Token 4 Change
Posted on Feb 05, 2017
On Friday, February 3, a number of Rotarians (and family) from our club, friends from Franklin Horner Community Centre and John Muto from the Rotary Club of Toronto West canvassed for Tokens4Change in support of Youth Without Shelter. John also enlisted 10 students from Etobicoke Collegiate Institute who were a big help!!
Tokens4Change took over the city...youth supporting youth, creating awareness about youth homelessness!
Together with all participants $97,614.26 was raised for essential youth transit needs and empowering support programs at Youth Without Shelter (YWS)
At the Rotary Etobicoke canvassing location, Islington Station a total of $1,877.84 was raised! $230.77 of this was raised Single Handedly by our secret weapon Lincoln, Gill and Andre Dugas' grandson. Thanks Sam for bringing him!
Click "Read More" button to see the Thank you letter from Youth With Shelter... On Friday, February 3, Tokens4Change, presented by Tangerine, took over the city.....youth supporting youth, creating awareness about youth homelessness through powerful social activism arts performances and your energy. Thank you for being an integral part of the day! You are now a T4C'er. Together you raised $97,614.26 (including 673.6 pounds of coin) for essential youth transit needs and empowering support programs at Youth Without Shelter (YWS). You are building futures. Thank YOU!
At your canvassing location, Islington Station a total of: $1,877.84 was raised!
By the numbers: 597 volunteers; 14 companies/groups; 20 schools; 25 locations; 5 passionate arts projects facilitated by the Branch Out Theatre Team and guest artists (Paul Davis, Lamoi Simmonds, Pavla Uppal, Timothy Wong, Rachel T)and six celebrity canvassers led by our friend Ennis Esmer who raised voices in song and humour last shift at Bloor/Yonge.
Thank you to our dedicated sponsors for their investment in T4C 2017: Presenting sponsor: Tangerine. Arts & Activism sponsor: Mantella Corporation.T4C’ER Matching Challenge sponsor: Outliers Mining Solutions. Media sponsors: Faren Agency, Pattison Outdoor, Pattison OneStop. T4C Cookie sponsor: The Bake Sale. Our canvassing hosts play a key role in making T4C happen. They are: Toronto Transit Commission who has supported us since year one. Brookfield Place. Bay-Adelaide Centre. Royal Bank Plaza. 10 Dundas East. Yonge-Eglinton Centre. We greatly appreciate the partnership of the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area. Thank you to CP 24's awesome Patricia Jaggernauth for hosting the T4C Performance Showcase at the Tangerine Downtown Cafe.
More than the numbers: Each year remarkable stories of resilience emerge from T4C. Here are a few you have shared.....many encountered former YWS residents who identified themselves with thanks when donating; big hug received from a former resident who said "YWS made me." (update:he is now a graduate of college culinary program working in kitchen of one of Toronto's trendiest restaurants); woman who saw us putting on our t-shirts at 6.30 am, looked up who we were on her phone and kicked us off with a $20 donation; TTC customer who took off her new winter mittens, said she was lucky she had more, and donated them; the number of individuals who shared they were homeless but dug deep to give; Havergal College students performing outside on stage in bitter cold whose performance moved a pedestrian to tears; Ennis and friends who would not allow any photos/selfies with them unless transit riders made a donation. And we're sure you have more to add.
Photos: For photos of T4C 2017 check out YWS’s Facebook Page (Youth Without Shelter (YWS)).We invite you to stay connected with Youth Without Shelter to see the impact of your T4C involvement, follow us on social media and read the "30 stories for 30 years" blog series on our website.
"Your involvement is worth more than you know." "Just imagine what your donation can do."
Thank you so much for the coordination done on your part and your participation- looking forward to our continued partnership!
Soyoung Lee
Engagement Specialist
Youth Without Shelter
6 Warrendale Court, Etobicoke, ON M9V 1P9
Tel: 416.748.0110 ext. 26. Web: www.yws.on.ca
Facebook: Youth Without Shelter (YWS) / Twitter/Instagram: @YWSToronto
