youth mental health Listen Engage Assist Empower
Our Mission To listen, engage, assist and empower youth and families in recognizing their strengths, expanding their capabilities and enhancing their wellbeing and mental health.
Our Vision The hopes and aspirations of Oolagen are based on our vision for:
Relationships between youth and their families that recognize and build upon strengths
A community that works in partnership to enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of its citizens
A comprehensive, flexible service system that effectively responds to the challenging and diverse needs of youth and their families.
Contact Information Oolagen 65 Wellesley Street East Suite 500 Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1G7
Tel 416 395 0660 Fax 416 395 0666 www.oolagen.org
Charitable Registration # BN 11906 8625 RR0001
Board of Directors 2010/2011 President Barbara Silverberg
Acting Vice President Tim Stoate
Treasurer Tim Stoate
Patricia Andrews Dr. Nana Barnor Heather DeGraaf Grant Kedwell Deborah Osler Bianco Dr. Claire Pizer Peter Silverberg
Management Team Executive Director Robert Engel
Director of Clinical Services Ruth Pluznick
Residential Manager Charles Nagle
Supervisor of Community Services Marilyn Vasilkioti
Supervisor of Wraparound Catherine Blocki-Radeke
Director of Development Caroline Sneath
Outpatient Staff Amy Druker Dale Giberson Oyla Kozlova Maisa Said Emma Turner Geert van der Veen
Support Staff May Chiu Ana De Melo Christine James Greg Skelton Dorothy Winton
Forest Hill/Marc Garneau Staff Bonnie-Sue Solomon
Parkdale Collegiate Amy Druker
Wraparound Staff Rafael Barradas Kimberly Coleman-Bryan Helder Costa Heather Ibbott Jacqueline Jean-Pierre Yvette Roberts Lise van der Bliek
Intensive Services Staff Jia Yao Amanda Pearse
Intergenerational Alliance Julie Epp Thilaka Xavier
Richard Kalesky House Staff House Supervisor Karen Jackson
Samantha Arnold Melissa Brown Stephanie Doforno Catherine Howe Tanya James Michael McMullin Caitlin Pearson Stahr-lee Sobers Emma Turner
Annex House Staff House Supervisor Faye Forde
Amanda Dovick Christine Folkes Cynthia Luces Adam de Mendonca
Relief Staff Niamh Connolly Jeannette Da Luz Christine James Connie Langille Tawana Lapps Riaz Moursalien Paulina Paredes Christine Penny Natasha Whitley Jessica Zambito
Funding Partners Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services
Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion
City of Toronto
Children’s Aid Society of Toronto
Accredited member of:
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Sources of statistics and facts throughout the annual report: Children’s Mental Health Ontario, Canadian Institute for Health Information, Canadian Mental Health Association, Conference Board of Canada, Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, Statistics Canada.
. individual donorsnaomi adelsonpaul aitkinsdavid altrorichard annanmargaret arnoldcynthia atkinson-BarnettWayne Bakernana BarnorBen Bernstein, aglpatricia andrews Worden & Bill Wordenstephen Biancodebbie osler Biancofrancine Blackburnmarvin Blacksteinrobert Blakecathy Blocki-radekeJack BolzanJudith Bovillechristie BrenchleyBarbara cavanaughchetna chavadaandy cheungJoyce chinmay chiusteve clarkestewart crymblemaureen flanagan & david denisondouglas davisHeather degraafJanet devine nankivellBarbara dohertyValerie dunlopBob Engelkaren Engeldaniel Engelalison Engel-yanlarry EnkinJerry faivishsheri federmandoug & Wendy fostersuzen fromsteinarthur Joseph gallantmary ann gaskinEve gianninidavid gibsonJoanne gilchristEudice goldberganne-marie gracey-georgeJanet grahamBrian greenspanJulia and cameron Hallrichard and nancy HammJarrett Hassonsheila Hazellsheila Hazellrobert HorwitzJennifer Hungashley ingnathaniel JeffriesB Johnsondevon Joneslaurie & ken karmonaanne keeferdavid kennyJohn and carol kittredgechris kostopoulos and leeanne Weld kostopouloskaren langJohn lederermay leediane leuty
stephen luriekenneth lyonscara malenrita mandalpeter manndaniel mccarthyshawn mcreynoldsJo michaelsnoella milnedianne monkmanrita moorekatherine and John morrisseyJames p. muldoon Jr.Janet nankivellclifford & tamar nelsongerry olsthoornsusan o’neil and arthur keinbergermargaret ortnershelley ortveddebbie osler BiancoJohn patersonart & ursula paynegail peterHeather pirsochip pitfield and michelle savoy sally pitfieddavid pitfieldmary-Jo pitfieldJohn pitfieldWard pitfielddavid pitfieldclaire pizerruth pluznickdana porterBrian porterdmitry pshonkatony redmondJack rhindJames rodgersonmiriam rogerscarey salemkatia sarafidis-kolliasphillipe savoymonica schnurpelpaul scottBarbara scottVincenza serasusan shirriffpeter silverbergcarole anne simpsonshayna singercaroline sneathchris snyderkip southamchris spearingmichael steinalan steindavid stickneytim stoatedavid swainkaren tinsleynina Valenticmarilyn Vasilkiotimary Vitugpaula and Vicko VonstedingkBridgette Waisberggary WhiteVeronica Wongsusan Woodsnancy youngdoug younghusbandfern Zweig
