2010-2011 Annual Report Our Chair and Executive Director This past year has been filled with challenges, changes and several new opportunities. Strengthening partnerships was the focus this past year with schools, community organizations and the business community. It has been through these opportunities to collaborate, that we have expanded our capacity to serve more children/youth while creating sustainable programs throughout Halton Region. There were 15 new student nutrition programs launched, involving 1,100 additional children and youth. The agency’s Farm to School Program expanded to integrate locally grown fresh foods direct from farmers in its breakfast and snack programs. The launch of the ‘Live Free’ Campaign opened doors to new partnerships, generated increased awareness and new funding sources.The review of the agency’s strategic plan demonstrated the remarkable progress made over the past year that included increased capacity, community awareness and volunteer outreach. In spite of tough economic conditions, we worked diligently to source sufficient funding through community grants, fundraising outreach and partnership development to ensure resources to sustain programs. that they have so generously given. From times of tremendous fun to moments of caring and gentle guidance, our volunteers deeply enrich the lives of so many through their gift of time and compassion. We look forward to the 2011-2012 school year with hope and promise. Our focus to build capacity through new program launches will bring us one step closer to our goal – that every school within the Region of Halton, will facilitate a Halton Food for Thought Program. Serina Carbone Chair Gayle Cruikshank Executive Director We extend sincerest thanks to our Board of Directors and agency staff, for their unconditional support, hard work and enthusiasm. Their contribution is more powerful than can sometimes be measured. The Board and staff have little difficulty finding inspiration from the many children, youth and families that fill our lives with meaning and substance. Last, but certainly not least, we recognize the more than 1,000 community volunteers who provide direct service to student nutrition programs and deserve a loud and resounding ‘Thank You!’ for each moment of their time 2 3 Our Treasurer and Financial Overview Our focus this past year was to ensure sufficient funding to support the 138 Student Nutrition Programs facilitated throughout the Region of Halton. This past year, 15 new programs were started and the agency sourced new Revenues innovative fund generation initiatives to meet the growing demand. Our first Provincial Funding Community Grants Donations Fundraising Donations - In-kind Interest ‘Live Free’ Campaign was launched, asking individuals, businesses and schools to live free of something for one day, and donate its value to Halton Food for Thought.This event generated $46,000 in its first year, a testament to the caring community in which we live. Likewise, our signature Breakfast Gala engaged supporters and generated a healthy $25,000. These funds are critical in supporting schools where raising funds for their programs are limited. While we enjoyed success, Halton Food for Thought has also been impacted by the economic downturn, so many charities have been facing. We continue to ensure that every dollar spent has maximum impact on the children and youth that we serve.We are confident, with the tremendous support received through community grants, event fundraising and the generosity of individual and corporate donors, we will reach our goal – that every school in the Region of Halton, will facilitate a Halton Food for Thought program. 431,123 199,210 46,299 66,664 33,403 1,214 $777,913 Expenditures *School programs Salaries and benefits Fundraising Fundraising - In-kind Insurance Interest & bank charges Travel Office and general Professional fees Promotion Telephone Volunteer Training Depreciation 409,642 211,489 5,801 10,905 1,944 ,544 8,151 22,375 4,704 13,687 4,384 5,999 8,984 $708,609 Excess of revenues over expenditures: $69,304 *program costs fluctuate from year to year due to participation levels, schools ability to raise their own funds and in-kind support. 