WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE? You can guide the future of your community and causes that you care about by making a legacy gift to the charity of your choice. Charitable donations help to build communities and support a wide range of causes.
ADVERTISING FEATURE APRIL 24, 2022
2 | CAPITAL GIVING | SPRING 2022
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Together we can Make It Happen!
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he Victoria Foundation is inviting you to help Make It Happen! The 2022 interactive guide invites donors to learn about what’s happening in our region, and find ways to make a difference in virtually every aspect of the community. In 1936, the Victoria Foundation was founded by Burges Gadsden who was inspired to create a community Foundation as a result of his work with Victoria’s first soup kitchen, the Sunshine Inn. The first gift of $20 came from his mother, Fannie Gadsden. In the letter she supplied with the donation she said she wished she could have given more. What seems like a small gift has had a huge impact. Over the past 86 years the Victoria Foundation has built on that initial gift of $20, and now grants out over $1.5 million a month! It is a good reminder that no gift is too small to make an impact in our community. The 2022 Make It Happen! guide focuses on providing a range of giving opportunities for those in our community.
Here are options for you to give in your community! Community Action Funds Residents of Greater Victoria have always shared a strong sense of community. One where we work together and support each other as we create a vibrant, caring community for all. Community Action Funds allow you to give confidently to the cause areas that matter to you. Whether your passion is to support the arts, health related programs, the environment, gender or racial equity or one of the many other cause areas that address the well-being of our community, when you make a gift to a Community Action Fund, you can have confidence that your gift will be put to the highest and best use. Find out more about how Community Action Funds have benefited the community in the Make It Happen! guide. Blue Heron Fund for Kids The Blue Heron Advisory Group cares deeply about the well-being of children in
our community. A financial management group of CIBC Wood Gundy, the Blue Heron Advisory balances their office responsibilities with a strong commitment to family life and supporting activities in the broader community. Their community involvement has roots in the CIBC Miracle Day program. CIBC Miracle Day is a proud tradition that has helped to improve the lives of millions of children since it began in 1984. Every year, on the first Wednesday in December, CIBC Wood Gundy Investment Advisors donate their fees and commissions to help kids in need. With proceeds from the 2021 CIBC Miracle Day, the Blue Heron Advisory Group has established a fund at Victoria Foundation and will match every dollar raised up to $250,000. Your gift to the fund will have twice the impact and will ensure that children and their families have access to the resources they need to thrive. All money raised through the fund will be distributed through Victoria Foundation’s trusted Community Grants Program. Last year, the Community Grants Program funded over 20 local community organizations
that primarily serve the emotional and physical needs of children. This year, grants from the Blue Heron Fund for Kids will help us enhance funding to qualified applicants who deliver activities for kids in the areas of art and music therapy programs, access to food, literacy programs, resources for parents, and much more. Other programs In the Make It Happen! guide you can also find information about trust-based philanthropy, Neighbourhood Small Grants Program, Vital Youth Program, Collaboration Grants, and vital ways we can work together to strengthen the health and wellbeing of our community. Want to learn more? Visit victoriafoundation.bc.ca/make-it-happen to read the guide. Our philanthropic services team is available to speak to you about the programs highlighted in Make It Happen! and more! Email donorservices@victoriafoundation. bc.ca or call 250-381-5532.
Use the power of your Will to do more! willpower.ca/charities/the-victoria-foundation
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Broadmead Care Soc. 3x5 00
Veterans Memorial Lodge is a place where special moments happen every day.
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You have the will power to do more than you think. Hugh left a gift in his Will that was used to purchase exercise equipment for Veterans Memorial Lodge, a Broadmead Care Home. People like Simon, pictured above, benefit from regular physical exercise. Specialized equipment makes exercise more accessible, and helps them live as fully as possible.
Learn how your gift can make a difference now, and in the future. Visit www.broadmeadcare.com/legacy-giving-at-broadmead-care or call 250.658.3226 to learn more.