corporate sponsors
65 Wellesley ltd.
alarmforce industries inc.
Bmo
Barometer capital management inc.
Beqaj international inc.
capital international asset
management
chestnut park real Estate ltd.
Brokerage
ciBc
cooke and katzin
dell canada
East york scarborough reading
assoc. inc.
Epstein cole llp
grano
Healthsource plus
Hs & partners llp
kinross gold corporation
little Black dress
lone Wolf Ventures inc.
mackie research capital corp.
moksha corporation
profis communications inc.
scotiabank
summerhill captial management
td Bank group
tory’s llp Barristers & solicitors
urban source catering
Winners merchants international
Estates and foundations
the Estate of peggy margaret annan
anne Hoehn memorial foundation
aqueduct foundation-savoy
pitfield family fund
Ben & Hilda katz charitable
foundation
Bhalla fund
cp24 cHum charitable foundation
greater toronto apartment
foundation
Hedge funds care canada
Home depot canada foundation
rBc foundation
the alice & murray maitland
foundation
the Jilla and robert Williams
foundation
the marion Ethel & frederick John
kamm foundation
the nixon charitable foundation
wel
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than
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From the day we opened our doors, empowering youth and their families to enhance their wellbeing and mental health with services that respond to their diverse needs has been our guiding principle. —bob engel, executive director
1
I can’t stress enough the critical need for
Oolagen and the services we provide in
our community.
Young Canadians aged 15 to 24 have the
highest incidence of mental health disorders
of any age group in our country, and suicide
is the second leading cause of death for that
age group. One in five children in Ontario
struggles with challenges such as depression,
anxiety or substance abuse, and this means
that you probably know someone who is
experiencing this. Mental illness can strike
anywhere and at any time.
And yet, despite the critical need we serve,
one of Oolagen’s greatest ongoing challenges
is fundraising. We always need to be on the
lookout for sustainable sources of funding
because unstable economic times can result
in cutbacks in government support. We also
know that we can’t take the generosity of our
donors and volunteers for granted and, as
a result, we maintain an impressive cost per
dollar ratio (90 cents of every dollar raised
goes directly to program and service delivery).
There are so many people who have helped
us achieve our objectives, I won’t be able to
thank all of them in this message, but there are
a few people I would like to specifically thank.
For the past two years, Oolagen has been
fortunate to have Colin Mochrie and Debra
McGrath as Honourary Patrons of our Leave
Them Laughing Gala. Colin and Deb have
given so generously of their time, energy and
effort, and have brought invaluable recognition
to Oolagen. At our recent Gala, guest
speaker Kendra Fisher, and 2011 Award of
Excellence recipient Steven Page both spoke
so passionately and candidly about each of
their personal experiences, that I have no
doubt everyone who heard them gained a
much greater understanding of the importance
of the work that Oolagen does, and of the
need to remove the stigma still surrounding
mental illness. And as we know, this Gala
event was only made possible through the
devotion and dedication of Michelle Savoy and
Chip Pitfield, who worked tirelessly on both
of our Leave Them Laughing Galas.
I would also like to thank each and every
member of our Board for all their hard work
and dedication to the organization. One
of our accomplishments as a Board this
year included the creation of the Board
Governance Committee which developed
comprehensive guidelines and criteria for
recruitment of new board members. It is a
testament to this process, and to the quality
of our Board, Executive Director, and our
staff, that we attracted two very strong,
committed new Board Members in 2011:
Chip Pitfield, whose contagious enthusiasm
for Oolagen – combined with his exceptional
networking skills – have made him the heart
and soul of our Leave Them Laughing Gala
(co-chairing with his wife Michelle Savoy), and
Jim Muldoon, International Affairs scholar and
strategic thinker skilled in policy analysis and
communication. With Chip and Jim joining our
current board members, I am confident that
Oolagen is well-positioned to achieve new
growth and success in the coming year.
