Who We Help

MISSION STATEMENT:

G.I.F.T.'s primary mission is to provide funding for Ontario children who are physically, intellectually or economically challenged.

Donations to Charities as of June 30, 2007:

"Cash For Kids Donation of $26,000 to the Children’s
Aid Society of Hamilton"

The Children's Aid Society of Hamilton were presented with a cheque for $26,000 from the proceeds of the Cash For Kids coupon program.  This gift will be used to complete the work on an outdoor family playground and play area at the agency's new facility.  The playgournd is used on a daily basis by children who attend court ordred supervised visits with their parents and by children attending appointments at the on-site Medical and Dental clinic.  Pictured from left to right are:  Domenic Verticchio, Executive Director of the CAS of Hamilton, Shendal Yalchin, Fortinos (Dundurn) Hamilton and Michael Shea, President CAS of Hamilton Board of Directors and Capital Campaign Chair.

The Grocery Foundation Building - The New Y Camp Medical Centre

After a few years in the works, the new medical centre at the Bonnenfant Outdoor Centre at Camp Dunrobin (suburb of Ottawa) is complete! With the help of Brian Wilson of Brian Wilson's Food Basics and The Grocery Foundation, this amazing wellness centre has become the centre of camp and the hub of activity.  Over 6,000 children make use of the outdoor centre site each year.

"Grandview Children's Foundation Had A Visitor"

Rick Field of the Courtice Price Chopper made a surprise visit to the Grandview Children's Foundation and presented them with a cheque for $7,500.00! This money was raised through Rick's store and the Cash For Kids coupon program which raises money for disadvantaged children across Ontario. These funds will be used to help support recreation and leisure activities for children at the centre who have physical disabilities. This money will also be used to purhcase specialized sports equipment. Happily accepting the cheque is the recreation staff at Grandview.

"The Grocery Foundation and Markham Stouffville Hospital"

Tom Barlow, President & COO, Coca-Cola Bottling Canada (from left) and Vince Timpano, Director, The Grocery Foundation and President & CEO, Coca-Cola Ltd. present a cheque for $50,000 to Markham Stouffville Hospital's new Paediatric Diabetes Day Clinic.  Receiving the cheque are (from left) Dr. Susan Kirsch, Paediatric Endocrinologist and Janet M. Beed, President & CEO, Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation.  Young clinic patient Abby Crump looks on.

ProAction Cops & Kids receives $20,000!

Ross Sinclair, Vice-President of ProAction Cops & Kids (centre) and Virginia McColm, Director of Development & Operations accept GIFT's donation of $20,000 from Anthony Longo, GIFT Board Member and President of ProAction Cops & Kids. This donation will be used to support ProAction Cops & Kids with the implementation of a technology plan which will help them to better assist the Toronto Police with programs for at-risk youth.

A wopping $6,900.00 for Big Sisters of Woodstock!

This money was raised during the annual Cash For Kids coupon program; which, is run in grocery stores throughout Ontario and the Atlantic. The Big Sisters Association of Woodstock will use these funds to help support the recreational/Life skills programs offered to the “little sisters” each month.

A Big Step Forward at Matthew House

Matthew House is a small shelter in central Toronto that welcomes and assists refugee claimants who have come to the end of a long journey on the refugee highway. Since opening as a permanent home in August 1998, Matthew House has provided shelter and assistance for hundreds of newly arrived refugees who would otherwise have been homeless in Toronto. They have come from more than 70 different countries including: Albania, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Angola, Burundi, Colombia, Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda and Zanzibar.

The end of each month brings a big challenge for residents and staff at Matthew House. How to move residents and furniture without a van? Thanks to The Grocery Foundation’s gift, Matthew House is the proud owner of a brand new GMC Savana van as well as much needed upgrades of furniture including matching sofa sets and new mattresses.

York Central Hospital Foundation receives gift of $100,000 from The Grocery Foundation

(left to right) Bruce Harber, President & CEO, York Central Hospital and Rick Sulker, Director York Central Hospital Foundation receive a most welcome gift of $100,000 from Bob Brema, President, The Grocery Foundation.

This funding will help suppport the new Paediatric in-patient unit by purchasing 6 in-patient beds, a new family support area, 2 cardiac monitors, 2 vital signs monitors, ventilators and more. The paediatric services of York Central Hospital serve a number of support areas that will be available for children and their families that are being treated in the paediatric in-patient unit.

SOUTHLAKE REACHES OUT TO OVER 500 TEENS WITH
EATING DISORDERS

Newmarket, Ontario – Southlake Regional Health Centre is recognized nationally for the successful treatment of teens suffering from severe eating disorders. In 1997, the Hospital was designated by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as the site of a Regional Eating Disorder Program serving teens in the Central East Region of Ontario, which includes York Region, Peterborough, Haliburton, Durham Region, Simcoe County, Kawartha and Pine Ridge.