Broadmead Care Society is a registered charity. #129290383 RR0001
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hen you leave a charitable gift in your Will, you can make a bigger contribution than you ever thought possible to support the seniors, veterans, and adults with disabilities who live at Broadmead Care. Sometimes donors think they can’t both support their loved ones and their favourite charity. The truth is, just a small percentage of your estate left to charity can have a big impact, while still leaving the majority for loved ones. Choosing to support Broadmead Care can also reduce and, in some cases, eliminate taxes to be paid – a win-win! We first met Vicki in 2005, when her mother moved in to Veterans Memorial Lodge, a Broadmead Care Home. As Vicki said, “The care given to my mother during her final three-and-a-half years of life was exceptional. Veterans Memorial Lodge is a place where special moments happen every day. Staff know how to do ‘that little bit extra’ to make people feel special, valued, and respected. The people who live at Veterans Memorial Lodge receive the right kind of stimulation in an environment which supports their needs emotionally and physically. They
Photo: Vicki Hall
have a better quality of life in this compassionate, nurturing, and creative environment.” “When my mother passed away in 2009, my sister and I requested that memorial donations for our mother be made to Veterans Memorial Lodge, and chose to put the donations towards Dining Room Renovations. Sadly, my sister passed away suddenly in 2016. I requested that memorial donations in her honour would go towards the ‘Every Moment Matters’ campaign.” “Most recently, I have included Broadmead Care in my Will to express my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to those whose skill and expertise run this wonderful home, and to the rest of the staff who work under their guidance. My legacy donation will assist the ongoing needs of future residents with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia-related illnesses, and will help to change the world for the people who call Broadmead Care, ‘home’.” No matter the size of your estate, like Vicki, you can be part of a powerful movement for change: a movement to protect the future for the most vulnerable people among us.
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CAPITAL GIVING | SPRING 2022 | 5
You can keep Vancouver Island families close when it matters most.
CHAMPIONS WANTED
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE 3x5
139756
Leave a Legacy for BC Children and Families Leaving a gift in your will to Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon will provide accommodation and support for 2,000 families with seriously ill children each year at our 73 room house.
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o family ever plans to stay at Ronald McDonald House BC and Yukon, but for 2,000 families each year, it becomes a home away from home. When children from Victoria and neighbouring communities are diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer or heart disease, they are often flown to Vancouver that same day. Families face urgent challenges: where to stay, how to care for their other children, and even where to find a change of clothes or their next meal. That’s where Ronald McDonald House BC and Yukon (RMH BC) comes in, providing accommodation and support for families who must relocate to Vancouver for treatment. Last year, 19% of the families we served came from Vancouver Island. The Orr family was one of many Victoria families who found a home at RMH BC last year, when their son Mack needed a bone marrow transplant. While Mack needed to stay close to his medical team for 100 days after his transplant, RMH BC gave his mom, dad and little brother a place to stay and a community of support. At the House, he also discovered a love of music (playing the guitar and keyboard) in our music therapy program,
something he can carry with him for years to come. “RMH BC is such an amazing resource,” says mom Amanda. “I couldn’t imagine not having the House, and all the challenges we would have if it wasn’t here.” • An essential service made possible by your support, RMH BC is open for families 365 days a year. • Families can stay for weeks, months, or years. • Staying at RMH BC saves families $3,000 - $6,000 per month, making them stronger long after they return home. • Programs like family meals reduce day-to-day stress so they can care for their sick child. • More than a place to stay, the House makes possible count less superhero movie nights, home-cooked meals and bedtime stories. You can support Island families at RMH BC by making a donation, taking part in a fund raiser or leaving a legacy in your will. Learn more at www.rmhbc.ca.
Contact us: 604-736-2957 plannedgiving@rmhbc.ca www.rmhbc.ca
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Helping seniors like Rod rebuild their lives
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uring these difficult times, more seniors than ever are living in poverty and homelessness. Your generous support helps vulnerable seniors find safe housing, nourishing food, medical care, and the support they need to turn their lives around. Rod’s story is one of loss, but also one of hope. For nearly 47 years, he worked to build a life for his family. He excelled at his strenuous job as a bricklayer, and even started his own company. But for many years, he was also challenged by substance use—challenges that eventually led to bigger issues like declining health, separation from his family, and eventually homelessness. It was not the life he had imagined or worked for. Rod, who is “damn near 70 years old,” tried to survive on the streets while growing less healthy by the day. He says he hit rock bottom when he arrived at the doors of Cool Aid’s Rock Bay Landing Shelter. But he found the resolve to get help by holding on to the hope that he could maintain a connection with his family, if he turned his life around. Rod was at Rock Bay for about six months—a difficult time that he also describes as “the best thing that ever happened to me.” Finding Hope and Healing Rod didn’t just find hot meals and a safe place to sleep when he landed at Cool Aid. He found a community that recognized his potential and walked with him on every step of his journey. The Cool Aid team helped Rod sign up for the disability benefits he was entitled to, the first step to getting back on his feet. They helped him get on the list for affordable housing. At Cool Aid’s Community Health Centre, he received care for a myriad of health issues, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart problems. He got life-changing treatment for Hepatitis C and now describes himself as cured of the disease—something he did not think was possible. “Everyone at the Health Clinic is great. They know your name and make you feel at home,” Rod says.
