Funds raised for the Emergent Women and Children's Fund through this event:
CommUNITY for Women Breakfast
Wings of Change: Empowering Women to Flourish and Fly
Time: 7:30am - 10:00am
Location: Queensbury Convention Centre
Date: Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Tickets: $2,000 for table tickets, $275 for individual tickets*
*Individual tickets also come with a $215 tax receipt
The Butterfly Effect teaches us that even the smallest of actions can have the most far-reaching and impactful effects. Themed behind this very phenomenon, the second annual CommUNITY for Women Breakfast will celebrate the women who have continued to inspire change and spark these transformations, and hear from the women whose lives have forever been changed. In honouring the strength, resilience, and unity of women in our community—we spread our wings and continue to uplift, empower, and inspire each other.
During this elegant breakfast, you will be immersed within a room of wonderful charities, determined change-makers, and dedicated philanthropists who have all used their time, talents, treasures, and ties to empower women in our local communities — helping them to spread their wings and potential. In hearing uplifting and inspiring stories from those who have blossomed from the support of last year’s fundraising efforts, we hope to encourage every attendee to play a part in the cycle of community transformation.
All proceeds from this event will go towards the Emergent Women and Children’s Fund to directly support those facing housing, food, mental health, and economic challenges. Your support empowers women to flourish and fly.
Stories of Support
By using this fund she was able to use it for costs associated with moving (rent, initial deposit, rental arrears that was preventing her from finding new housing, utilities setup/arrears, moving and transportation). She also used it to purchase necessary furniture as well as kids clothing and school supplies.
The impact of having access to these funds has allowed her to find a safe, secure home for herself and her children; she's able to have a fresh start.
By using this fund she was able to use it for costs associated with rent and a utilities deposit.
The impact of having access to these funds has allowed her to leave a violent situation and to continue living in safety.
By using this fund she was able to use it for costs associated with rent, furniture, and a utilities deposit.
The impact of having access to these funds has allowed her avoid eviction and pay off their utilities so they can be turned back on.
By using this fund she was able to use it for costs associated with rental arrears.
The impact of having access to these funds has allowed her to have hope of graduating from university in the future as the funding has enabled her and her children to live in safety away from her abuser.
By using this fund she was able to use it for settling her utilities arrears.
The impact of having access to these funds has allowed her to leave an abusive relationship and find safe, stable housing for herself and her son after leaving the shelter.
By using this fund she was able to use it for rent as well as the rent deposit.
The impact of having access to these funds has had a positive effect on the family. She has appreciated being able to safely stay in a shelter with her children, but is excited to live in her own home again with her children where they can feel safe.
Joanne's Testimony: You have helped me big time, if I didn’t find you as a support I don’t know where I would be. Without your support I don’t know if I would have been able to maintain my sobriety while I was leaving and fleeing from my husband. You have helped me stay positive and helped me believe that anything is possible for me – helped me believe that I could have the life I wanted and dreamed of. My experience working with you has been so good, I can say that it has been a positive experience and because of that the outcomes have been positive. Even if I was having a rough time you were always on that path with me, helping me get through it. Even just coming into the office and seeing the girls' faces (Outreach Team) turned my days around. My highlight working with you has been just meeting you and seeing how much compassion you have for the job and people you work with, including myself.
Aleksandra’s Testimony: How my work has helped Aleksandra: “It is hard to put it in the right words, but if I did not have you I wouldn’t know what to do. You are someone that I can always turn to when I am going through the tough stuff. Sometimes I know you do stuff for me that maybe you don’t need to do, but I am always grateful that you show up for me to help me with things. You have helped me find different resources that I didn’t know about to aid in my situation. I have found working with you a great experience, you are always doing your best for me and give 110%. My favourite part about our working relationship is the trust I have developed with you. I can trust you 100%.”
The YWCA Outreach program is an asset to our community and a program that provides women with the support they need during the most traumatic moments of their lives. Thousands of women and girls depend on this program. Women like me.
The best “gift” I ever received as a single mother, overcoming the impact of IPV and trying to rebuild a safe home for my children, was a used washer and dryer and someone to safely install it for me. I cried with joy and relief for hours.