Southlake relies on the generous support of the community to continue offering this renowned, life-saving program closer to home for the people of Central East Ontario. G.I.F.T. (Grocery Industry Foundation Together) is a major corporate supporter who recently made a donation of $57,500 to outfit the Eating Disorder Program’s classroom, education resource centre and therapeutic group room. This builds on G.I.F.T.’s previous donation of $30,000 to help support renovations to establish a permanent home for the Program within the Hospital.

“G.I.F.T.’s goal is to help children in need and help them lead happier, healthier and more productive lives,” says Chair of the GIFT Board Mr. Duncan Reith, “We are very pleased to continue with our support for Southlake’s Eating Disorders program. It is making such a difference for the young people who suffer from this sometimes tragic disease.”

G.I.F.T. SUPPORTS NEW CAMP-Y-ON-THE-OTTAWA MEDICAL BUILDING

Pictured from left to right are: Richard Plummer, Vice President Community and Camping Services, Brian Wilson, Owner Brian's Food Basics Ottawa, and Richard Love volunteer fundraiser responsible for the Medical Centre initiative.

GIFT's donation of $25,000 towards the new medical building is a dream come true. Camp-Y-On-The-Ottawa is a summer camp for boys and girls at the Lou Bonnenfant Centre, an operating camp of the Ottawa Region YMCA/YWCA. Each day, more than 360 children will visit the camp on a day trip basis. A new medical building to serve children was of great importance.

Duncan Reith (far left), President of Sobeys Ontario and Chairman of G.I.F.T. presents a cheque for $75,000 to Steve Heming (2nd from left), YMCA Wanakita Director for the residential camp of the YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington.

YMCA Wanakita has long standing partnerships with several special needs organizations like Hemophilia Ontario and Reach For The Rainbow, providing these children with residential camp experiences through programs that integrate all children. As well, through its annual Strong Kids campaign, YMCA Wanakita provides a camp experience to a growing number of low-income children, youth and families.

Joining in the cheque presentation are: (starting with 3rd from left) Vince Scorniaenchi, Chief Operating Officer, Fortinos Supermarkets; John McNeil, Executive Director, G.I.F.T.; Guido Alphonsi, Franchise Owner, Fortinos and Deane Collinson, Executive VP, Loblaws Supermarkets & Co-Chair of the $1.9 million YMCA Wanakita Capital Campaign.


CASH FOR KIDS DONATION TO YMCA-YWCA

Cheque presentation from Brian Wilson ( centre ), owner of Brian's Food Basics in Ottawa to Richard Love ( right ) Donor-Volunteer Co-Ordinator for the YMCA-YWCA's Partners with Youth Initiative and John Campbell, Vice President, Communications and Philanthropy for the National Capital Region YMCA-YWCA.

The cheque presentation for $2000.00 was raised through the cooperative efforts of the Grocery Industry Foundation Together ( G.I.F.T. ), Brian's Food Basics, and grocers accross Ontario. The donation will go towards providing opportunities for kids, in the national capital region, to go to camps organized through the YMCA-YWCA.

G.I.F.T. DONATION TO THE WALKERTON & DISTRICT HEALTH SERVICES FOUNDATION

Maurice Donnelly, a member of the
foundation, left, accepted the cheque from Wagner, middle, and Ray Wright. Photo courtesy of The Walkerton Herald-Times.

The Grocery Industry Foundation donated $897 to the Walkerton and District Health Services Foundation last week. The donation was made possible through Wright's Foodmarket's participation in the GIFT's 'Cash for Kids' coupon campaign. Wright's grocery manager Mike Wagner
organized the local project and submitted a request on the foundation's behalf. The money will go toward the purchase of a pediatric/neonatal laryngoscope.


G.I.F.T. DONATION OF $25,000 TO GIANT STEPS TORONTO

Giant Steps Toronto parent Jane Van Zant receives a cheque for $25,000 from Anthony Longo, President & CEO of Longo Bros. Fruit
Markets and GIFT Director. The money will be used for therapy equipment and resource material. Giant Steps Toronto is an organization helping children with autism with specialized therapy and support servies







CASH FOR KIDS DONATION TO THE WOODSTOCK & DISTRICT BIG BROTHERS ASSOCIATION

Presenting the cheque is Chris Chapman (far right)
owner/operator of Woodstock IGA to little brother Keith Anderson.
Watching is big brother (far left) Jason VanDorp and Jane Hedges (middle)
Executive Director of Woodstock & District Big Brothers Assoc."

Woodstock & District Big Brothers Association receives a cheque for $5,000 from GIFT. Money was raised during the Cash For Kids coupon event in February. Photo courtesy of the Sentinel-Review.


G.I.F.T. DONATION TO KID'S ABILITY FOUNDATION

From Left to Right: Representing GIFT is Director Paul Lang, Senior V.P. & President, Consumer Foods for Schneider Foods, Harvey Reid, Chairman of the Kids Can't Wait Campaign, Braden Martz (9 year-old Ambassador) and Elaine Ormston, President, Kids Ability Foundation.

GIFT supports the Kids Ability Centre for Child Development with a donation of $40,000 to purchase high-tech equipment needed for its Augmentative Communication Services Program to asssit children who are unable to communicate effectively, either verbally or through writing.