4 5 Our Program Sites and Statistics “This program means so much to so many children. The children in class are calmer, happier and smile a lot after having their morning snack. I am aware that for some, this may be the only food they will receive all day.” ~ GRADE FOUR TEACHER Breakfast Program more likely to be obese than those who report eating five or more per day! Provides a healthy start to each day by providing nutrient Heart and Stroke ‘A promise to Our Children’ report. rich foods each morning. Programs are facilitated in school gyms, classrooms or when space is limited, front Participants: 13,533 hallways. Participants: 2,539 Meals Served: 367,280 Meals Served: 1,659,876 Cost per Meal: .35¢ High School Meal Card Program Cost per Meal: .70¢ Provides at-risk high school students with meal cards to enable them to purchase one healthy meal each day. An outcome evaluation indicated 87% of students partic- Emergency Lunch ipating in this program remained in school securing Children chronically attending school without food are credits toward graduation. provided with a healthy lunch to enable them to Participants: 244 concentrate and excel. Participants: 26 Meals Served: 3,600 Meals Served: 17,874 Cost per Meal: $4 Cost per Meal: $1.50 Farm to School Program Fresh produce is purchased from local farmers and Healthy Snack, Basket or Morning Boost served in breakfast or snack programs. ‘Farm Fresh Friday’ Fresh fruits and vegetables are provided to encourage event held at St. Gabriel Catholic School included presen- kids to ‘strive for 5’ servings per day. It is reported that tations from local farmers, activities and celebrates local more than half (59%) of children and youth consume agriculture. fewer than five servings of fruit and vegetables per day. Children who eat fewer than three servings per day are 6 Participants: 3,090 Meals Served: 15,450 Cost per Meal: .15¢ 7 Our Student Nutrition Programs “When my family was having financial issues, the lunch program cards were a real blessing. My mum had become sick so she was working less and therefore making less money. Due to this situation, many problems arose. Having the cards provided a healthy, beneficial lunch when I needed it most.” ~ HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT Burlington: 42 Program Sites Gary Allan, Smart St. Patrick Oakville Trafalgar HS Georgetown District HS J.M. Denyes Gary Allan, Peak St. Paul Oakwood Glen Williams Martin Street Aldershot Elementary Glenview Tecumseh Sheridan Harrison Our Lady of Victory Aldershot HS Holy Rosary Tom Thomson St. Andrew Holy Cross Sam Sherratt Assumption SS John T.Tuck Woodview St. Ignatius of Loyola SS Joseph Gibbons St. Anthony of Padua Brant Hills Kings Road St. James Limehouse St. Peter Bruce T. Lindley Lakeshore St. Joseph Oakville Links 2 Care W.I. Dick Burlington Central Elementary M.M. Robinson HS Oakville: 24 Program Sites St. Michael McKenzie Smith-Bennett St.Thomas Aquinas Pineview Burlington Central HS Nelson HS Thomas A. Blakelock HS Robert Little Central W.H. Morden St. Joseph Acton C.H. Norton Notre Dame Secondary Paul A. Fisher Eastview White Oaks HS Clarksdale Corpus Christi SS Pauline Johnson Gary Allan, Score Dr. Charles Best Robert Bateman HS Halton Hills: 17 Program Sites Milton:14 Program Sites Florence Meares Rolling Meadows Frontenac Ryerson Gary Allan, Score St. Gabriel Gary Allan, Self Reliant St. Gabriel Parish Gary Allan, Step & Team St. John 8 Mohawk Gardens St. Mark Abbey Lane Abbey Park HS Change & New Hope Program Gary Allan, SLRP Gary Allan, Step Bishop P.F. Reding SS Acton District HS E. C. Drury HS Holy Family Centennial E.W. Foster Holy Trinity SS Christ the King SS Gary Allan, Score Iroquois Ridge HS Gardiner Gary Allan, Smart Montclair Gary Allan - HH Gary Allan, Step & Team Mother Teresa George Kennedy Holy Rosary 9 Our Staff And Board “... The food that HFFT provides is just what’s needed for these kids. They come to class not knowing we now have a full fridge and basket program. They return to class everyday and now have literally ‘the food for thought’ necessary.” ~ TEACHER Board of Directors Staff Chair: Serina Carbone, FPM Marketing & Design Gayle Cruikshank, Executive Director Vice Chair: Cheri Chevalier, Microsoft Employee Teresa Hunter, Director of Programs Treasurer: Nicki Glowacki,YMCA of Hamilton / Burlington / Brantford Lena Bassford, Community Relations Manager *Past Chantal Ingram, Oakville Program Manager Chair: Lorraine Pettinato, Oakville YMCA Director: Phil Simeon, Ministry of Consumer Services Maureen McLaughlin, Halton North Program Manager Director: Chris McNamara, Community Representative Julie Bertoia, Burlington Program Manager Director: Margaret Maronese, Halton Catholic District School Board Lorna Wilson, Farm to School Coordinator Director: Reg Farnand, Halton District School Board Director: Jessica Mackay, Halton Region Health Department *Director: Lorrie *Director: Edith Naar, Halton Catholic District School Board Fajszan, RBC Branch Manager *Director: Louanne *Director: Dusty Hendersin, Halton District School Board Miner, Sidekicks Marial Arts *Board Members not returning for the 2011-12 School Year. 10 11 Our Sponsors “In order for every child to be able to focus and learn, they need to have breakfast. Brain