2023 Donor Impact Report
As we reflect on the past year, we are humbled by the incredible power of generosity and compassion. The unwavering support of our donors, staff, board, volunteers, and community has enabled us to continue our work of improving the lives of children and youth with physical disabilities. We are pleased to share with you the progress we have made this year, the impact it has had on the kids and families Easter Seals Ontario serves, and the exciting new possibilities on the horizon.
As an organization, we have continued to confront the difficulties presented by the ever-evolving landscape we find ourselves in. Despite these challenges, our staff has demonstrated unyielding determination while continuing to adapt to new ways of connecting with our supporters and delivering our essential programs and services. We owe much of our success to the steadfast generosity and support of donors like you, whose gifts have been a vital lifeline for Easter Seals kids and families.
With your generous support, we will continue to create new pathways for Easter Seals kids to thrive and reach their full potential. As we move forward into another year of growth and innovation, we invite you to join us in this transformative journey. Together, we can build a brighter and more inclusive future for all individuals with physical disabilities. Thank you for being a part of the Easter Seals Ontario family.
Sincerely,
Kevin J. Collins
President and CEO
Mobility and Accessibility Equipment
As a committed supporter of Easter Seals Ontario, you play a vital role in helping kids access the mobility and accessibility equipment they need to live healthy, happy, and safe lives. Kyle’s story below is just one example of the incredible difference you make for hundreds of kids across Ontario every single day.
Kyle is an incredibly bright and cheerful seven-year-old with a range of quirky interests like the weather and numbers. “I don’t think he sees himself as different from any of the other children,” says his mom, Jeannie. But for Kyle, mobility has always been a challenge.
Kyle was diagnosed with spastic diplegia before his second birthday. “He was born really premature,”says Jeannie. His dad, Paul, adds “they told us when he was just days old that he had had a brain bleed and that this was a real possibility.”Kyle’s spastic diplegia means that the muscles in his body are weakened, specifically the muscles on the lower half of his body.
For Kyle, it is very important that he strengthens his leg muscles“We’ve been told that he’s not going to be able to walk on his own the way you and I can. He’s going to need some kind of assistive device, so having the walker is a great way to keep him mobile and accustomed to being in that upright position,” says Paul. Kyle uses a wheelchair or walker whenever he goes anywhere. Having the right supportive equipment is essential to helping Kyle develop his leg muscles and walking abilities.
Unfortunately, getting the equipment Kyle needs has not been easy for his family. It comes as a shock to hear the sheer number of pieces of equipment Kyle requires and their costs. Coming up with the money to cover all of Kyle’s equipment would be a massive endeavor for any family – especially for a family with three young sons, as in the case of Kyle’s family. Paul explains the difference that having a proper walker makes in Kyle’s life; “being able to get outside, use the walker, it’s great for him to continue different ways to strengthen the muscles and be upright, it helps the hamstrings keep the knees straighter and again the weight-bearing on the legs.”
Through your generosity, you have helped Kyle get the equipment he needs to experience greater independence and confidence so he can achieve his dreams. Thank you for helping to create a brighter future for Kyle, and all kids with physical disabilities.
Fully Accessible Summer Camp
Your support helps kids with physical disabilities find independence at Easter Seals fully accessible camps every summer. This experience is transformational for many, as it builds independence and self-esteem. Kalin, one of our veteran campers, shares his experience of what camp means to him.
I’ve just returned from my 15th year at Camp Woodeden. I like to describe it as an experience that’s barrier-free, where I can be myself and just block everything out that’s going on in the outside world and just be myself for the eight days that I’m there.
I feel like I go to camp with a low battery and it gets recharged. I also know that when I leave camp each year, I feel more confident and more determined than ever to do what I need to do to make it a more accessible society.
At camp, I experience laughter, joy, happiness and kindness and make lifelong memories. None of this would be possible without the people that work behind the scenes at Easter Seals Ontario, or without the donors and the fundraising committees that work so hard throughout the year. Thank you to all of you for helping kids be kids.
But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the frontline heroes at the camp – the counselors. My deepest gratitude goes out to the camp director and the counselors. Many of the counselors come from outside of Canada just to be with us for the entire summer and their friendship, kindness and support is something I will always cherish.”
