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Jim Fay Music Bursaries Awarded

December 15, 2011 By

For immediate release:

Jim Fay Music Bursaries Awarded

Jim Fay

Jim Fay

Toronto, ON, December 14th, 2011— Family and friends of the late musician Jim Fay created a special award because sadly, those who need them most seldom access most bursaries and scholarships. The Jim Fay Music Bursary is awarded annually to youth (16-24), who are or were homeless or “at-risk”, who live in the GTA and who want to further their study or practice of traditional, folk or roots music.

A total of $4,000 will be awarded this year. The 2011 Jim Fay Music Bursary winners are Ashton, Morgan, Vitus and Shasha.

Two recipients, Ashton and Morgan will receive their award on Saturday, Dec. 17th, as a part of the Gate 403 Saturday Sessions’ All Star Christmas Party. All four recipients will be offered a chance to perform at the upcoming SHINE! Concert on Sunday, Feb. 26th, 2012, at Hugh’s Room. Funds raised at SHINE 2012 fund the next Jim Fay Music Bursary.

Bursary funding may be used to purchase a musical instrument/equipment, registration in a music workshop, tuition to a music course or program at College or University or private.

The All Star Christmas Party boasts some talented musicians. Backing up Bill Heffernan are Olish, Dave McManus, Gordie Goodwin, Michael O’Grady, Kenny Yoshioka, Michael McDonald, Michelle Rumball, Jonathan Lynn, Jon Brooks, Grier Coppins, Colleen Hodgson, October Browne, Richard Keelan, Glen Hornblast, Chris Staig and more. Last year’s Jim Fay Music Bursary winner Chelsee Livingstone will also make an appearance.

Gate 403 is located at 403 Roncesvalles Ave. and the show takes place between 5 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17th.

If you have any questions or would like to arrange an interview, please call Kari Klassen, Communications Manager at (416) 977-4497 x 138.

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Filed Under: Awards and Bursaries, Bursaries, Jim Fay, Media, Press Releases Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Eva’s Awards for Ending Youth Homelessness

December 5, 2011 By

Virgin Unite

 

 

For immediate release:

Eva’s Initiatives’ Launches Awards for Ending Youth Homelessness

Toronto, ON, November 24, 2011—Eva’s Initiatives, the Sprott Foundation and Virgin Unite (Canada), Inc. are pleased to offer four awards of $25,000 each for organizations working with homeless and at-risk youth.

“In 2006, Eva’s Initiatives launched the Awards for Innovation, through generous sponsorship from CIBC,” explained Rachel Gray, Eva’s Director of National Initiatives.

Six years of the Innovation Awards recognized the achievements of 18 organizations from coast to coast to coast. “Because of the inspiration and learning from this experience, we have shifted our focus for this new awards program,” said Gray.

With the launch of the 2012 program, Eva’s and our partners Virgin Unite  and the Sprott Foundation are putting the spotlight on what works in terms of preventing and ending the homelessness that youth experience. This focus challenges us all to think beyond the emergency needs of vulnerable youth. The goal of ending homelessness means equipping youth in multiple domains of their lives to achieve greater and longer lasting stability. It also means program impacts that have results on different levels—from housing outcomes, for example, to skill building, employment, improved health and other outcomes.

The goal of the awards is to recognize community initiatives that are:

  • Moving beyond responding to the most basic needs of homeless and at-risk youth
  • Demonstrating significant impacts in the lives of vulnerable youth
  • Delivering programs or services aimed at preventing youth homelessness
  • Breaking the cycle of homelessness among youth by integrating supports such as: housing, education, employment, family connections, and interventions to address mental health concerns and/or addictions

“Young Canadians deserve to have the best possible opportunities to grow and thrive. These awards will acknowledge and support organizations that make a difference, whose efforts look down the road to the end of a young person’s homelessness,” Gray said.

The deadline for applications is 9 p.m. EST, Friday January 20th, 2012. For more information on eligibility or to download applications, please see our awards website at http://awards.evasinitiatives.com or our main website at www.evasinitiatives.com.

Eva’s Initiatives works with homeless and at-risk youth, ages 16 to 24, to get them off the streets permanently. Each year we help over 5,000 homeless and at-risk youth through our emergency and transitional housing, harm reduction services, counselling, employment and training programs, social enterprise, and services to reconnect youth with their families.

 

Eva’s Initiatives Awards for Ending Youth Homelessness are generously supported by the Sprott Foundation and Virgin Unite (Canada), Inc.

 

For more information or to inquire about interviews, please contact Rachel Gray, Director of National Initiatives at (416) 977-4497 x 127

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Media, Press Releases Tagged With: , , , , , ,

For immediate release: Eva’s Phoenix Finds a New Home

November 30, 2011 By

Eva's NewsToronto ON, November 30, 2011— City Council  voted unanimously today to support a plan for the relocation of Eva’s Phoenix into a wonderful heritage building in the heart of a vibrant community in the King and Spadina area. “We are thrilled with the outcome,” said Executive Director Maria Crawford. “The property meets all of our needs and we are excited about what we will be able to do with it. It’s a great location in a welcoming neighbourhood, with close proximity to all of the supports and services we need for the youth.”

 

Donate to the Eva's Phoenix Relocation Fund

This represents a huge “Win-Win” on many fronts.  Taxpayers are benefiting from the substantial revenue the City will generate from the sale of the properties involved; the City has been able to use the opportunity to ensure the long term viable operation of Eva’s Phoenix and to refurbish and transform a wonderful old building into a vibrant new home for homeless youth.  Eva’s will be able to continue its long term work on ending youth homelessness, and the ground breaking work done at Eva’s Phoenix  will now be able to continue for years to come.  I am confident our youth will be very pleased.”

 

The new location for Eva’s Phoenix, at 505 Richmond St. W, is a heritage property, and will be shared with others in what will be a collaborative community process to ensure the most efficient use of the space and that the  historical significance and integrity is respected and maintained. We are looking forward to working on the design and retrofit, and are committed to involving the youth and the community in the process. “We will create an amazing and vibrant new home for our youth, as well as incorporating some new aspects and enhancements to our services there.”  A robust fundraising campaign will commence immediately to raise the necessary funds to complete the retrofit and relocation.

 

Crawford is grateful for all the expert advice and support received from the residents and former residents ofPhoenix, and all our supporters in the community. It truly is a win-win for everyone involved, most notably the youth we serve.  “We are very grateful for the support and assistance of the Mayor and City Council.  This outcome could not have come about without their support, and the collective effort of a vast network of citizens and supporters.  I am confident that many young people will sleep soundly tonight knowing that the long term future and viability of Eva’s Phoenix has been secured.”

 

For more information or to book an interview, please contact Kari Klassen, Communications Manager for Eva’s Initiatives at (416) 977-4497 x138.

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Filed Under: Newsletters, Phoenix Relocation, Press Releases Tagged With: , ,

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