Getting His Life Back with Your Help When Rod looks back at his life before Cool Aid, it looks very different from where he is now. Today, he has an apartment of his own at Cool Aid’s Olympic Vista location, where 36 residents benefit from safe, supportive housing—including daily meals, community activities, and vital health care. Rod is grateful for the opportunities that opened up in front of him the day he walked through Cool Aid’s doors. He’s healthier and happier than he has been in years. He spends almost every day with his son and his son’s family, and he has created a lasting connection with his three granddaughters. Your support makes stories like Rod’s possible. Thank you for helping vulnerable seniors find a place to live, nourishing food, life-saving health care, and a supportive community.
Cool Aid is Building for the Long Term You can help with a gift in your will Cool Aid provides housing, health care, and support services for 12,000 people in Greater Victoria experiencing homelessness and living in poverty.
WE PROVIDE recreation and training activities at the Downtown Community Centre, employment opportunities, and help 7,000 locals each year with support services.
WE PROVIDE housing and support for over 700 people, most of whom were previously homeless, and we are building 282 new affordable apartments for the community.
Cool Aid responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with a new Health Outreach Team that continues to provide vital health care to hundreds of people who face barriers to accessing care.
coolaid.org/bequest • 250.414.4799 • langelini@coolaid.org
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ADVERTISING FEATURE
Donors provide the very best for Saanich Peninsula Hospital’s Long-term Care
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n 2020 generous donors answered the call to help buy new beds for the Saanich Peninsula Hospital’s Long-term Care residents. This month, thanks to their donations, the final beds have been installed. We are overjoyed to say that every single bed – 147 in total – in Long-term Care has now been replaced. It was a proud day when Sarah Bragg, SPHHF CEO and Michele Holmes, SPHHF Board Director, visited the hospital to meet the team who have been instrumental in getting the new beds installed, and staff trained to use them. Shirley Finnegan (LTC Clinical Nurse Leader) explained how the beds are making a huge difference to both staff and residents. Nursing is a very physical job and these new beds, with their state-of-the-art control systems, allow a safer work environment. The beds can be raised and lowered in height as well as tilted into a sitting position. The mattresses will also help shift the bed’s occupant from one side of their body to the other. Some residents spend up to 80% of their time in bed and their comfort is so important to their quality of life. Valerie Watanabe (Physiotherapist LTC) pointed out how the new beds are able to be customized for their occupant. The temperature can be adjusted as can the firmness of the mattress; details like this reduce skin break down issues. The beds also reflect the fact that the size of the population has changed. Men in particular have become taller over the decades, the new beds are sized to reflect this. Stephanie Cowland (Clinical Nurse Leader LTC) shared how the new beds, and the over-bed tables and bedside tables that have been bought to accompany them, have really boosted morale for residents and staff. The fact that donors have recognised the importance of the equipment and furnishings in Long-term Care makes residents feel loved and respected. Stephanie also showed some of the other upgrades in Long-term Care that donor funds have enabled including a new Nurses Station and therapy tools like the wall mounted sensory lightbox.
A brand new Stryker bed with (L-R) Sarah Bragg, SPHHF President & CEO; Stephanie Cowland, Clinical Nurse Leader LTC; Zac Dalrymple, Stryker Canada; Valerie Watanabe, Physiotherapist LTC; Michele Holmes, SPHHF Board.
Michele Holmes spoke for the whole Board when she said “we are super pumped that the community has provided such a wonderful thing for the hospital. Our community should be proud of what we do – we’re the only unit with 100% of these new beds!” The campaign to renovate and upgrade Long-term Care has made a big difference to residents and staff thanks to our amazing donors. Thank you donors for making a difference! If you would like to make a gift that will keep on giving, contact us about our Legacy Giving Program sphf.ca
The fact that donors have recognised the importance of the equipment and furnishings in Long-term Care makes residents feel loved and respected.
MAKE Caring
Your Legacy
Your support will ensure that the Saanich Peninsula Hospital remains at the heart of community healthcare for generations to come. You want to have an impact on the world that your children and grandchildren will inherit. Your legacy can provide for them and your community. Visit our website or speak with your financial advisor to find out how to make a gift that will leave a positive and lasting difference.
your community, your health 250-656-2948 sphf.ca
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CAPITAL GIVING | SPRING 2022 | 11
New blood donors needed in Victoria to meet hospital demand
CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES-VIC 3x5 141782
Donate blood today and help patients like Cole wake up to a healthier tomorrow. New donors needed Victoria donor centre 3449 Saanich Road
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ach year, over 100,000 new donors are needed to make up for those who can no longer donate. This helps ensure reliable access to blood and blood products for patients, where and when they need it. In Victoria alone, 2500 new blood donors are needed this year. This Spring, consider booking an appointment at the Victoria Donor Centre located at 3449 Saanich Rd, across from Uptown Shopping. All blood types are needed. Everyone who can, is encouraged to donate. Ask a family member, friend or colleague to book an appointment to donate at the same time as you. Together, physically distant, you can make donating blood a new meaningful tradition. Currently, only 1 in 81 eligible donors give. Check if you’re eligible by going to our website.