Post-Secondary Scholarships
Your support of Easter Seals Ontario’s post-secondary scholarships helps young adults with physical disabilities achieve their dreams of post-secondary education. Sebastien Parent is a 2022 Provincial Easter Seals Ambassador and recipient of the Hira Scholarship.
Sebastien began his studies at Cambrian College this past fall, where he is pursuing a diploma in Media Communications. With a passion for storytelling and creativity, Sebastien hopes to use his skills to inspire and empower others. He shares some of the pivotal moments in high school that have helped him embrace change, overcome challenges, and look forward to a future full of possibilities.
High school is a time of transition and growth for every teenager. For me, it was a period filled with personal challenges and life-changing experiences that shaped the person I am today.
The summer of 2019 marked a turning point in my life as I faced the prospect of another life-altering surgery. At just 14 years old, starting high school, I was overwhelmed by the uncertainty that lay ahead. After the surgery, I had to relearn how to walk from scratch, which left me frustrated and depressed. However, the unwavering support of my friends and family kept me going. With their encouragement, I persisted through the pain and managed to take my first steps towards an independent life, and straight into my second year of high school.
As 2020 rolled around, I encountered another significant hurdle when it came to understanding the current subject. My teacher’s doubts about my potential shook my confidence, but I refused to let it define me. Determined to prove them wrong, I dedicated myself to hard work and sought help when needed. In the end, I surpassed expectations and achieved a 90% average in the class.
This experience taught me the power of determination and resilience in overcoming obstacles. As high school graduation approached, I found myself facing a new set of fears about what lay ahead. Leaving behind lifelong friends and family, taking on adult responsibilities, and deciding on a career path weighed heavily on my mind. While the choices ahead may seem daunting, I know that the experiences I’ve gained so far have prepared me for this moment. I will be pursuing Media Communications at Cambrian College and am excited about the possibilities it holds.”
If you are interested in supporting
Easter Seals Ontario scholarships,
please contact us at sgreenwood@easterseals.org.
Leaving a Legacy Could Be the Greatest Gift You Ever Give
For the last century, dedicated Easter Seals Ontario donors have consistently shown their unwavering commitment to supporting kids with physical disabilities by including Easter Seals in their estate plans.
In September of last year, Fran Brown (nee Hayward) passed away at the age of 79, leaving a meaningful bequest to Easter Seals Ontario in her will. This generous legacy gift will serve the noble purpose of providing essential mobility and accessibility equipment to children with physical disabilities, along with the same transformative experiences she enjoyed while at Easter Seals camp. Fran’s family graciously shared the profound significance Easter Seals Camp held in her heart.
By including Easter Seals Ontario in your legacy plans, you have the opportunity to create a substantial and enduring impact in the lives of countless kids with physical disabilities for years to come. For more information about planned giving or to have a confidential conversation about your philanthropic goals, please contact us at 416.510.5079 or toll-free at 1.800.668.6252.
The Change We Make
Whether it’s removing barriers, fostering self-development, or building a sense of belonging, every Easter Seals initiative ensures that children and youth with physical disabilities discover and develop their own breakthrough potential.
Mission
Easter Seals Ontario is committed to helping children, youth and young adults with
physical disabilities and their families. Through the generous support of our donors
and volunteers, Easter Seals provides quality services and programs and acts as
an effective voice for their needs and interests.
Vision
Easter Seals Ontario will enable all children, youth and young adults with physical
disabilities to reach their full potential, make the absolute most of their abilities and
live their lives to the fullest.
Who We Serve
We empower children and youth in Ontario with long term physical disabilities. But that’s a bit inaccurate. While Easter Seals children require different types of support, they all share the human desire to carve their place in the world. They’re ambitious, independent, and resourceful. We just give them the tools to be themselves. So, while it can be said that we empower children and youth with disabilities, in reality, they empower themselves.
How Your Support Helps
The support you give can alter the course of a life. Whether it’s through raising funds or volunteering your time, your contribution is helping to make space for brilliant minds in seminar rooms, fostering confidence and community, and levelling the playing field for people who don’t belong on the sidelines. Most importantly, you are opening new possibilities for very deserving kids and youth.