This past fiscal year we focused on
implementing policies and procedures to
enhance client service and create a more
efficient, effective workplace for our valued
team members. This included the acquisition
of a new set of computer systems, made
possible in large part by a generous donation
from one of our corporate supporters.
We also believe that it is important for Oolagen
to work collaboratively with other partners and
groups which share our concerns about youth
mental health. As an example, Oolagen had
the privilege of working with the SkyWorks
Charitable Foundation to produce the Working
Life documentary, which you will read about
later in this report. Ruth Pluznick, Oolagen’s
Director of Clinical Services was instrumental
in all aspects of this groundbreaking initiative.
I commend Ruth for her leadership on this
project, and also for the extensive clinical
knowledge, methodologies and expertise
she brings to Oolagen every day. Ruth has
published several original and insightful
articles and research findings on a broad
range of youth mental health topics, and is
always ready to go the extra mile for
our clients.
Another testament to our organization is
the loyalty and talent of our Oolagen team
members. These people exemplify an
unparalleled passion for giving kids and
their families the counselling, outreach and
intervention needed to turn their lives in
a positive direction. I can’t name them all
here, but their dedication, intelligence and
perseverance in the face of wage freezes,
resource challenges and emotionally
demanding circumstances has never wavered.
Our extended team is a constant source of
inspiration to me, and I thank each and every
one of them.
I would also like to mention Bob Engel, our
Executive Director. Bob shows compassion,
empathy and highly developed leadership
skills, and motivates everyone around him to
be the best they can be. Bob is exceptionally
well-respected within Oolagen, and in the
broader community.
I would like to close with a critical reminder.
Youth mental health has major implications
for our society, and affects so many young
Canadians. This makes the work that Oolagen
does all the more essential. At Oolagen,
we’re committed to listening, assisting,
engaging and empowering kids and their
families with the skills they need to help
turn their lives in a positive direction and
we are sincerely grateful for the pivotal role
our generous donors and sponsors play
in making youth mental health matter.
A message from Barbara Silverberg, President
The inordinate amount of pressure on our
youth to “fit in” with peers, get good grades,
get along with family members and make big
decisions has always been part and parcel
of the adolescent rite of passage. But in
today’s increasingly complex, fast-paced
world, mental illness is making it even tougher
to successfully navigate this challenging
life stage.
From the day we opened our doors,
empowering youth and their families to
enhance their wellbeing and mental health
with services that respond to their diverse
needs has been our guiding principle.
Our last annual report chronicled our
successes in bolstering communication
efforts to deliver our message, strengthening
existing relationships and building bridges
with new supporters--and in the process
secured crucial program funding. This past
fiscal year, we successfully sourced renewed
funding from the RBC Foundation and
Hedge Funds Care Canada to sustain our
Intergenerational Project and WrapAround
program for young moms.
We also looked at our organization through
an operational lens, implementing numerous
initiatives that will position Oolagen to continue
attracting and retaining the best talent:
Strategic plan
Guided by leading industry consultant
Ruth Armstrong, we engaged our Board
of Directors, management team, staff and
community to develop a visionary Three to
Five Year Strategic Plan, and are on track
to complete this roadmap for future success
before the end of this fiscal year.
CMHO accreditation
Another major initiative was to undertake
the necessary preparations to renew our
accreditation by Children’s Mental Health
Ontario (CMHO). CMHO accreditation is valid
for 4 years; Oolagen has been accredited four
times since 1994. CMHO accreditation verifies
professional and practice standards that
define high quality services and performance
in four major areas: programming, staffing,
managing and governing. In addition to quality
assurance and client feedback metrics and
meeting relevant licensing and regulatory
requirements, a third party site review team
comprised of youth mental health experts
carefully reviews all aspects of operations.
Workplace Violence and Harassment Policy
Changes to Ontario’s Occupational Health
and Safety Act strengthened protections
for employees from workplace violence
and harassment. We implemented a
comprehensive Workplace Violence and
Harassment Policy that included information
and training for our employees. We are
now fully compliant.
Enhanced employee training
Through additional training we cultivated
and expanded individual capacities and
capabilities to provide the best service to
our diverse clients.
Barrier-free access
We have taken steps to ensure that our
primary offices are as accessible and
barrier-free as possible for clients, visitors
and employees.
