globalheroes.com
November • 2021 The power of positive, solution-based journalism.
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Putting Kids First: At Home, at the Game, and Everywhere They Go After a year and a half spent in lockdown, the whole world now knows what it feels like to be socially isolated. In a matter of days, the world went from stadiums to “stay at home.” Months of lockdowns from the pandemic meant zero access to live events for anyone, regardless of their income. For some children, this lack of access was not much different than their lives before the pandemic. Kids Up Front, a Toronto charity known for making meaningful connections between youth and community, is dedicated to improving the lives of young people facing barriers to access by including them in events at no cost. Since its inception in 2006, Kids Up Front has provided more than 675,000 experiences (tickets, classes, and passes) valued at more than $25 million to Toronto youth and their families from 250+ charitable partners and schools. But amid a global health crisis,
Kids Up Front had to navigate a world where coming together to make an impact was not possible—and what they learned changed their understanding of true togetherness; that it’s not where we gather, but how we come together, in any capacity, to create experiences that foster genuine connections. Within weeks of the pandemic, Kids Up Front launched Kids at Home, a virtual program designed to help kids and families during their new locked-down world by offering a variety of educational and entertaining virtual programming. With the help of donors across the country, Kids Up Front was able to continue its mission of promoting inclusion and strengthening communities by connecting children and their families to enriching experiences. As COVID-19 continued to increase the gaps in access for vulnerable families, Kids Up Front took another step forward, introducing Handled With Care,
an initiative to connect donated goods to those in need. These new initiatives have taken the value of Kids Up Front to a new level, expanding their impact at a critical time in our history. There is now a more significant understanding of what it means to be socially isolated, and Kids Up Front hopes that this new knowledge will, in turn, lead to a deeper understanding of why it is vital to fight social isolation and tear down the barriers that limit inclusion and community. The cost of a movie ticket, hockey ticket, or a music lesson is out of reach for so many families. Kids Up Front exists to make sure all children, regardless of income and other barriers, get a seat at the game, a chance at a singing lesson, or a taste of adventure. “I really love singing lessons because it teaches me things about my voice ...I can sing riffs and high notes I didn’t even know were possible. If
© PHOTO COURTESY OF KIDS UP FRONT
I could have more lessons, I would definitely make sure to work extremely hard...I hope one day I can sing like Ariana Grande!”—Kids Up Front Testimonial “I have two toddlers, it’s been a challenge being at home during this pandemic. I was struggling to think of creative ways to occupy their time, and this donation has brought us so much joy. My kids have loved learning new songs, interacting with other kids their age, and having dance parties … it has honestly made our lives better.”—Kids Up Front Testimonial
“Thank you loyal Torontonians for helping us build a more inclusive city over the past 15 years. You are making deserving kids happy.”—Lindsay Oughtred, Kids Up Front Toronto Executive Director. If you have opportunities, virtual or live, to donate, please reach out at torontotickets@kidsupfront.com or on social media @KidsUpFrontTO
A New Leash on Life for Bionic Pets RAYE MOCIOIU
Derrick Campana is one of ten people in the world who make prosthetics for animals—a fact that makes his impact all the more impressive. The Virginia-based orthotist has saved and improved the lives of over 35,000 animals with his custom-made braces and artificial limbs. His practice, located in Sterling, Virginia, sends out casting kits to veterinarians
and pet owners so they can cast moulds of their patients. Once the casting kits are returned, Campana crafts a personalized brace or prosthetic out of thermoplastic material—regardless of their species. But despite Campana’s success, working in animal prosthetics was not his planned career path. After attending school to learn how to fit humans for orthotics and prosthetics, he quickly learned this was some-
thing he was good at. It wasn’t until 2004, when a veterinarian brought her dog, a black Labrador named Charles, into his office, that Campana discovered his true passion and changed the course of his future. “I was doing the whole ‘human thing’ ...but a vet brought in her dog, who needed a prosthetic, to my human practice. I made a prosthetic that was a success, and I immediately knew that this was what
ALL PHOTOS © COURTESY OF BIONIC PETS
I wanted to do with the rest of my life,” Campana says. He cast a mould of the dog’s leg and handcrafted an artificial limb from thermoplastics to help improve the mobility of the furry patient. “He was running around, tail wagging, smiling…he just seemed so happy, and his owner was crying,” he recalled. In the 15 years since that first dog, Campana’s client base has expanded exponentially; he’s built prosthetics for birds, horses, sheep, camels, gazelles, and even elephants. Campana started Animal Ortho Care and has since founded Bionic Pets, the company he heads today. His goal is to help as many animals as possible, giving animals access to the treatment options that humans have available. In 2018, a 30-year-old African bull elephant named Jabu stepped into a hole and injured his leg—a potentially life-threatening injury. An organization called Living With Elephants reached out to Campana after hearing about
his incredible work with animal prosthetics. Campana was able to fit Jabu with a prosthetic carpel brace, allowing Jabu to walk properly again. He recalls that Jabu seemed to know what was going on and showed his appreciation and excitement through the joy in his eyes. While Jabu was Campana’s biggest case physically, he shares that, often, the most challenging cases are with dogs—like Derby, a Husky mix who was born with a congenital deformity in his front legs. Campana used 3D printing and medical-grade plastics to craft specialized braces that helped Derby regain his mobility. Campana’s pieces are made from medical-grade thermoplastics, which are less expensive and more modifiable than materials like carbon fibre—an important factor, as many pets are uninsured. Above all, Campana shares that the most rewarding experience is seeing animals walk again for the first time. “It’s the best feeling in the world, and you want to replicate that.” ADVERTORIAL
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JOSEPH © ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF META CENTRE
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COMMUNITY MEMBER, SANDRA, HAVING FUN PAINTING
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