Appointments areneeded required. New donors
There you can take our eligibility quiz or look through the full list of criteria. Common eligibility criteria include being at least 17 years old, a minimum of 110lbs, not having travelled recently and knowing what medications you’re on (most common medications are accepted). Appointments are currently necessary, with same-day appointments available often. Donation appointment spots are available in the evenings, weekends and long weekend holidays at several donor centres and donation events in communities across Vancouver Island and Canada. If you are in good health, find a donor centre near you and book now at blood.ca, download the GiveBlood App or call 1-888-2-DONATE.
Victoria donor centre Together, we are 3449 Saanich Road Canada’s Lifeline
Appointments are required. Book now at blood.ca
Together, we are Canada’s Lifeline Book now at blood.ca Cole, blood recipient
12 | CAPITAL GIVING | SPRING 2022
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Simple Solutions to Give Joy and Meaning Back to Seniors in Long-term Care
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here’s no denying that the mental health of all Canadians has taken a beating lately. A year ago the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health reported that 1 in 5 Canadians have been experiencing high levels of mental distress during the pandemic, and that was before we faced additional lockdowns and the crisis in Ukraine. For seniors in long-term care, however, high levels of depression are sadly nothing new. Even before COVID-19, nearly half (48%) of care residents in BC were being prescribed antidepressants . Certainly mental health is a complex issue, and many factors contribute to that statistic, but it’s not hard to imagine why so many seniors are in need. By the time they are eligible for long-term care, they’ve lost almost everything that’s given their lives meaning. Friends? Most of the people they’ve known are gone. Favourite activities around town? They no longer have a driver’s license or car to get there. Keeping up the home? They’ve lost strength in their limbs, and some of the medications they’ve been prescribed leave them dizzy and afraid of falling. In Canada, 37% of Canadian seniors are now living with at least two chronic illnesses like heart disease, COPD, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s or dementia. These diseases slowly rob seniors of their abilities, their independence, and their family relationships too, gradually transforming spouses and parents into patients dependent on their family caregivers. Finally, when they reach the point of needing 24-hour nursing support, or when family caregivers can no longer keep up, they become eligible for long-term care. They then lose their home, and access to almost all of the possessions they’ve spent their lives collecting. Is it any wonder that so many seniors in long-term care are depressed? Fortunately, there are some very simple ways to help local seniors regain confidence, and a sense of joy and purpose in their lives. A 2014 study in the Journal of Neuroscience found a direct link between the region of the brain responsible for
taste memory and the area responsible for encoding the time and place we experienced the taste. Additionally, the study found that the brain associates taste with memories of being in a location where either positive or negative things happened. If you’ve ever enjoyed a chocolate dipped cone on a hot summer day and found your mind wandering back to happy childhood memories of eating ice cream at the beach, you’ve experienced this connection firsthand. In long-term care, this link means that something as simple as ice cream can provide a powerful tool to remind a senior of happy times in their lives. Such memories can, in turn, help them regain confidence by reflecting on who they are, and all that they’ve accomplished. Music therapy works much the same way. If you’ve ever heard a familiar tune come on the radio and were transported back in time to a special summer, a first date, or a first dance, you have some sense of how a trained music therapist can help uplift a senior in need. Both music and food can even help seniors with dementia access memories in parts of their brain not yet affected by their disease. This can provide a calming effect that allows these seniors to communicate meaningfully with those around them... a pretty profound impact for an hour of music therapy or a sweet ice cream treat! A 2019 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association suggests similarly impressive potential for gardening therapy programs in longterm care. Seniors who were given the opportunity to provide care to plants experienced improved quality of life, improved physical and cognitive effects, and decreased anxiety and depression. We all feel good when given the opportunity to care for others – seniors in care are no different. Gardening is an easy way they can feel useful again, and experience a renewed sense of purpose. As simple as these solutions are, there is little funding for ice cream, music therapists, or specialized garden tools and raised wheelchair accessible garden beds within our government healthcare system.
Simple things like ice cream treats and music therapy can help seniors in care reconnect with happy memories, and overcome feelings of loneliness and anxiety
That’s why a local charity, Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation, has launch a new Gifts of Kindness program that aims to raise funds to provide these kinds of supports for those in need, in the hopes of reducing
the overwhelming rates of anxiety and depression among seniors in long-term care. To find out more, visit www.gvef.org/gifts
A love of gardening is always in season. Seniors in long-term care
1450 Hillside Avenue, Victoria, BC V8T 2B7 250-370-5664 • www.gvef.org Charity# 898816095 RR0001
have lost the ability to do many of the things that have given their lives meaning.You have the power to give them something back. When you purchase an Eldercare Gift of Kindness for someone you love, your donation will help a local senior
in long-term care regain an activity they’ve enjoyed throughout their lives by funding specialized tools, and raised wheelchairaccessible planting beds. You’ll also restore a sense of joy and purpose to the life of someone in need.