Leadership/succession planning
In partnership with Turning Point Youth
Services, Central Toronto Youth Services,
Hincks-Dellcrest and George Brown College,
we are taking a proactive stance to develop
a leadership/succession planning program to
address the anticipated retirement of
a significant number of seasoned youth
services professionals.
Mental Health in the workplace
We partnered with Skyworks Charitable
Foundation and Employment Ontario to
produce Working Life, a tool kit for employers
about mental health in the workplace. A
documentary film chronicles four people who
grew up with a parent who experienced mental
health difficulties and how those relationships,
while leading to their own mental health
struggles were also a source of strength as
they began their working lives. The tool kit –
which includes the documentary, additional
interviews providing different perspectives
on mental health issues in the workplace
and a Trainer’s Guide on how to use the
film, including frequently asked questions
and additional resources – can be ordered
in DVD or CD format, and is also accessible
online from Skyworks. To view the 37 minute
documentary, visit www.oolagen.org or
www.skyworksfoundation.org
My most important duty and privilege is to
thank the many people who are committed to
furthering our mission and vision. Oolagen is
fortunate to have dedicated people at every
level of our organization. I also thank our
donors, sponsors and partners, who play a
vital role in allowing us to move our programs,
ideas and initiatives forward.
Finally, my sincere thanks to Barbara Silverberg
for her leadership during an outstanding
inaugural year as our President. It is an honour
and a pleasure to work with her.
On a personal note, it is with sadness that I
acknowledge the passing in 2011 of my father
Sidney Engel, at 92 years of age. It was from
him that I learned the importance and value of
reaching out to help people.
I am confident that in the coming year,
our efforts will generate many more
opportunities to advance youth mental
health in our community.
2
A message from Bob Engel, Executive Director
3
Our family of individual and corporate donors,
sponsors and partners is growing.
Revitalized in 2009, our website and brand
presence is garnering new sources of
support at every level: from 6 year old Sarah
Jeffries who raised $82 from friends in lieu
of gifts on her birthday; to John and Tracey
Ing requesting donations to Oolagen in
honour of their 40th wedding anniversary; to
fundraising events such as The Little Black
Dress organized by 4th year Trent University
nursing student Katherine Tran, the Trent
Business School Student Association and the
Trent Fleming Nursing Students or Toronto
businesses MADE and Moimoi Design
choosing Oolagen as a beneficiary of their
2nd Annual Give + Take event.
I believe that in our society, awareness of the
importance of mental health is also growing –
but long before this new emergence, Winners
International, Dell Canada, TD Bank Group,
CIBC, BMO and Scotiabank have been at
the forefront, strongly supporting Oolagen
programs and services. I am also pleased to
report that the RBC Foundation is funding
our Intergenerational Alliance Project in the
St. James Town community for the 2nd
consecutive year.
Oolagen is also very fortunate to have the
Anne Hoehn Memorial Foundation (AHMF) in
our corner for the past two years. AHMF, in
partnership with Winners International covered
the vast majority of the operating costs of our
Walk-In Clinic. AMHF founder Mike Hoehn also
worked diligently with us to develop a robust
data collection system to quantify Walk-In
Clinic results and outcomes. In the 2011
Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon, “Anne’s
Team” raised over $53,000 for Oolagen and
other youth mental health charities. Mike’s
leadership and passion is an inspiration!
November 10, 2011 marked the return of
Leave Them Laughing, our second annual
fundraising gala, headlined once again by
celebrity emcees and Oolagen Honourary
Patrons Colin Mochrie and Debra McGrath.
We were also able to count on, once again, the
formidable talents of Chip Pitfield and Michelle
Savoy as returning Gala Co-Chairs. Kendra
Fisher, former member of Team Canada’s
National Hockey Program candidly shared
her own experience with anxiety, depression
and the stigma attached to these illnesses.
The Oolagen 2011 Award of Excellence was
presented to singer, songwriter and former
Barenaked Ladies front man Steven Page,
in honour of his mental health advocacy work.
Leave Them Laughing raised $200,000 net for
Oolagen. The fun and magic of this special
evening was captured in photographs, which
we’re delighted to share further along in
this report.
Along with our growing donor base and
growing awareness, something else is growing
at a much faster momentum. Young people
between the ages of 15 to 24 have the highest
incidence of mental illness of any age group
in Canada; close to one quarter (24%) of this
cohort are seeking mental health treatment –
a percentage that has doubled in less than
15 years. And most alarming of all, suicide is
second only to motor vehicle accidents as the
leading cause of death in the same age group
in our country. Clearly, Oolagen programs and
services are needed more than ever before.
