MEDIA RELEASE: 05 25 2011 Join in the fun and be a part of the BIG picture
Article: Exchange Magazine Morning Post February 16, 2011
Article: Waterloo Region Record February 17, 2011
Article: Kitchener Citizen November, 2010
Article: Waterloo Region Record Friday, October 30, 2010
Media Release:
Community leaders are proving they are Better Together
(Waterloo Region – October 28, 2010) Community leaders from across Waterloo Region have joined forces on the Better Together Capital Campaign to raise money for the Family Centre.
“Every single member of this team is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children and families in our community,” said Mary Jo Fedy, who will be leading the group as the Campaign Chair. “Together, we are committed to raising $2.5 million to make the Family Centre a reality.”
The Family Centre will be a unique community hub where Family and Children’s Services and other community organizations will be able to work together to provide the programs and services that help children and families in our community build on the strengths they need to be successful. The federal and provincial governments have each committed $2.6 million toward the $8-million project.
“Cowan has been providing services to non-profits for over 80 years,” explains Maureen Cowan, President, The Cowan Foundation. “When we learned of Family & Children’s services innovative approach to the delivery of services to children and families through the Family Centre, we felt it was important to contribute to this initiative to help accelerate collaborative opportunities within our community.”
The Cowan Foundation got the Better Together Campaign off to a great start with a $250,000 donation. The Campaign Leadership Team for the Better Together Capital Campaign was formally introduced on October 28 at 3 p.m. during the special event held to announce the donation.
Better Together Campaign Leadership Team
Honorary Advisors: Brian Ruby; Jim and Sandy Beingessner; Ron Sills; and Frank Voisin
Campaign Chair: Mary Jo Fedy
Deputy Chair: Janet Peddigrew
Business Chair: Peter Izzio
Personal Gifts Chair: Karen Redman
Community Engagement Chair: Dana Fox
Public Relations Communications Chair: Keren Adderley
Campaign Manager: Jim Phillips, Family and Children’s Services Foundation
Campaign Assistant: Candi Harrington, Family and Children’s Services Foundation
You can find more information about the Better Together Capital Campaign and the Family Centre on our website at www.theFamilyCentre.ca. For more information on this event, please contact Keren Adderley at 519-575-4508 or Candi Harrington at 576-0540, ext.3145 or candi.harrington@facswaterloo.org
Family Centre with space for social-services
gets $8-million
December 16, 2009
By Frances Barrick, Record staff
KITCHENER — An $8-million project to turn a Kitchener factory into a centre for local social service agencies received a financial shot in the arm from senior levels of government.
On Wednesday, the federal and provincial governments each committed $2.6 million toward the project, spearheaded by Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region. The remaining $2.6 million will be raised through community fundraising.
“It is very good news,” said Peter Ringrose, executive director of the agency.
In 2001, the agency bought a Hansen Avenue building, which now houses Allprint Ainsworth Associates Inc. The agency plans to turn that building into a centre where local social service agencies can rent space for their programs and or meetings.
Ringrose said many local social service agencies serve the same clients, so a facility where people can come for different services makes sense. The building will also be available for rent to neighbourhood associations for their meetings.
Called the Family Centre, this facility will also help agencies strapped for space, but short on money to build.
It will also help Family and Children’s Services which is facing a $900,000 projected deficit.
The agency rents space for three of its programs, including supervised visits between foster children and their birth parents. Those programs will be moved to the Family Centre, which frees up money spent on leases, Ringrose said.
The printing company’s lease on the building expires the end of March 2010, and work on renovating the 50,000-square-foot building will begin shortly afterwards. The work must be completed by March 31, 2011 to qualify for the federal and provincial monies, Ringrose said.
The Family Centre will include meeting rooms and office space, as well as a gym and a large kitchen.
Ringrose said his agency contacted 15 other local agencies, all of which applauded the project. So far, two are committed to renting space.
“We more we think about this project, the more we think it makes sense,” Ringrose said.
fbarrick@therecord.com |