JUST $
40
Find out more at: gvef.org/gifts
14 | CAPITAL GIVING | SPRING 2022
We believe that everyone should GTR. VICTORIA HOUSING SOC. have a place to call 3x5 home. 139314
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Celebrating 65 years of providing affordable housing in Greater Victoria
The Greater Victoria Housing Society is dedicated to providing affordable rental housing for seniors, adults with diverse abilities, families and working couples and singles with low to moderate incomes.
We know that having affordable and safe housing is essential to a person’s health and well-being. The tenants who live in our buildings have told us: “I don’t know where my son and I would be without you”; “you saved my life”; and “affordable housing has allowed our family to move forward in ways we could never have expected”. This is the power of having a safe, affordable home.
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We currently provide housing for more than 1,300 people in 17 buildings across the Greater Victoria Region, and the need is growing. Support us in our work to increase affordable housing choices in our community.
Building Homes. Creating Communities.
greatervichousing.org
Scan to Donate Now
he Greater Victoria Housing Society (GVHS) marked its 65th anniversary in 2021. GVHS is a trusted builder and provider of affordable housing in the Greater Victoria region. It was founded in 1956 by a small group of people who had a vision of providing affordable housing for seniors. As part of our 65th anniversary celebrations, we asked former tenants, staff, and other members of the community about their best memories of GVHS. The stories that came in were truly heartwarming and demonstrated the positive impact the Society has had over the past 65 years. Josephine told us: “It’s with deep gratitude for the blessing of our home, provided by GVHS, that I’m sharing a part of our story. Ours is a journey to wholeness from experiencing loss. We wish to most celebrate our compassionate management staff who adjust our rents and work to
keep secure housing available to those in need. We wish to thank our caretakers who keep our common spaces clean and clear of debris. Moving here has meant becoming safe. GVHS gave us a home to settle in and start healing. This saved us from the effects of poverty and potential homelessness.” With your support, GVHS is building on its strong foundation of organizational excellence and innovation and looking to the future with enthusiasm. GVHS’ strategic plan places tenants at the core and emphasizes building strong connections to the community and partnerships to succeed. As the need for affordable, secure housing continues to grow in our region, GVHS will continue to focus on growing its organization and building new affordable homes, while preserving our existing buildings to serve the needs of our community into the future.
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CAPITAL GIVING | SPRING 2022 | 15
Endless opportunities for Julian, thanks to War Amps!
WAR AMPS OF CANADA 3x5 126783
Julian at a War Amps CHAMP Seminar in 2006 (left) and today (right).
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hat began as an Association to assist war amputee veterans returning from the First World War has expanded its programs over the years to support all amputees, including Julian Telfer Wan, of British Columbia. Julian was born a left hand amputee and grew up with The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program, which provides financial assistance for artificial limbs and adaptive devices, as well as peer support. He also attended regional CHAMP seminars where “Champs” and their parents learn about the latest in artificial limbs, dealing with teasing and bullying, and parenting an amputee child. “The War Amps support has meant that I’ve been fitted with devices so that I can take part in a variety of activities, such as riding my bike, kayaking, weight lifting and playing the trombone,” says Julian. “They’ve also given me encouragement and the confidence to succeed.” The War Amps receives no government grants; its programs are possible through public support of the Key Tag and Address Label Service.
The Key Tag Service was launched in 1946 so that returning war amputee veterans could not only work for competitive wages, but also provide a service to Canadians that would generate funds for the Association’s many programs. The service continues to employ amputees and people with disabilities and has returned more than 1.5 million sets of lost keys to their owners. Each key tag has a confidentially coded number. If you lose your keys, the finder can call the toll-free number on the back of the tag or place them in any mailbox in Canada, and The War Amps will return them to you by courier, free of charge.
“We’d like to thank the public for helping to make this service a success,” says spokesperson Rob Larman, himself a Graduate of the CHAMP Program. “Your support funds essential programs for all amputees across Canada, including children and veterans.”