I am deeply grateful to be partnered with
people and organizations that consistently
demonstrate generosity, social responsibility
and deep compassion. Your support is
the most important element to ensure that
Oolagen can continue to listen, assist, engage
and empower young people and their families
to change these statistics – and turn their
lives in a positive direction.
On behalf of them, I thank you.
A message from Caroline Sneath, Director of Development
Young people between the ages of 15 to 24 have the highest incidence of mental illness of any age group in Canada.
4
Profile Oolagen Adolescent Walk-In Clinic
Total visits 299 Total unique clients 163
17 years
13 years
19 years
18 years
16 years
15 years
14 years
Age of Client
Femaie
Male
Gender
Client Initial Visits80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Youth and collateral
Parent/Caregiver Only
Youth only
Youth and Parents
Our clinic is open every Tuesday from 12 noon
to 8 p.m. and service is provided on a first
come first serve basis.
The clinic provides quick access to counselling
services for youth aged 13 to 18 years old
and their families. This is an opportunity for
immediate problem solving and therapeutic
conversations, as well as referral to other
services if needed. In many cases, a single
appointment is enough, although if necessary,
the clinic can be used more than once.
Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend
the clinic on their own. Many caregivers find it
beneficial to consult a professional therapist
without their child present.
Since we expanded our hours in 2009,
wait times for service have decreased from
one year to three months. We are sincerely
grateful to Winners International for their
ongoing commitment to our Walk-In Clinic.
Their support made this major service
improvement possible.
We are also grateful to Mike Hoehn and the
Anne Hoehn Memorial Foundation for the
generous financial support and assistance
in developing metrics and measurements for
Walk-In results and outcomes.
5
Five most common problems presenting as primary issue:
Parent and Youth Conflict
Depression
School/Work Performance
Stress
School Attendance
2 times
Once
Over three times
3 times
Number of Visits per client to Oolagen’s
Walk-In Clinic
Single Session
Referred to Intake
Used Walk-In Clinic more than once. Not referred to other Oolagen services
Outcome of Visit
Sponsors
6
I’ve struggled with mental illness, battling depression and manic episodes from an early age. Helping young people manage their mental health is critical and Oolagen’s therapeutic approach has helped families cope with debilitating issues.
20010/11 Financials
—Steven Page, OOlagen 2011 award Of excellence recIPIent
7
Administration $317,893
Wraparound Programs $212,561
School Programs $82,025
Outpatient Programs $1,194,631
Residential Programs $1,367,029
Expenses
Revenue
GST Recoveries and other $107,137 Donations or Oolagen Charities $41,500
Other funding $163,724
Ministry of Children & Youth Services $2,147,068
City of Toronto grants $82,186
Children’s Aid Society $633,384
How you can help
Your generosity can improve the lives of youth and their families. There are many ways to support our work with youth and families at risk in our community Make a Monthly Gift Your monthly pledge of
support will allow Oolagen to help at-risk youth
steer their lives in a positive direction. Monthly
giving is easy, cost-effective and respectful of
your time and privacy.
Leave a Legacy Making Oolagen a part of your
estate planning will ensure that at-risk youth and
their families get the help they need. A bequest
in your Will or a gift of stock, securities or real
estate will help bolster our endowment fund.
Host an Event Have fun and make a difference
by hosting a fundraiser for Oolagen! Forge a
family tradition or involve your workplace in
helping young people and their families.
Adopt a Child Your generous annual gift of
$2,500 will help a youth in need stay in school
while working through challenging life issues.
Adopt a Family for the Holidays Many of
our families struggle financially. Each year we
provide a great way to share the magic of the
season by pairing our families in need with
sponsors who contribute gifts and food.
Designate your United Way donation to
Oolagen Oolagen is not a member of the
United Way, but you can choose to designate
your United Way gift by including our
charitable number BN 11906 8625 RR0001
with your donation.
Donate online Visit www.oolagen.org
and click on “Donate Now”
Write a cheque Make your cheque payable to
Oolagen, and mail to 65 Wellesley Street East,
Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1G7
Or call Caroline Sneath Oolagen’s Director
of Development will be happy to answer any
questions you have about donating or our
immediate needs. 416.395.0660 x 230.
Oolagen is well managed. Our overhead costs are uniquely and stringently managed to remain below 10%. This means that over 90 cents of every dollar donated to Oolagen goes directly towards helping at-risk youth in Toronto.
8
2011 Partnering Working Life A documentary Tool Kit about mental health in the workplace
You can’t really see mental illness…we don’t even acknowledge it… and the message people have to get is that it’s out there, it exists and it’s okay. —Peter lebuIS, chIld and YOuth wOrker, wOrkIng lIfe dOcumentarY PartIcIPant.
