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“Soup For Thought” DCAF’s first ever soup-a-thon event at Port Perry’s Feb Fest raised $5,000 for our Post-Secondary Bursary Program! Visitors tried home-made soups in hand decorated ceramic bowls from local groups and restaurants, competing for the coveted Golden Ladle.
Thanks go to our title sponsor Your Independent Grocer Port Perry owned and operated by Terry & Christine Vos .
Congratulations to the Golden Ladle Co-Winners Harp and Wylie's and Hank's Pasteries, and to all the restaurants who offered up the delicious soup for everyone to enjoy - Antrim House, The Bean Soup & Herrington's Company, Caps Newspaper, Jester's Court, The Passionate Cook, Port Perry Army Cadet Corp, Port Perry Villa, Millar’s Market, Salvatore’s, & Soups on Us!
Celebrating our future: Bursary presentations to youth in care
On September 15, the Durham Children's Aid Society hosted its Annual General Meeting. The highlight of the evening, as always, was the presentation of bursaries to youth in care who are pursuing post-secondary education.
We know that with ongoing education we acquire knowledge, and each of the youth who received a bursary is passionate and eager to pursue this goal. There are also many more, less tangible benefits of pursuing an education.
Education helps to develop oneself mentally, physically, emotionally and socially. While attending college or university, we often make career decisions, begin the pursuit of our goals, and we develop our convictions, principles and beliefs. Education also opens doors for new opportunities. It enables us to venture into new fields and explore new areas, and helps us realize our goals.
A record 43 bursaries were presented to youth who are attending college or university. The number has grown from just one bursary in 2004. This growth is a testament to the determination of the youth we serve to ensure their own future success. It is also a testament to the dedication of the supporters of the Durham Children’s Aid Foundation.
The bursary presentation was attended by many of the youth, their workers, their families, Society staff and directors, Foundation trustees and donors. Many of the youth spoke about how much they appreciate the support they have received over the years from their workers, the Society, the Foundation and their families.
A significant number of the youth hope one day to have careers in “helping” professions, such as policing, nursing, social work and education. Many said that they have been inspired to help others and give back to the community because of the support they have received here.
We would like to thank the Foundation's very generous donors for supporting the youth that we serve, and for ensuring that more and more kids are able to pursue their dreams.
We would also like to acknowledge the incredible dedication of these youth because they beat the odds. Unfortunately, they are the exception not the rule.
At a time when most young people are excited to go to college or university, or to start a job, many youth in care are struggling with basic living essentials like food and shelter. Youth in care have suffered trauma and loss, and many are behind their peers in school. Understandably, many cannot manage and over half do not graduate from high school.
In fact, less than 45 percent of youth in care graduate from high school by the time they are 20, compared with more than 79 percent of young people who live with their parents. Less than 13 percent youth in care are enrolled in college, trade schools or university, versus 60 percent of young people not in care. This is all the more reason to celebrate the success of our youth who are pursuing their dreams, and are attending college or university this year.
Durham CAS has been working with the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies to encourage the Ontario government to implement changes that would allow young people in care to remain in a foster home until they are 21 or have completed their education, and that funding be provided for living allowances to supplement post-secondary tuition.
Thank you so much for my bursary. I am in my second year of college and I hope to study engineering in university. I don’t know if this goal would be possible without your support.
-Sebastian
Anna’s list of achievements is truly amazing. This year, Anna completed high school as an honour student, received three scholarships (in addition to this bursary), served as Youth Mentor with our Life Skills Program and she volunteers tirelessly in the community. Anna plans to be a social worker, and I know she will continue to be a truly inspirational role model for all of us.
-Carmela Lanzillotti, Child and Youth Worker
Thanks to the generosity of our community, we often have brand new or gently used items to give to children, youth and families in need. Such items include clothing, duffle bags, and furniture. However, due to space constraints, we have no place to temporarily store them. StorageMart has graciously donated much needed storage space to house these items throughout the year. Our sincere thanks to StorageMart for providing
"a home before a home" for these donations.
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