Jeanne
Leave a lasting gift …
with a charitable estate donation in your will. Your support provides amputees, including children, with the essential artificial limbs they need to thrive. With your help, we are also a reliable source for expertise, advocacy and peer connections, and our historic work for veterans continues to the present day.
estatedonation@waramps.ca • waramps.ca • 1 800 465-2677
16 | CAPITAL GIVING | SPRING 2022
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PISE Play Your Way Grant
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ISE is a non-profit charitable organization helping to build a healthy, active community with a focus on inclusion, physical literacy, and active living. Recognized as a passionate, innovative leader in our field, we strive to transform lives through physical activity and sport by providing facilities, education and leading programs for children, youth and adults of all ages and abilities. The goal to transform lives means we need to take in to account every individuals’ unique circumstances, and we acknowledge that there are significant barriers to engaging in quality physical activity, sport and recreation. This is why twelve years ago, PISE started the Play Your Way Grant, a funding opportunity for children and youth under 19 years old who require full or partial funding to participate in PISE facilitated services. This grant provides families in South Vancouver Island the opportunity to send their children to camps and programs throughout the year. Since opening our Play Your Way Grant in 2010, we have had the pleasure of welcoming over 1000 kids to PISE. That’s over 80 kids each year, who can participate in our summer camps, develop their physical literacy, make new friends, create lasting memories, and most importantly, have the chance to play and have fun! “Of note, children from more disadvantaged or at-risk backgrounds do not have the same opportunities for physical
activity and often live in environments that contribute to poor health. The programming by the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence [PISE], essentially a targeted universality approach, has the opportunity to address these inequity issues both from a socioeconomic and physical disadvantage perspective.” ~ Dr. Richard S. Stanwick, (Retired) Chief Medical Health Officer, Island Health Throughout the last two years, families and communities have faced many challenges that have impacted financial, social, mental and physical health. The Play Your Way grant offers an opportunity for families to ease financial stress, while children and youth can get back to being social in an active environment. Our grant is always open for applications. Be it summer cycling camps, summer physical activity camps, our move to music spring program, youth strength and conditioning youth leadership camps and more! No matter the PISE service, our grant is there for all children and youth to join in on the fun. Do you know a child that would benefit from our Play Your Way grant? Visit our link to fill out the application form. https://www.pise.ca/grant/ We also welcome donations to this fund. Please visit pise.ca/donate to donate to children’s physical literacy programs at PISE or contact slund@pise.ca for more information.
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A New Life, Thanks to You
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verything in life for Razkia and her family was good in Libya. She had a good job, good home, and a great family. But then the revolution started and everything changed. “They were bombing each other, every time you will expect that you will die,” says Razkia. “One time five rockets came through our house – but God was there to protect us.” Eventually, Razkia and her family were able to flee ISIS and the war-torn country and begin a journey for a new home. They eventually landed in Victoria. With only the clothes they had on and whatever they could pack, they had very few options. That is when they were introduced to The Salvation Army. “They help us with everything in the world... me and my family feel so grateful for them,” she says. “They put food in our mouths and clothes on our backs.”
Razkia and her family began using the services provided by the Army’s Community and Family Services Centre. She was so impressed and so grateful that they were there for her and her family, she began to give back by volunteering at the Centre. Today, Razkia and her family are settled into the community with new friends and a new purpose – giving back to the organization that supported them. Across the Capital Regional District, The Salvation Army runs Community Family Service Centres in three communities: Langford, Vic West and Saanich. The facilities are meant to help families just like Razkia’s family – those who need a hand up. “We come alongside people every day in our communities,” says The Salvation Army’s Sipili Molia. “We are not here to judge, we are here to help. There are a thousand reasons why someone may come
through our doors, none of them matter to us. What matters is that we assist in the moment and beyond if we can to get people to the point where they no longer need our help. We do this by providing practical, compassionate support 365 days a year.” Individuals and families have access to food security programs, clothing and toiletries, educational and vocational classes, children’s programming and spiritual care. During Christmas, food hampers and toys are also provided to families and others who need assistance. But perhaps one of the most impactful programs The Salvation Army offers is the Pathway of Hope, which focuses on identifying and addressing root cause issues for people living in poverty. It is a high-impact strengths-based case management approach to providing targeted services to people with a desire to take action to break the cycle of crisis,
poverty and vulnerability. Through the program, intensive individualized supports are given for participants to achieve short and long-term goals. The program focusses on employment, housing, education, health and financial sustainability. “Our Pathway of Hope program is really designed for the individual. We work with them to develop a customized plan and then we provide them with the resources and supports needed to work their way through and achieve their goals,” says Molia. “To date, we average about a 60 percent successful achievement rate over an average length of four months – our goal is to move the needle closer to 80 percent.” The Salvation Army’s free programs and services are available to everyone in the community and can be accessed by contacting your local office.