G.I.F.T. DONATES $50,000 TO ST. MARY'S FOR CT SCANNER

(left to right - Mac Voisin, President, M&M Meat Shops and Board President of St. Mary's
General Hospital Foundation receives cheque from Doug Gingrich, Vice President
Sales for Schneider Foods representing GIFT.

Kitchener, ON - The Grocery Industry Foundation…Together (GIFT) has made a donation of $50,000 to be paid over two years to St. Mary's General Hospital Foundation to assist in the purchase of a CT Scanner. GIFT aims to make life better for children by supporting worthy project in communities in Ontario and eastern Canada. The annual Cash For Kids coupon campaign in 1700 grocery stores during February raised over a million dollars, and this year a portion of those funds will be directed to St. Mary's.

"We are strongly committed to improving the quality of life for children who are physically, intellectually or economically challenged. We see this donation to St. Mary's as an investment in leading-edge care for the most vulnerable segment of our population - children," says John McNeil, Executive Director, GIFT.

"The CT Scanner is very useful in diagnosing illness and injury in children who arrive at St. Mary's emergency department", explains Mac Voisin, President of the hospital's Foundation. "We are so grateful that GIFT has decided to help fund this innovative technology in the interest of helping our Region's children".

GIFT DONATES $75,000 TO FINISH THE EARLSCOURT MERGE WITH THE CRECHE CAMPAIGN

In 2001, GIFT made an incredibly generous $100,000 three-year commitment to the Girls Connection which is the largest pledge they have every received from a foundation. Upon hearing that Earlscourt was to merge with The Creche and still $75,000 short of their $1.7 million campaign, GIFT donated the $75,000 to finish the campaign.

GIFT President Bob Brema has long been a supporter of the Girls Connection. He states "Earlscourt Child & Family Centre is helping children that others ignore. After meeting the staff, it became clear that their enthusiasm and expertise was second to none. If GIFT's financial support allowed the Earlscourt professionals to continue to help a few more smiling young faces, then the decision was obvious. GIFT is pleased to have a very small part in the ground breaking work done by the Earlscourt Girls Connection."

(from left to right in photo)
Bob Brema presents a cheque in the amount of $75,000 to Earlscourt Executive Director Ken Goldberg while Earlscourt Board Member John Gennaro looks on.

LOCAL GROCER RALLIES $10,000 FOR KIDS WITH AUTISM

(left to right)
Owner of Linda's Valu-Mart, Linda Pelligra
Linda's Assistant, Anita Lemm
Executive Director of Geneva Centre for Autism, Margaret Whelan Program Director of Geneva Centre for Autism, Neil Walker Board Member of Geneva Centre for Autism, Annette Hebb-Grier

"Linda's Valu-Mart in Leaside is doing a lot more than just selling groceries these days. The store recently helped the Geneva Centre for Austism secure a $10,000 grant through GIFT. Money was raised through the Cash For Kids coupon program which is run throughout 1200 grocery stores in Ontario during the month of February."


GIFT GIVES A "BIG BUNCH" TO BIG BROTHERS OF HALTON

(left to right)
Couple match Peter & Karen, Little Brother Simon and Dave Anderson of Anderson's Food Basics.

Through the efforts of Dave Anderson of Anderson's Food Basics in Oakville, a donation of $5000 was secured through GIFT's Cash for Kids program. This money will be used to support the new "Big Bunch" program run by the Big Brothers of Halton. This program will allow Little Brothers who are currently on the waiting list to become involved in a program immediately instead of sitting idle on a list until a suitable Big Brothers volunteer can be found.


$5000 GIFT GOES TO LOCAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST CLUBS

Thanks to Joe Caputo of Joe’s No Frills in Orillia, GIFT (Grocery Industry Foundation…Together), has contributed $5,000 for the purchase of food and supplies for nutrition programs in Orillia-area schools.

Recently, Caputo presented the GIFT cheque to Don Evans, Simcoe North Consultant to Eat Well to Excel, the non-profit Simcoe County Nutrition Program for School-Age Children.

The funds were generated by GIFT’s annual Cash For Kids coupon promotion, which runs every February in over 1700 Ontario grocery stores, including Joe’s No Frills. By supporting this event, area residents enabled GIFT to make its generous contribution to the 25 school nutrition programs in the Orillia-area community.

Eat Well to Excel will provide the Cash For Kids funds to Orillia-area programs on the basis of need, Evans said.

TORONTO CITY MISSION RECEIVES GIFT

Children from the St.James Town Day Camp celebrate upon hearing the news that they have recevied a grant of $50,000 from GIFT to help purchase a new van. This van will be used to transport children to and from outside activities. Celebrating amongst the children are (left to right) Ken Little, Executive Director, Toronto City Mission, Joe Aziz, Board Member, Toronto City Mission,and Robert Brema, President, GIFT. The Toronto City Mission has been working with children and families living in poverty in Toronto since 1879. This year represents their 125th anniversary.

THANK YOU LETTERS