Over 40 families joined us at the Family Resource Centre to participate in Jewish Family & Child's first ever StoryWalk event. Families were guided through the Promenade Mall on a scavenger hunt to find pages of the popular children's book, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. The sold out event encouraged adults to read the story together as a group while the children joined in on all of the fun! The event helped build children’s interest in reading and promoted teamwork with their peers.

This was the first ever indoor StoryWalk event to take place in a mall, led by Early Literacy Specialist Jill Javelosa-Alvarez. Thank you to everyone who participated!

OCTOBER IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

Child Abuse Prevention Month is observed annually across Canada in October. On October 11, JF&CS joined Native Child & Family Services, Catholic Children's Aid Society and Children's Aid Society of Toronto for a Child Abuse Prevention Month Press Conference. The event was designed to raise awareness about the signs of abuse and neglect and what to do if abuse or neglect is suspected. Brian Prousky, Executive Director of JF&CS, shared some remarks at the event and introduced a former youth in care who spoke about his experience living with abuse, how he transitioned into the care and custody, and how this transition transformed his life for the better. Jewish Family & Child is committed to keeping children and youth in our community safe from harm. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Child Abuse Prevention Month Purple Ribbon campaign in Ontario. At our last staff meeting, we all showed our support for the campaign by wearing purple.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting is like every other meeting, if every other meeting had client storytelling, staff awards, inspirational speeches, tears, and lots of heart. On September 26 our community (donors, clients and staff) came out to support our Board of Directors as they held their final meeting of the 2016-2017 year.

Merle Rosenhek, the outgoing Board President, spoke passionately about her term as Board President, reflecting on the challenges and accomplishments from the past two years. She then passed the gavel to incoming Board President Steve Stein.

Guests were fortunate to also hear from two inspiring women, Felicia, a client of the Agency, and Lia Grimanis, the keynote speaker from Up with Women. They shared stories of hardship, resilience and overcoming some of life’s hardest obstacles.

Executive Director, Brian Prousky, spoke about JF&CS’s upcoming 150th Anniversary and the celebrations being planned to acknowledge this milestone. Interested in learning more? Check out the virtual timeline highlighting over 20 important milestones from the past 150 years: https://www.jfandcs.com/timeline

Photo: Brian Prousky, JF&CS Executive Director, and keynote speaker Lia Grimanis, Up with Women.

JF&CS will be climbing the steps of the CN Tower on Sunday November 5th to raise funds for the United Way Toronto and York Region.  We are a proud member agency of UWTYR; therefore, the climb is challenging but extremely meaningful!

If you’re interested in climbing with our team, we'd love to have you! Please click here and choose JOIN TEAM

If stairs just aren't your thing, please click here and choose GIVE NOW to sponsor anyone on our team.

Thanks in advance to all who climb/donate!