Supporting families for over 100 years. Our Community Family Services support individuals and families across Vancouver Island by offering free programs and services. Our support includes food security, clothing and toiletries, children’s programs, counselling, spiritual care, and much more. For more informa�on, contact a loca�on in your community: Connec�on Point Church & Resource Centre 103–737 Goldstream Avenue Tel: 778.817.1141 saconnec�onpoint.ca
salva�onarmy.ca
salarmybc salva�onarmybc
Next Steps Resource Centre 4030 Douglas Street Tel: 778.676.1761 salva�onarmyvictoria.ca
thesalva�onarmygreatervictoria thesalva�onarmybcheadquarters
High Point Community Church 949 Fullerton Avenue Tel: 250.383.6290 poin�ul.ca
20 | CAPITAL GIVING | SPRING 2022
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Meet Ephraim: How Jeneece Place helped this Island family welcome their micro-preemie son
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efore becoming a father, Scott described himself as being ruled by logic over emotion. Now that he’s a parent, however, he tears up when reflecting upon his son’s early days. When Scott’s wife, Amber, was 27 weeks pregnant, she had a feeling that something wasn’t quite right. Her intuition proved correct when her water broke the following week. Amber was immediately airlifted to Victoria General Hospital while Scott made the long drive from their home in Courtenay. Their son was on his way. Tiny Ephraim was born on November 1. He weighed only 835 grams. As a micro-preemie, Ephraim was fighting for his life in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Thanks to Jeneece Place, Children’s Health Foundation’s home away from home next door to the hospital, Scott was able to be a three-minute walk away from his son and wife. When Amber was given the green light by her doctors, she joined Scott at the home. “Without Jeneece Place, we wouldn’t have been next to our son, who we didn’t know would live or die,” says Scott. Because they were rushed to Victoria, Scott and Amber brought only the clothes on their back on that hurried day. Jeneece Place staff welcomed them with open arms and offered spare clothes, homecooked meals, and emotional support to the new parents. “We honestly do not know
what we would have done without Jeneece Place,” remembers Amber. “We came with nothing from Courtenay. Thanks to Jeneece Place, we had everything.” Having readily available homemade meals cooked by volunteers was a lifesaver for the parents when they returned exhausted from the hospital. There was even a festive Christmas tree and decorations to brighten their spirits while they were away from home over the holidays. Scott and Amber stayed at Jeneece Place for close to 60 days while their son was in the NICU. While his lungs and breathing functions were developing properly, feeding was a challenge
for Ephraim, meaning his growth was slow. Once he reached four pounds and had overcome feeding challenges, Ephraim was transferred to the NICU in Nanaimo. After nine more days of recovery, Scott and Amber’s little one was finally discharged. The new family of three could be together. And when they had to return to Victoria for Ephraim’s one-year checkup, Jeneece Place was there for the family once again. “My now perfectly healthy son is brought to you by everyone who gave to Children’s Health Foundation,” says Scott. “Because of this, I want to do everything I can to help other Island families. No matter what, no matter how
small, we now budget to give back to local causes across the Island.” For families like Scott’s, Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island’s homes away from home in Victoria (Jeneece Place) and Campbell River (Qwalayu House) are life changing as they no longer need to travel such great distances from the northern, western, and surrounding regions of the Island to access health care. “Whatever you can give will change the life of an Island family. It changed ours. It really did,” says Scott. Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island has been a champion for the health of Island families since 1926.
Where there’s a Will, there’s a way… A gift in your Will is a promise today of care for tomorrow.
To learn how you can support the future health of Island children, contact legacy@islandkidsfirst.com or scan
Island kid Ephraim
Champions for the health of every Island family since 1926.
22 | CAPITAL GIVING | SPRING 2022
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Childhood stress can have life-long negative impacts on physical and mental development. - National Scientific Council on the Developing Child
We’re in this together: Strengthening our community one relationship at a time For almost 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria Capital Region has been supporting children in our community by fostering developmental mentoring relationships. Our mission is to enable life-changing relationships to ignite the power and potential of young people. We offer programs based on group or one-on-one mentoring with options for all identities. We believe that every child has limitless potential – and that potential is our society’s greatest resource. With the guidance and support of adult mentors, our youth can realize their full potential. Our challenge is that many children and youth in our community are struggling with adversities and societal barriers. Through no fault of their own, these youth experience exceptional challenges that can threaten their development and have lasting impacts on their
well-being. 78 per cent of the over 600 families reaching out for support every year live in poverty, and 55 per cent experience mental health concerns. Circumstances like detrimental living conditions, identity challenges and mental health risk factors can cause long-term toxic stress and negatively impact healthy development, limiting children and youth’s experiences and opportunities. Neuroscience tells us that a nurturing, caring relationship is critical for buffering the impact of toxic stress on a child’s brain. The common denominator of successful adults who experienced adverse childhood experiences is the presence of a mentor. According to the Search Institute, young people with access to a developmental mentoring relationship are 21 times more likely to manage their emotions effectively. The evidence is clear: when we provide young people facing ad-
versity with a committed mentor, we decrease their risk factors and ignite their potential. Little Brother Daniel and Big Brother Andy have been spending time together going bike riding, watching movies, and playing pickle ball for over six years. First matched through our in-school mentoring program when Daniel was in grade three, Andy has continued to be a positive male role model for Daniel to lean on as the years go by. For the over 200 youth served through our community mentoring program annually, these mentoring relationships are not just nice to have – they are necessary. The simple act of caring about a
“I can’t describe how much it means to me to have a friend I have known for a long time who has been there through thick and thin, from when I was a little kid to now. I know Andy will always be there and that’s pretty special.” - Daniel
young person within a one to one relationship, thereby increasing their social emotional competency, is proof positive that intentional and supportive relationships are a critical intervention for young people like Daniel who are struggling with challenges and facing adversities. Now more than ever, families in our community are reaching out for the support of our volunteer mentors. Demand for our community mentoring program has increased as a result of the pandemic – we currently have over 100 youth on our waitlist in urgent need of a mentoring relationship. Without intervention, social isolation, rising mental health concerns and developmental disruption in children all have alarming short and long-term impacts. With your help, we are committed to closing the gap between children being served and those still waiting to be matched with a mentor.
