themselves through hip hop, dance, floor hockey, basketball, skating yoga and martial arts. This summer youth groups from each of our three shelters take to the lakes and forests of Ontario, the first time for most, to try camping and canoeing thanks to Jumpstart.
That’s not all Canadian Tire funded the establishment and development of Eva’s Family Reconnect Program, which prevents youth homelessness by reuniting families. In 2010 we helped 19 youth return home, 37 move into supportive housing and 15 youth to stay at home. Always willing to lend a hand, Canadian Tire is a regular donor to Home for Life, Eva’s signature event and Canadian Tire employees fill critical volunteer roles at every level of Eva’s from event helpers to Board Presidents.
Thanks to Canadian Tire Jumpstart, for all you give and do for homeless and at risk youth
CCL Industries
CCL Industries
When we were introduced to Eva’s in 2006 we were so impressed with their emergency assistance and high quality programs for homeless and at-risk youth that we immediately agreed to sponsor their wonderful event “Taste Matters”. Since then we have continued our sponsorship and also support their Life Skills programs. We recently toured Eva’s Phoenix and their graphics training facility and hope to offer work opportunities to eager participants from this outstanding program. As graphics experts this will enable us to now provide practical as well as financial support.
With headquarters in Toronto, CCL Industries is a world leader in the development of labelling solutions and specialty packaging for the consumer products and healthcare industries. With over 5,500 employees in 59 operations around the world we support the many communities in which we operate. We are a proud supporter of Eva’s Initiatives and congratulate everyone at Eva’s for making it such a special place.
CAW/TCA
CAW/TCA Canada
Ever since Canadian Auto Workers chose Eva’s Phoenix as its Millennium project, it has been one of Eva’s most loyal and generous partners. In 1999, when Phoenix was just a dream, then CAW President Buzz Hargrove came forward and contributed $325,000 because he knew Phoenix was based on an innovative concept (employment and housing under one roof) and that CAW could help make it happen. Nine years later, Eva’s Phoenix need to expand and the CAW and Buzz were there again. With the CAW’s long-term commitment the Buzz Hargrove Centre for Youth will open later this year.
For more than a decade, CAW members have not only provided tremendous financial support, they have volunteered, mentored, sold tickets, and sponsored special events. Thanks to the CAW’s funding, hundreds of youth have gained critical training and safe housing.
CAW and Eva’s – The Perfect Union!
Magna
Magna
Magna became a major supporter of Eva’s Initiatives after Chairman of the Board Frank Stronach co-chaired The Buzz Hargrove Canadian Tribute Dinner in 2008. (Magna allocates up to 2% of its pretax profits to support charitable and non-profit organizations such as Eva’s in health, culture, social, community, education, sport and politics.)
Magna currently funds Eva’s Technology Training Lab, part of the Buzz Hargrove Youth Training Centre. Youth receive instruction in a variety of computer applications and gain practical experience through work placements where they can apply their new computer knowledge. Magna’s generosity provides Eva’s youth with incredible opportunities to find meaningful employment and leave the shelter system permanently.
RBC
RBC
RBC has been a strong and committed supporter of Eva’s and our programs for a decade now. Over the years they have been part of some of our most ambitious and pioneering projects. They helped to launch The Phoenix Print Shop, Eva’s social enterprise that trains youth for employment in the graphic arts sector. As well, RBC was involved in starting our new RecAction program, which provides much-needed recreational activities for youth.
What makes our relationship with RBC so special is the involvement of their staff and branches. RBC employees are active on committees and involved in our events, such as Taste Matters for which they are the founding sponsor. Their King and Strachan, Yonge and Hollywood and Sheppard and Bayview branches are each part of various Eva’s activities. Thanks RBC.
Scotia Capital
Scotia Capital
For a decade, Scotia Capital, a division of Scotiabank, has played a major role in supporting youth at Eva’s Initiatives through donations, sponsorships, in-kind gifts and volunteer assistance. Scotia Capital’s Pat Gloudon has been an enthusiastic and loyal Board Member for many years. Pat has chaired Eva’s highly successful auction – Home for Life, for which she recruits many Scotiabank volunteers.
