SOY Bowlathon 2016 - Information Guide

INFORMAT ION GUIDE

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Y O S S I T WHA Supporting Our Youth (SOY), a program of Sherbourne Health Centre, is an innovative community development program offering holistic support and transformative programming to address the complex needs of youth (14-29) who are lesbian, gay, bi, or trans or are questioning their sexuality or sexual or gender orientation.

SOY provides tangible support and creates opportunities for youth to build resilience, nurtures a sense of identity and belonging, improves health knowledge and provides access to community resources. SOY builds an inclusive, welcoming community together with trusted adults.

SOY empowers over 250 youth each week through access to 12 youth groups, one-to-one mentoring, counseling and staff support and access to community resources, including housing, employment, education and social services. SOY groups currently meet different needs and interests, such as:

• Newcomer and immigrant youth • Trans, transgender and gender questioning youth • Black, Multi-racial and African/Caribbean youth • Homeless and vulnerably housed youth • Youth facing mental health challenges

Sherbourne has been providing essential primary care, chronic disease management, mental health services, health promotion, and outreach since 2002. Our doors are open to everyone, and we focus on clients such as the LGBTQ community, homeless and under-housed people, and newcomers to Canada. We direct our efforts to improving health for communities who face social, economic and other systemic barriers through high quality clinical care with culturally appropriate community development programs.

S N O I T A N O D O D HOW ?

P L E H LATHON W O B S ’ Y TO SO

Youth come from more than 85 countries and speak at least 40 languages between them at SOY. Many newcomer youth are refugees, having fled their countries because of their sexual or gender orientation and had faced discrimination, marginalization and a lack of services. A donation of $25 funds one hour of dedicated one-to-one staff support for a youth with guidance on how to navigate the Canadian immigration system, while also providing health information, support for family and personal issues, and housing and employment resources.

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LGBTQ students are far more likely than their non-LGBTQ peers to experience verbal and physical harassment and abuse, sexual harassment and homophobic/transphobic comments. A donation of $100 provides honorariums for SOY H.E.A.T. (Human Rights.

Equity. Access. Team) youth ambassadors who have completed anti-oppression training to present in schools, workplaces and community service organizations, creating safer spaces for LGBTQ youth in Toronto.

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25-40% of homeless youth in Toronto identify as queer or trans.

SOY’s Monday Night Drop-In provides a nutritious dinner, support from volunteer mentors, housing and employment resources and a safe community for up to 50 homeless and street-involved youth each Monday night. By surpassing your team’s fundraising goal of $1,000, you can keep SOY’s Monday Night Drop-In open for one night, providing a safe space for youth to build their resilience and confidence.

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S T A T S H T U O Y Y SO 250 youth every week are supported by SOY O ver 15,000 visits are made annually to SOY groups and for one-to-one support We estimate that 90% of the youth attending SOY Express group are refugees We estimate that 40% of SOY youth are homeless 13,000 tokens are handed out annually by SOY O ver 50 talks per year from SOY H.E.A.T. youth speakers in schools, businesses and service-providers 150-200 SOY volunteers every year

U O Y N A C HOW D? E V L O V GET IN

FORM A TEAM:

Get together with some friends and form a team of up to 8 bowlers.

Then‌ Start fundraising! Each team aims to raise $1,000 in pledges.

JOIN A TEAM:

Sign up, join a team today and start your online fundraising page. Your fundraising page can be customized, personalized, and shared with all your friends and family. Online fundraising is simple and easy to use!

SPONSOR A YOUTH BOWLER:

Every year, SOY youth participate in youth teams. If you are unable to attend the Bowlathon, sponsoring a youth is a great way to support the event.

SUPPORT THE PRIZE DRAW:

You can help us reach our fundraising goal by donating prizes to our draw or by purchasing draw tickets on the day of the event.

SHARE THE INVITATION:

Print off the attached poster and hang it in your break room to encourage your colleagues to join in supporting our event. Share the event on Twitter and Facebook and invite your friends online.

h t u o Y r u O g n i t r o p p u S r o f r e s i a r d A Fun FEATURING...

• 24 lanes of 10 pin cosmic bowling with black lights, dance music, and disco balls • Teams including SOY youth, mentors, volunteers, community partners and supporters, family and friends • Buffet lunch and cash bar • Fabulous awards for participants

GET INVOLVED AND HELP US REACH OUR $50,000 FUNDRAISING GOAL

• Form a team or join a team of up to 8 players. Each team aims to raise $1,000 in pledges. Join and start your online fundraising page today!

• Sponsor a youth team.

• Donate prizes.

• Invite your friends and family to bowl or lend their support.

• A draw featuring an incredible array of prizes • Lots of fun! Teams are encouraged to be creative, choose a fun team name, dress up in team costumes, write team cheers, and so much more! * Bowling shoes will be provided free of charge at the alley. * Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $10 or more.

ANY QUESTIONS? Contact Catherine at cargiropoulos@sherbourne.on.ca or 416-324-4169.