“I can’t begin to tell you how it makes me feel to see Daniel so happy and grounded. I know it has a lot to do with his relationship with Andy and the fact that Big Brothers Big Sisters brought them together.” - Amanda, Daniel’s mother We have committed to grow our capacity across all of our programs and have set an ambitious goal of mentoring 1000 children and youth by 2025. The families we serve, the mentors who share their time and lives, the donors who demonstrate compassion for their community, and local businesses who feel a social responsibility will all be critical partners in our future endeavors. You can make a difference by donating in support of youth mentoring, visiting our website to learn more or volunteering as a mentor for local youth in need. We thank you for your continued support for our community’s most vulnerable youth.
You can make a difference 5 ways to get involved for local youth
230 Bay St. Victoria, B.C. V9A 3K5
1. MAKE A ONE-TIME DONATION: Donate online or contact us to make a contribution in support of youth mentoring programs. 2. BECOME A MONTHLY SUPPORTER: Register online or contact us to become a monthly donor in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters programs. 3. PLAN A GIFT: Leave a unique legacy by passing on gifts through a will or trust. Receive tax advantages by donating stocks or mutual funds. 4. JOIN OUR FUNDRAISING EVENTS: Visit our website to stay up to date on upcoming events and how to get involved. 5. SUPPORT ISLAND TREASURES: Help us support local kids and protect the environment. Your goods do good - donate those items you no longer need to our collections team.
victoria.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca
@bbbsvictoria
To learn more about our mission and how you can help us support youth in our community, contact our Executive Director, Rhonda Brown: rhonda.brown@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca 250 274 1117 ex. 47
People like you can make sure that the littlest among us have the biggest possible futures.
24 | CAPITAL GIVING | SPRING 2022
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Frank Williams’ Bursary
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Today, 34 UVic alumni can thank Frank for their degrees. Frank Williams did not consider himself a wealthy person. He was a Victoria College alumnus who received financial assistance from a caring community member to pay for his education. Frank believed enough in the power of education and giving back to leave a gift to UVic students in his Will.
Who will tomorrow’s students thank? Find out how you can support UVic students through a gift in your Will: Greg Kuhn, Development Officer, Legacy Giving 250-721-6001 | legacydev@uvic.ca
uvic.ca/legacygiving uvic.ca/legacygiving
aving family who are actively involved in a student’s education is often key in their academic success. However, not all students have family who can afford to help them financially, so bursaries and scholarships become an important aid. Fortunately for Frank Williams, born in 1927, his grandfather, Frank V. Hobbs a.k.a “the Grand Old Man of Saanich”, believed strongly in providing and increasing educational opportunities. Hobbs sat on the Saanich School Board for over 17 years and helped Frank financially to attend college. This, combined with Frank’s savings from working weekends while attending high school, enabled him to attend the Victoria Normal School and Victoria College. Later, Frank attended UBC and then obtained his Master’s degree at McGill University in Montreal. Frank’s studies concentrated on the sciences. He decided to specialize in meteorology after he noticed a job posting while attending McGill. Although Frank was employed by the Federal Government, he worked with the United States Navy. He was stationed in Frobisher Bay, Nunavut and Gander, Newfoundland as well as other northern parts.
Eventually he was assigned to the Bonaventure ship as a Lieutenant Commander. Frank never had children of his own, but followed his grandfather’s example of helping others access post secondary education by contributing to Registered Education Funds for family and friends. Frank passed away in 2016, but through a gift in his will to the University of Victoria, his and his grandfather’s legacy will continue to encourage and support future generations of students through the Frank Hobbs Educational Bursary. For more information on leaving a gift in your Will to UVic, please contact Gregory Kuhn legacydev@uvic. ca / 250-721-6001
“Your legacy is every life you’ve touched.” -Maya Angelou