research proves this and it is apparent in the classroom. I fully believe that every school should have this program. Thanks for making a difference!” ~ TEACHER Abradjian, Sarah & Vic Leslie Bullock Pearson, David St. Gabriel Parish Church Leslie, Carol Pinnacle Foods Canada Liberty Tax Oakville Powell, Anna St. Ignatius of Loyola Secondary School Longo’s Fruit Market Ramzan, Bibi McTavish Family RBC Financial Group Milton Canadian Champion Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington Ministry of Children & Youth Services Ristorante Julia & Ritorno Morton, John & Margaret Robert Bateman High School Roseland Produce Holiday Inn Burlington Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School Everlast Group IKEA Nycomed Canada Inc. Breakfast Clubs of Canada Flanagan Foodservice Inc. Ippolito Fruit & Produce Inc. Oakville Beaver Brooks, Rose Food for Life-Refresh Foods Aldershot High School Aldershot Landscape Contractors Ltd. Aramark Canada ArcelorMittal Dofasco Barrett, Al Bio Sculpture Canada BMO Employee Charitable Foundation BNI Integrity Connections Chapter Boehringer Ingelheim Canada Ltd. Burlington Mall Burlington Post Burlington Professional Firefighters Assoc. Canada Bread Canadian Tire Financial Services 12 Canyon Creek, Burlington CIT Financial Corpus Christi Secondary School CUMIS Insurance Group CUPE Local 3166 Dodsworth & Brown Dufferin Aggregates Edible Arrangements, Oakville Edible Arrangements, Burlington Galbraith, Kelvin Glowacki, Nicki Halton Catholic District School Board Halton District School Board Halton District Educational Assistants Association Halton Entrepreneurial & Leadership Partners Halton Learning Foundation Halton Region Health Department Healthy Communities Fund Ontario Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario Jack Astor’s Burlington Joelle’s Kernels Kids Cook at School Knights of Columbus, Oakville Kula Yoga, Burlington Kula Yoga, Oakville Oakville Community Foundation Rotary Club of Burlington Central Rotary Club of Georgetown Samuel, Son & Co. Ltd. Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan SideKicks School of Martial Arts Ontario Trillium Foundation Simbahon, Alberto Optimist Club of Oakville Sodexho Foundation Inc. Optimist Club of Ontario District Our Kids Network SIR Corp. St. Elizabeth Anglican Church St. Jude’s Church St. Paul the Apostle Parish St.Thomas of Aquinas Secondary School T.A. Blakelock High School TD Bank, Iroquois Shore Branch TD Waterhouse 3 O’Clock Club of Milton TV Cogeco Toronto Community Foundation TWD Technologies Ltd. United Way of Burlington & Greater Hamilton United Way of Oakville Velux Canada Inc. Volunteer Halton W.P. Scott Charitable Foundation 13 Our Volunteers “For the past 5 years, I have volunteered at a breakfast program. In the beginning, I felt sad knowing so many children in our community were hungry, starving in some cases. Now, I feel pride knowing each day, these children benefit from my work.” ~ BREAKFAST PROGRAM VOLUNTEER, 83. More than 1,000 volunteers devote their time and energy to the 138 programs facilitated throughout the Region of Halton.Their commitment is extensive, and Star Fish Story we witness many passionate volunteers who believe their contributions have One day a man was walking along the ocean shore, looked down the beach, significant impact on children and youth, now and in the future. This priceless and saw a human figure picking up something and very gently throwing it into commitment is evident in the happiness of our children and in watching them the ocean. develop into vibrant and contributing citizens all because someone took the time to ensure these children were provided with healthy food, allowing them to develop and thrive. As he got closer he called out, “Good morning! What are you doing?” The young man paused, and replied, “Throwing starfish in the ocean.The In a world that can sometimes be impersonal, our volunteers quietly go about sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.” their work, without fanfare or expectation of thanks. To the parents, students, “But, young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach community, employee and student volunteers, we cannot begin to convey the and starfish all along it.You can’t possibly make a difference!” depth of our thanks. You are our inspiration! The young man listened politely.Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, 2010-2011 Volunteer Contributions “It made a difference for that one.” Volunteers: 1,063 Volunteer Hours: 34,473 Value of contributions: $517,095 (based on Imagine Canada’s benchmark of $15 per hour) 14 15 2313 Greenbank Trail, Burlington ON L7P 3S7 Phone: 905-331-0227 Fax: 905-331-0229 [email protected] www.haltonfoodforthought.ca