You can’t really see mental illness…we don’t even acknowledge it… and the message people have to get is that it’s out there, it exists and it’s okay.
Working Life, a 37 minute documentary film
produced by SkyWorks Charitable Foundation
in partnership with Oolagen and Employment
Ontario, provides an understanding and
framework for inclusion, accommodation
and support for employees managing mental
health issues and the employers who hire
them. The documentary profiles Doug, Peter,
Tallie and A.J., four people who grew up
with a parent who experienced mental
health challenges, and who have successfully
faced their own mental health struggles in
their workplaces.
Additional resources include interviews with
Eva Guta, CAW member, Telena Oussoren,
Director, Pension & Benefits at Scotiabank
Canada and U.S., David Boudreau, M.A.,
M.S.W., R.S.W. Professor, Social Service
Worker Programs at Sheridan Institute of
Advanced Learning and Technology Faculty of
Applied Health and Community Studies and
Ruth Pluznick, Director of Clinical Services at
Oolagen, and a Trainer’s Guide on how to use
the film.
Audiences for the Tool Kit include family
and school counsellors, human resources
management and staff, Employee Assistance
Programs, Employment Equity Programs,
employee support and training programs,
individuals and families who have experienced
mental health difficulties, mental health
service providers, policy makers, community
economic development groups, disability/
psychiatric survivor support groups and
human rights organizations and programs.
The complete Working Life Tool Kit can be
ordered on DVD and CD at 416 351 1317 or
www.vtape.org, and is also accessible online
at www.skyworksfoundation.org/workinglife.
You can also watch the documentary by
visiting www.oolagen.org.
9
10
Oolagen Gala Leave Them Laughing 2011
CHIP PITFIELD, JULIA HALL, MICHELLE SAVOY
BOB ENGEL, KENDRA FISHER
MIKE HOEHN AND CYNTHIA CABALLERO, EDWINA AND TIM STOATE
KEY WINNER
CHIP PITFIELD
ABOVE: COLIN MOCHRIE, STEVEN PAGE, DEBRA MCGRATH. ALL GALA PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBERT MURPHY
Steven Page 2011 Oolagen Award of Excellence recipient for mental health advocacy work and speaking out against the stigma of mental illness.
11
2011 Leave Them Laughing Gala
raises $200,000 net
Our second annual Leave Them Laughing
gala fundraising event was held once again
in the historic Arcadian Court in the heart of
downtown Toronto.
In an encore performance, Oolagen Honourary
Patrons Colin Mochrie and Debra McGrath
returned to emcee the evening with their
unique, audience-engaging brand of comedy.
From the moment they took the stage, smiles
and laughter lit up the room. They are true
professionals to work with, but also the nicest,
most down-to-earth couple you’ll ever meet.
Oolagen is extremely fortunate to have Colin
and Deb in our corner!
Renowned performer and radio personality
Heather Bambrick set the mood for a magical
evening as she sang a selection of beloved
jazz classics throughout the reception and
dinner. Special guest and Keynote Speaker
Kendra Fisher, a former member of the Team
Canada National Hockey program, shared her
personal story of how anxiety and depression
affected her life.
Singer, songwriter and former Barenaked
Ladies front man Steven Page was the 2011
Oolagen Award of Excellence recipient, in
recognition of his mental health advocacy
work and speaking out against the stigma
of mental illness. Steven’s father Victor was
in the audience to see Steven receive his
award. CBC’s George Stromboulopoulos
introduced Steven to the crowd via a specially
produced video.
Chip Pitfield and Michelle Savoy once again
shouldered the responsibilities as Gala
Co-Chairs. Their ability to engage support
for Oolagen and our Gala is something for
which the words “Thank you” just don’t seem
adequate. We are deeply indebted to Chip and
Michelle for their hard work and dedication.
Without them, this Gala would not exist!
Julia Hall returned to support Chip and
Michelle, as did Lili Campbell and Justin
Young of Profis Communications. It’s no
easy feat to pull off a Gala, but these people
willingly donated their time and talent to make
sure ours was an unqualified success. Special
thanks to event planner Amanda Casha who
produced a smooth, seamless event.
Without sponsors, no charity event can
happen. It’s especially challenging to obtain
sponsor support when our economy is less
than rosy. Oolagen is grateful – and proud –
to recognize and acknowledge the generous
support of BMO Financial Group, Capital
International Asset Group, TD Bank Group
and Scotiabank.
