Reveal Niagara - Business Magazine - Vol. 2 | Issue 3

Charitable organizations are at the heart of community involvement and support. These organizations spend their time, money, and energy helping some of our most vulnerable or underserved groups. Charity begins with the inward recognition of the importance of giving back to your community and beyond. Without these organizations, many people would go without help in times of fundamental need. These people and organizations are on a mission to help better the lives of people who need it most and it’s our responsibility to support them in return.

Reveal Niagara Business Magazine by Ownera Media is proud to present the leaders in the Charitable Organization Sector within Niagara, who do their part in forging positive change. They are the leaders that recognize the importance of local engagement, support, and mutually beneficial relationships, innovative business design and unique attributes that make them truly notable in their industry, in our community, and beyond.

Nicole Regehr Interim Executive Director Gillian’s Place

Nicole has been a part of the leadership team at Gillian’s Place for twelve years and is currently in the role of Interim Executive Director. Nicole is a community advocate and educator in the area of gender-based violence with a commitment to making our community a safer place for women and other equity seeking groups. A grounded and dynamic leader, she aims to forward the mission of Gillian’s Place as they work to end gender-based violence in Niagara.

Gillian’s Place

For 44 years and counting, Gillian’s Place has been providing safety and support to survivors, along with their children as they break the cycle of violence and abuse. Since 1977, Gillian’s Place has grown from an 8-bed volunteer-run shelter to a multi-site provider of free and confidential services. “In 2019-2020, 328 individuals found refuge at our 34-bed emergency shelter,” says Nicole, Interim Executive Director, Gillian’s Place. “Beyond our shelter service, we provided 6,038 residents with compassionate care and support through our community outreach services.”

Gillian’s Place offers services that are designed to meet the unique and complex needs of survivors across the care continuum. In late 2020, Gillian’s Place started to change and improve service-delivery to equityseeking groups by using an anti-racism antioppression lens, informed by intersectional, feminist values.

Our programs and services include 24x7 phone or text support, safety planning, expert one on one and group counselling, legal services and support, education and violence prevention, child and youth programs, transitional housing, and support and second stage housing.

Pamela Blackwood Executive Director McNally House Hospice

Pamela utilized her social work background as the foundation for her not-for-profit management career for the past 28 years. In 2008, she joined the McNally House Hospice team as the Executive Director. Hospice Palliative care has been a true passion and notes that Palliative care is incredibly intense but richly rewarding work.

McNally House Hospice

Opened since 2008, McNally House is a six suite, home-like residence providing 24-hour palliative care to people living with terminal illness. McNally House provides holistic care from time of diagnosis to bereavement support after death. Families can spend the time they have left with their loved one. “It is truly an honour and privilege to lead a team of dedicated health care workers and volunteers as we walk alongside those at end of life, providing compassionate personcentered care to both the patient and their family members,” says Pamela. “Community engagement is our foundation. It cultivates and supports relationships that shape how and where we provide care.”

“We have had so many joyful moments at McNally House. Palliative care is about living until you die. One of our favourite moments was when we were able to help plan a wedding. From the engagement to the wedding reception, it all happened within the walls of McNally House.” Says Pamela. “The morning after the engagement, the bride-to-be started planning her wedding for that night. McNally House staff caught wind of the event and told her, “We got this.” Our staff quickly moved into action. A local florist donated stunning arrangements of flowers, a local photographer jumped at the opportunity, volunteers arrived with food, champagne, and decorations. Guests attended in their pajamas, just like the Bride and Groom. When people say to me ‘“it must be so sad to work at a hospice”’, I tell them this story.”

Amber Hughes Executive Director Food4Kids Niagara

Amber has been working in the not-forprofit field for 10+ years, before making the leap from the media sector, bringing a unique combination of skills to both support and promote the Food4Kids program to the community. Community being the key word, as relationship building is a critical component for creating meaningful bonds with a diverse group of volunteers, donors, and supporters across the Niagara Region.

Food4Kids Niagara

The Weekends Without Hunger program provides healthy food packages to elementary school students from at-risk, low-income, or disadvantaged homes with limited food during weekend and summer periods. Food packages are assembled by volunteers and then delivered to schools or homes each Friday to ensure children have an adequate food supply during the weekend. We are currently supporting 500 children at schools throughout Niagara.

“We believe that alleviating the effects of poverty and hunger strengthens our community, providing children with opportunities to grow, excel and thrive,” says Amber, Executive Director at Food4Kids Niagara. “Our program reduces barriers to accessing healthy food, which impacts immediate, short, and long-term developmental outcomes for children and youth. Provision of food is a key prevention strategy impacting physical health, mental health and academic success, in breaking the cycle of poverty.”