Scotia Capital has been the Presenting Sponsor of Eva’s spring fundraising event – now known as Home for Life – since 2004. Scotiabank has been on board since 2000 when g Eva’s received a significant financial boost with a generous contribution to our Annual Campaign. Scotiabank Group continues to invest in Eva’s social enterprise, Eva’s Print Shop as a donor and a customer.
Eva’s looks forward to continuing its strong partnership with a company dedicated to making a difference in the communities that it serves. Hundreds of Eva’s ‘graduates’ have been directly impacted by the ongoing support and commitment of Scotiabank Group and its employees!
Wendy Babcock Bursary
Donate to this bursary before September 30th, 2011, and all funds will be matched (up to $5,000). Select “Wendy Babcock Bursary” from the drop down menu under the Donate Now icon on the top right-hand side of the page.
Overview
This bursary was established in memory of Wendy Babcock, a former resident of Eva’s Phoenix, who was entering her third year of law school at the time of her death. This bursary is to acknowledge and support a young woman who resides, or has resided, at one Eva’s shelters, who will be entering, or is attending, a post secondary educational institution. The bursary, yet to be determined in size, is to be used for needed school items.
Criteria
This bursary is awarded to a young woman, aged 16-24, who is, or was, a resident of on of Eva’s shelters, who is pursuing a post secondary education, as well as, actively engaged in improving her community through education, activism, or advocacy. The young woman must provide proof of post secondary admission as well as her community involvement.
Process
Applicants must email a letter of interest and send proof of school admission to the, Director of Development, Eva’s Initiatives. The letter must include the applicant’s post secondary school and program, educational, personal and money goals and how they would use the bursary award money.
The recipient will be presented with her bursary cheque at Eva’s Annual General Meeting held in June. The youth may be required to make a short thank you speech to the donors.
Maria Crawford, Executive Director of Eva’s says, “I knew Wendy Babcock and had the immense pleasure of enjoying her infectious spirit and enthusiasm. We at Eva’s are very happy that we can acknowledge and support other women like Wendy with a bursary in her honour.”
Bursaries and Awards for Youth
Wendy Babcock Bursary
This bursary was established in memory of Wendy Babcock, a former resident of Eva’s Phoenix, who was entering her third year of law school at the time of her death. This bursary is to acknowledge and support a young woman who resides or has resided at on of Eva’s shelters, who will be entering, or is attending, a post secondary educational institution. The bursary, yet to be determined in size, is to be used for needed school items. More >>
Buzz Hargrove Youth Achievement Award
On an annual basis, a youth who graduated from the Eva’s Phoenix program is presented with this award for excellence in achieving his or her career-focused goals. The award was established by Buzz Hargrove and the CAW.
Education Supports Fund
This bursary is provided to youth at Eva’s Initiatives to support them with costs associated with either continuing their secondary or post secondary education. Youth must be enrolled in a full-time recognized school or training program and have successfully completed one month of study.
Jim Fay Music Bursary
This bursary honours late Toronto musician Jim Fay. The award is presented annually in November to a youth who wants to further his/her study or practice of traditional, folk or roots music. Deadline for application is October 1, 2011. Application and instructions can be found here.
Nancy Abrams Family Bursary
These donated bursaries are to acknowledge and support Eva’s Initiative’s youth entering or attending post secondary education institutions.
Phoenix Print Shop Scholarship Fund
The Phoenix Print Shop Scholarship Fund is administered by the Eva’ Phoenix Graphics Instructor, usually in conjunction with a Phoenix Print Shop Advisory Board member. It is a springboard to help youth develop their career through education.
Richard B. Lax Education Bursary
Two bursaries are awarded annually to residents of Eva’s Place who are pursuing OSAP Approved post-secondary education.
Youth Gold Heart Award
The Youth Gold heart award recognizes one youth from each of Eva’s sites that has overcome significant personal challenges and who now works at helping others.