Another factor a charity event can’t happen
without is volunteers, whose time and effort
helps offset labour costs and ensure that
funds raised at the Gala go directly to the
cause. Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation
to Eric Pitfield, Ana DeMelo, Paul Ciardullo,
Amanda Pearse, Jacqueline Jean-Pierre,
Christine James, Samantha Wagman, Robert
Murphy and Karen Tinsley for your help.
What a team!
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Silent Auction Donors The Buffalo BillsEstee Lauder CanadaRoger HardingThe National ClubOliver & BonaciniThe Company TheatreMichelle Savoy, Boston Pizza – Yonge and EglintonPhillipe SavoyUniversity of Toronto School of Continued StudiesUrban Source Creative CateringWinnersYoung People’s Theatre
Event Sponsors
BARBARA SILVERBERG, STEPHEN COHEN
ANA DEMELO, STEVEN PAGE, DEB MCGRATH, COLIN MOCHRIE
STEVEN PAGE AND VICTOR PAGE
COLIN MOCHRIE AND KENDRA FISHER
HEATHER BAMBRICK AND JULIA HALL
The 18kt white gold, diamond encrusted key and chain was generously donated by Alan Gozlan.
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For the second consecutive year, Anne Hoehn
Memorial Foundation founder Mike Hoehn
galvanized a group of runners (including
Oolagen staff and management) to participate
in the 2011 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront
Marathon. The spirited team of approximately
50 participants surpassed their 2010
fundraising by almost $20,000. A large part of
these proceeds, together with annual funding
provided by Winners International (a long-time
Oolagen supporter) will cover the vast majority
of the Oolagen Walk-In Clinic’s annual
operating costs.
2011 Highlights Fundraising and Events
Anne’s Team raises over $53,000 at Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront MarathonThe Anne Hoehn Memorial Foundation is named in memory of my mother who, for many, many years suffered from very severe depression. I lost her 12 years ago to suicide at age 54. I established the Foundation to honour her and to help others who struggle with the same types of issues as she did.
We support the Oolagen Walk-In Clinic because it provides immediate help to youth aged 13 to 18 who are suffering from emotional, social or psychological issues. They don’t have to make an appointment or get put on a waiting list – there’s no red tape. They simply fill out a short form and almost immediately are seen by a qualified, trained, empathetic professional. They leave armed with practical coping strategies – or if necessary, a referral to an Oolagen program or other community program best suited to their needs. —mIke hOehn, fOunder, anne hOehn memOrIal fOundatIOn
. individual donorsnaomi adelsonpaul aitkinsdavid altrorichard annanmargaret arnoldcynthia atkinson-BarnettWayne Bakernana BarnorBen Bernstein, aglpatricia andrews Worden & Bill Wordenstephen Biancodebbie osler Biancofrancine Blackburnmarvin Blacksteinrobert Blakecathy Blocki-radekeJack BolzanJudith Bovillechristie BrenchleyBarbara cavanaughchetna chavadaandy cheungJoyce chinmay chiusteve clarkestewart crymblemaureen flanagan & david denisondouglas davisHeather degraafJanet devine nankivellBarbara dohertyValerie dunlopBob Engelkaren Engeldaniel Engelalison Engel-yanlarry EnkinJerry faivishsheri federmandoug & Wendy fostersuzen fromsteinarthur Joseph gallantmary ann gaskinEve gianninidavid gibsonJoanne gilchristEudice goldberganne-marie gracey-georgeJanet grahamBrian greenspanJulia and cameron Hallrichard and nancy HammJarrett Hassonsheila Hazellsheila Hazellrobert HorwitzJennifer Hungashley ingnathaniel JeffriesB Johnsondevon Joneslaurie & ken karmonaanne keeferdavid kennyJohn and carol kittredgechris kostopoulos and leeanne Weld kostopouloskaren langJohn lederermay leediane leuty
stephen luriekenneth lyonscara malenrita mandalpeter manndaniel mccarthyshawn mcreynoldsJo michaelsnoella milnedianne monkmanrita moorekatherine and John morrisseyJames p. muldoon Jr.Janet nankivellclifford & tamar nelsongerry olsthoornsusan o’neil and arthur keinbergermargaret ortnershelley ortveddebbie osler BiancoJohn patersonart & ursula paynegail peterHeather pirsochip pitfield and michelle savoy sally pitfieddavid pitfieldmary-Jo pitfieldJohn pitfieldWard pitfielddavid pitfieldclaire pizerruth pluznickdana porterBrian porterdmitry pshonkatony redmondJack rhindJames rodgersonmiriam rogerscarey salemkatia sarafidis-kolliasphillipe savoymonica schnurpelpaul scottBarbara scottVincenza serasusan shirriffpeter silverbergcarole anne simpsonshayna singercaroline sneathchris snyderkip southamchris spearingmichael steinalan steindavid stickneytim stoatedavid swainkaren tinsleynina Valenticmarilyn Vasilkiotimary Vitugpaula and Vicko VonstedingkBridgette Waisberggary WhiteVeronica Wongsusan Woodsnancy youngdoug younghusbandfern Zweig
corporate sponsors
65 Wellesley ltd.
alarmforce industries inc.