A quote from one of the parents: "Aside from the obvious, that my kids are receiving extra food, this program also educates my kids about how a community and a support system work. It's a really wonderful program and I'm so glad that they are here to help us in our time of need."

“There are far too many children going to home to empty cupboards and the uncertainty of where their next meal will come from. By providing frequent and targeted food assistance, we can ensure that eventually, no child in our community will go hungry.” Said Amber.

Sarah Pritula Director Community Crew

Forever a philanthropist, Sarah knew she wanted to spend her time in the non-profit sector. At a young age, Sarah started by serving water and delivering meals at the GNGH in elementary school, then became a Big Sister and mentor for a “Little” through the local Big Brothers, Big Sisters program. Moving to a large charity for work, she was able to educate children about heart health with the Jump Rope for Heart program. Now Sarah oversees the Community Crew as Director.

Community Crew

Community Crew is an organization dedicated to providing children with nutritious lunches throughout the school year, empowering children, and uniting businesses through community engagement. They nurture future leaders by providing them with tools and knowledge to make a difference.

Community Crew provides hope, one healthy lunch at a time. “We provide lunches for children who would otherwise go without during the school year, making sure that children never have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. Each lunch comes with a note of inspiration from our volunteers,” says Sarah. “We aim to have the program deliver 1,500 lunches, 3 days per week to 30 schools this year. That’s 250K lunches for the 2021 – 2022 school year.”

Community Crew partners with companies such as Factory Surplus Direct (FSD) to teach kids all about robots; and Grant McArthur, who is riding his bike over 10,000km to raise $100,000 in support of Community Crew.

“During the recent pandemic and lockdown, our teams prepared and delivered lunches directly to the homes of the children. Our school feeding program didn’t miss a beat and children were still able to have lunches and groceries throughout the pandemic. Our team of volunteers were instrumental in making this a go. We couldn’t do what we do without our volunteers.” Said Sarah.

Kim Rossi Director of Philanthropy & Public Relations Pathstone Foundation, Pathstone Mental Health

Kim holds nearly 20 years of media experience, is a tremendously talented event planner and fundraiser, and a successful entrepreneur. In addition to her key role at Pathstone, Kim is also a co-founder of KO for KIDS, an annual charity boxing match that raises awareness and funds for Niagara kids and families dealing with illness.

Pathstone Foundation, Pathstone Mental Health

Pathstone is led by extraordinary people, all of which work tirelessly to change the outcome for children and families in Niagara dealing with mental health issues.

The demand for that care, however, continues to grow and can only be fulfilled with the continued generosity of donors, volunteers, and fundraising efforts all year round.

“This is more than just a job to me. I feel I have a responsibility to my community, (one I've always wanted) to help make it the best place possible. In the mental health space, I really don't do the hard work. Our team of therapists, and counselors are the ones who are impacting young lives. I get to share their compelling stories, and work with our supporters to align their charitable interests with a project or program at Pathstone that will leave them with a feeling of great pride and impact on thousands of kids.”

No child should have to wait to receive the help and support they require, and no parent or guardian should not have a resource to consult and help source the best care.

“Everyone needs someone. It's impossible to have great success, partnerships, and creative collaboration without others. So, I'm sharing this Notable recognition with my mentors, our Pathstone team, and countless volunteers. Thanks for making all of us that much better,” says Kim.

Suzanne Court Founder and President RRPC Innovation Foundation

Philanthropy means different things to different people but at a very early age, Suzanne wanted to make a difference. Giving back and being benevolent was in her DNA and has always played an integral role for Suzanne in having a successful and meaningful life.

RRPC Innovation Foundation

Suzanne founded the RRPC Innovation Foundation in 2018 to honour the memory of her late father, Richard Robinson Prescott Court. Richard exuded a passion for supporting youth across Niagara, and was known for encouraging others through his personal mantra, “one must give in order to receive”.

After a 30-year corporate career, Suzanne made the decision to move from the success side of her life to the significance side of her life. After witnessing the growing number of youth suicides, youth living on the streets and so many others struggling with addiction and mental health challenges, it was time. “I wanted to create a strong and sustainable legacy of giving and made the decision to establish the RRPC Innovation Foundation, in memory of my dear father Richard Court. My father believed that the cycle of life is the cycle of giving, and how important it was to unite our family around a common purpose.” said Suzanne.

"Our foundation believes that strong, dedicated, and creative leadership is needed to address our community’s most pressing problems, to help youth navigate and succeed through education, mental health, partnerships, physical health, and healthy eating. We have always believed available evidence, and by what our experiences tells us in terms of the impact our foundation is best suited to support.” Said Suzanne.

RRPC Foundation is committed to growing partnerships with local community agencies and welcomes the opportunity to work with business leaders and developers to create innovative and lasting solutions.