That washer and dryer saved me at least $40 a week on laundry costs (cab fare 2 ways plus quarters for the machines). When one of my children insisted on wearing the same outfit daily (a phase they outgrew thankfully) I was able to wash it each night and prevent a meltdown each day. When the children were sick or had an accident, I could wash the bedding immediately and avoid having the soiled bedding in a bag or basket until the next trip to the laundromat.
It made my life so much easier. It made me feel supported. I still give thanks each day as I hug my machines with gratitude.
I won’t go into detail, but I needed a great deal of support after my abusive partner was removed from the home. We (the children and I) basically had to start from scratch. I had one in diapers and one preschooler at the time.
The thing I appreciated the most when I received it was gift cards. I could buy the things my preschooler preferred to eat. I could chose the formula and diapers that worked for my infant. I could purchase cake mixes and even small gifts to celebrate a child’s birthday. Grocery store gift cards, Dollarama gift cards, Walmart gift cards were my favourite. I sometimes got gift cards for places that I knew kind hearted folks meant for me to treat myself, however, it was the ones that improved the situation for my children that I appreciated the most.
We had one closet where we stored toys, toiletries and self care baskets that were donated. While in session I had several women who were extremely heartbroken that it was their kid’s birthday (or the child had been invited to a birthday party) and their budget just would not support purchasing a gift. Many tears were shed. The mom’s felt like a failure. Taking the woman to that closet to pick out a gift (and load her up on shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, etc.) was the highlight of my day.
While the moms attended group, this agency provided childcare for the children. When it was a mom’s birthday, or Mother’s Day was approaching, the childcare worker would take the kids to the closet to pick out a gift. The beaming smiles and pride the children felt to be able to give their mom a gift was one of the most heartwarming things I ever witnessed.
It doesn’t take a lot to make a huge difference in these families' lives. I was so grateful to our donors for allowing me the opportunity to assist.
How a Donation Impacts Women & Families
$100
She pays for:
Diapers and wipes for one month...What it means:
Her children’s essential needs are cared for.
How it reduces homelessness:
She has more flexibility to cover essentials like food and rent costs.
$100
She pays for:
A monthly bus pass...
What it means:
She can make it to her job uninterrupted.
How it reduces homelessness:
She can stay employed and make the income needed to pay rent and avoid homelessness.
$100
She pays for:
A cell phone bill...
What it means:
She won’t lose communication needs and will reduce risk of losing her job.
How it reduces homelessness:
She won’t lose her job and can generate income to stay housed.
$200
She pays for:
A power bill...
What it means:
Her home’s power won’t get disconnected.
How it reduces homelessness:
She can continue to live at home and have access to safe shelter.
$200
She pays for:
Licensed daycare for one month...
What it means:
She has a safe place for her child to stay while she is at work.
How it reduces homelessness:
She can continue to work without interruption and gain income to stay housed.
$200
She pays for:
Job search assistance...
What it means:
She uses the funds to print resumes, get to job interviews, or for work attire.
How it reduces homelessness:
She can gain employment needed to pay for essentials, including food and rent.
$500
She pays for:
One month of groceries...
What it means:
Her family will not go hungry. Her children can eat nourishing food.
How it reduces homelessness:
She has more flexibility to cover essentials like food and rent costs.
$500
She pays for:
Counselling and support fees...
What it means:
She can access psychological mental health support.
How it reduces homelessness:
She will have the tools needed to cope with difficult situations and will have more stability to stay employed.
$500
She pays for:
A down payment for a rental property...
What it means:
She is able to seek safe shelter for her and her family.
How it reduces homelessness:
She can live in a safe environment, resulting in more access and capacity to be productive at work and maintain employment.
$1000
She pays for:
Legal assistance...
What it means:
She can access a lawyer and help keep her and her children safe.
How it reduces homelessness:
She can safely escape domestic violence and have capacity to pay for her own rent.
$1000
She pays for:
Rent assistance...
What it means:
She can cover monthly rent and avoid eviction.
How it reduces homelessness:
She can pay rent while also trying to pay for other essential needs (lawyers, food, transportation, etc.)
$1000
She pays for:
Rent arrears...
What it means:
She is homeless and ready to be housed, but needs arrears paid off to gain shelter again.
How it reduces homelessness:
She is no longer homeless and in a more stable financial position to stay housed.