Big Brothers Big Sisters of Waterloo Region

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Waterloo Region is a community organization committed to helping children and youth live their potential. We foster and facilitate high quality and safe mentoring programs for children in need. As an agency we off our mentoring programs to children, ages 6 to 16, who face cultural and socio-economic marginalization in the areas of academics, relationship skills, social skills and life skills. All of our programs and services are child-centered and offered to families and youth free of cost. The purpose of our mentoring programs is to provide a positive role model to a child who could use an additional caring adult in their life.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Waterloo Region has been making a positive difference in the lives of our region's youth for over 50 years by developing and implementing a wide range of mentoring programs. In 2015 our organization served over 1,200 children with the help of 500 volunteers donating over 34,000 hours. As an agency we have skilled staff and volunteers who collaborate to deliver impactful service to kids and their families.

BBBSWR offers 7 programs In-School Mentoring, Game On, Go Girls, One to One, Big Bunch and Summer Discovery. In-School Mentoring provides elementary students who could benefit from extra support with a caring adult mentor. Game On/Go Girls is designed for grade 7-8 students and provides them with information to help make informed choices about healthy, active living. Big Bunch provides youth with mentoring support through recreational group programming. One-to-One Big Brother/Big Sister mentoring matches children and youth with a caring adult mentor. Summer Discovery provides Newcomer children with the opportunity to experience a recreation and education based summer day camp.

Dawn Centre/Cambridge Pregnancy Resource Centre

Since 2000, DawnCentre/Cambridge Pregnancy Resource Centre has worked at fulfilling its mission by providing excellence in compassionate care for individuals with unintended pregnancy decisions and related sexual health and wellness needs. We invite individuals in our community to pursue health and hope in the areas of physical,emotional,relational and spiritual wellness. All our services are free, non-discriminatory, and confidential. Proceeds from this fundraiser will go directly to supporting our clients through our various services/programs: pregnancy testing; decision making support; community referrals; pregnancy, parenting, and/or adoption support; maternity and baby clothing; post-abortion support program; community programs for young people. For more information visit our website at www.dawncentre.ca.

Kinbridge Community Association

Kinbridge Community Association is a grassroots neighbourhood-based organization in Cambridge, Ontario that has worked with residents for over 25 years in two neighbourhoods in South Galt Cambridge: Christopher Champlain and Southwood. Last year, our programs engaged more than 26,000 individuals of all ages from pre-birth to seniors in a wide range of recreation, education, social programs and services.

Both neighbourhoods have a diverse economic and ethnic make-up, and a high population density. Many of the residents of the Christopher Champlain and Southwood neighbourhoods are challenged by the effects of poverty, isolation, or inadequate employment.

Along with its own services, Kinbridge works closely with community partners to help meet individual needs and improve community wellbeing. Working with community partners, Kinbridge ensures that services are not duplicated as needs are met.

But Kinbridge does more than deliver programs and services. We encourage residents in the neighbourhoods to both identify issues and be a part of solutions.

The demand for existing Kinbridge programs and services continues to grow. While government partners support some of the work of Kinbridge, their funding does not cover all costs. Kinbridge relies on community donations to keep program costs affordable on existing and new programs. 

Your gift will:

• Provide a safe and positive space for a child to go before and after school.
• Help a teen discover how it feels to be a positive role model through a volunteer camp counsellor position.
• Improve language skills and build social networks for a new immigrant
• Help a senior be active through a group walking program, increasing their sense of wellbeing and belonging
• Restore a family's dignity and respect with adequate access to food and housing

When you give to Kinbridge, you help your neighbours move beyond the effects of poverty, isolation or other life challenge, and build lasting resilience, confidence and hope.

PANDAS/PANS Ontario

P.A.N.D.A.S. (Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal infections) is an autoimmune illness affecting as many as 1 in 200 children with an average onset between 4 and 7 years of age.

P.A.N.S. (Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) is a broader term for the same autoimmune process that can be triggered by different bacterial and viral infections.

Children with these diagnoses experience a sudden change in personality after infection and can be left dealing with numerous physical and mental health issues including OCD, anxiety, tics, eating and sleeping difficulty, fine motor and behaviour regression, sensory sensitivities and more.

PANDAS/PANS Ontario is a not for profit organization that was founded in Sarnia and is governed by a volunteer board of directors.The organization aims to provide awareness and resources about PANDAS/PANS and to support affected families in communities across Ontario. Our services include family support, in person and online support groups, community awareness and educational presentations, and coordination of medical and educational resources. It is our mission to ensure that all children who present with the symptoms of Pandas or Pans are screened for infection in a timely manner and that these families are supported along their child's path to healing.

For more information or to learn more about PANDAS and PANS please contact us at 519.381.7120, visit our website at www.pandaspansontario.org or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

United Way of Cambridge and North Dumfries

Since 1940, United Way of Cambridge and North Dumfries has acted as a focal point for positive change in our community. Our constant focus has been on improving lives and building a stronger local community. Our priority areas: From Poverty to Possibility, All That Kids Can Be, and Strong Communities, focus our work as we invest the time, resources and goodwill of our generous community.

United Way accomplishes our goals by engaging the whole community in our work, building the capacity of non-profits and the network of services, removing barriers to change, and getting to the root of issues - making lasting change.

We know that, with the support of all our friends in the community: volunteers, donors, partner agencies, supporting companies, and government partners, Cambridge and North Dumfries truly is a place where people Give. Volunteer. Act. to improve lives. For more information on the United Way visit our website www.uwcambridge.on.ca.

YWCA Cambridge

For over 70 years, YWCA Cambridge has been a respected leader on issues that impact women and girls in our community and respond to their needs through innovative programs, services and advocacy which build capacity and strengthen our community. We provide: licensed child care at four sites (Ryerson, St. Margaret, St. Elizabeth, St. James), LINC preschool, Summer Day Camps, Small Steps to Success (a pre-employment program for chronically unemployed or underemployed women), Roots of Empathy (an evidence-based social emotional learning program for students in JK to Grade 8) and the Women's International Gift & Gallery (a social enterprise of YWCA Cambridge). A considerable amount of our work involves investing in cisgender and transgender girls & non-binary youth: we provide a number of programs, workshops and events through YWCA Cambridge's community space, the W, as well as in-school programs and presentations across the Region. Our programming has proven to increase participants' levels of confidence, communication skills, capacity for resiliency, critical thinking skills and feelings of connectedness and belonging. Proceeds from Race to Erase will go directly to supporting the W to keep this space free and totally accessible for all who attend. For more information on YWCA Cambridge please visit our website: www.ywcacambridge.ca.