Bmo
Barometer capital management inc.
Beqaj international inc.
capital international asset
management
chestnut park real Estate ltd.
Brokerage
ciBc
cooke and katzin
dell canada
East york scarborough reading
assoc. inc.
Epstein cole llp
grano
Healthsource plus
Hs & partners llp
kinross gold corporation
little Black dress
lone Wolf Ventures inc.
mackie research capital corp.
moksha corporation
profis communications inc.
scotiabank
summerhill captial management
td Bank group
tory’s llp Barristers & solicitors
urban source catering
Winners merchants international
Estates and foundations
the Estate of peggy margaret annan
anne Hoehn memorial foundation
aqueduct foundation-savoy
pitfield family fund
Ben & Hilda katz charitable
foundation
Bhalla fund
cp24 cHum charitable foundation
greater toronto apartment
foundation
Hedge funds care canada
Home depot canada foundation
rBc foundation
the alice & murray maitland
foundation
the Jilla and robert Williams
foundation
the marion Ethel & frederick John
kamm foundation
the nixon charitable foundation
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uFrom the day we opened our doors, empowering youth and their families to enhance their wellbeing and mental health with services that respond to their diverse needs has been our guiding principle. —bob engel, executive director
youth mental health Listen Engage Assist Empower
Our Mission To listen, engage, assist and empower youth and families in recognizing their strengths, expanding their capabilities and enhancing their wellbeing and mental health.
Our Vision The hopes and aspirations of Oolagen are based on our vision for:
Relationships between youth and their families that recognize and build upon strengths
A community that works in partnership to enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of its citizens
A comprehensive, flexible service system that effectively responds to the challenging and diverse needs of youth and their families.
Contact Information Oolagen 65 Wellesley Street East Suite 500 Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1G7
Tel 416 395 0660 Fax 416 395 0666 www.oolagen.org
Charitable Registration # BN 11906 8625 RR0001
Board of Directors 2010/2011 President Barbara Silverberg
Acting Vice President Tim Stoate
Treasurer Tim Stoate
Patricia Andrews Dr. Nana Barnor Heather DeGraaf Grant Kedwell Deborah Osler Bianco Dr. Claire Pizer Peter Silverberg
Management Team Executive Director Robert Engel
Director of Clinical Services Ruth Pluznick
Residential Manager Charles Nagle
Supervisor of Community Services Marilyn Vasilkioti
Supervisor of Wraparound Catherine Blocki-Radeke
Director of Development Caroline Sneath
Outpatient Staff Amy Druker Dale Giberson Oyla Kozlova Maisa Said Emma Turner Geert van der Veen
Support Staff May Chiu Ana De Melo Christine James Greg Skelton Dorothy Winton
Forest Hill/Marc Garneau Staff Bonnie-Sue Solomon
Parkdale Collegiate Amy Druker
Wraparound Staff Rafael Barradas Kimberly Coleman-Bryan Helder Costa Heather Ibbott Jacqueline Jean-Pierre Yvette Roberts Lise van der Bliek
Intensive Services Staff Jia Yao Amanda Pearse
Intergenerational Alliance Julie Epp Thilaka Xavier
Richard Kalesky House Staff House Supervisor Karen Jackson
Samantha Arnold Melissa Brown Stephanie Doforno Catherine Howe Tanya James Michael McMullin Caitlin Pearson Stahr-lee Sobers Emma Turner
Annex House Staff House Supervisor Faye Forde
Amanda Dovick Christine Folkes Cynthia Luces Adam de Mendonca
Relief Staff Niamh Connolly Jeannette Da Luz Christine James Connie Langille Tawana Lapps Riaz Moursalien Paulina Paredes Christine Penny Natasha Whitley Jessica Zambito
Funding Partners Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services
Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion
City of Toronto
Children’s Aid Society of Toronto
Accredited member of:
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Sources of statistics and facts throughout the annual report: Children’s Mental Health Ontario, Canadian Institute for Health Information, Canadian Mental Health Association, Conference Board of Canada, Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, Statistics Canada.