36th Annual Mayors’ Challenge
Surpassed last year’s record by over $12K!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 15, 2019
Community Living Belleville and Area exceeded its fundraising goal – AGAIN – and this time by an additional $12,393.08! The 2019 Mayors’ Challenge Charity Golf Tournament raised $32,127.06!
The success of this fundraiser reflects on the success of the entire community: coming together for inclusion, belonging, respect, and independence. This year, for the first time ever, every available sponsorship package was funded. The tournament sold out despite the forecasted rain, and a wait list was formed. Volunteers were plentiful. Many people supported shared part in the day.
CLBA is so thankful for all of its long-time supporters, as well as many new sponsor additions, which made the 2019 tournament such an incredible success. For the first time ever, the Mayors’ Challenge secured a Presenting Sponsor – Meta Employment Services – and was able to secure two Title Sponsors – Boyer Auto Group & Elexicon Energy. Other major sponsors included Lunch Sponsor: Enbridge; Dinner Sponsors: Peter Smith Chevrolet Cadillac Ltd., Wilkinson & Company LLP, & Marc’s No Frills; and Raffle Sponsors: Dave Deyman, & Canadian Tire Belleville.
Despite the rain, the sold-out tournament was a huge success. The end result was a three-way tie among the mayors/warden’s teams but in the end Mayor Mitch Panciuk and The City of Belleville walked away with the Mayors’ Challenge trophy.
Also new this year: Presenting Sponsor Meta Employment Services formally acknowledged the success of someone with intellectual disabilities who overcame barriers to secure successful employment.
“Our partnership with Community Living Belleville and Area is an extremely valuable resource for those living with an intellectual disability; as together, we are able to provide wraparound supports for the person, rather than just siloed support,” Sandra Leslie, Meta Employment Services’ Executive Director said during the presentation.
“Together, both agencies envision a community that supports competitive and diverse employment for all people; a community where everyone belongs, and all people are valued and respected as participating and contributing members,” Leslie added.
The more than $32,000 raised at the 2019 Mayors’ Challenge will go a long way toward the purchase of a replacement vehicle to provide better access and opportunity to those receiving supports through CLBA. This vehicle replaces a 14-year-old conversion van that had over 378,000 kms on it and was recently taken off the road due to transmission issues. CLBA owns five more vehicles over a decade old, which provide transportation for people supported, and will need to be replaced in the near future.
“Though CLBA is funded through the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, the agency does not receive funding to meet the transportation needs of the more than 150 children, youth and adults who receive supports through CLBA,” said Christine Semark, CLBA Executive Director. “One accessible van costs $80,000. CLBA relies entirely on fundraising and grant writing to fill these needs.”
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EMPLOYMENT READY THROUGH PROVINCIAL DOLLARS
Ontario Trillium Fund provides employment opportunities locally for those with intellectual disabilities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
BELLEVILLE, ON: JANUARY 2019 – Community Living Belleville and Area is celebrating the completion of a three-year employment enhancement course that improved skills and preparedness for the workplace.
Over 60 people received a ‘Job Readiness – Grow Grant’ certificate, which led people to employment, volunteer and post-secondary opportunities. These opportunities were possible through a three-year Ontario Trillium Fund Grow Grant – Transitioning to Competitive Employment. This grant built on the success of Community Living Belleville and Area’s Job Readiness services.
“These sessions trained people on job readiness, skill-building in a workplace, and employment planning,” said Sharon Wright, Manager of Community Development and Volunteer Services at CLBA.
“The purpose of the grant was to provide people with intellectual disabilities increased economic stability by preparing each person for the workplace. The goal was to provide each participant with meaningful and competitive employment opportunities,” said Christine Semark, CLBA Executive Director.
The three-year term officially wraps up at the end of January; however, CLBA hosted an end-of-term celebration and information session on December 12, 2018, to all those who completed the course.
“The focus of the day was to prepare people with contact information for local services available that could assist a person in their future career path,” said Wright. “We invited local services that would not only offer employment supports but would assist in academic learning, physical wellbeing and mental wellbeing.”
The event was a full day of networking and learning from, and with, local service providers. Participating agencies were: Counselling Services of Belleville and District, Agilec and Canadian Mental Health, META Employment Services, Community Learning Alternatives, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, and Loyalist College Community Employment Services.
“The day was successful with positive feedback from participants and service providers,” Wright said.
When CLBA first received the grant money in 2016, a full time Employment Facilitator was hired to take the lead on the CLBA Transitioning to Competitive Employment courses. Over three years, 63 people completed the course, which led them to employment, higher education, and volunteer opportunities.
“At the end of the course, 22 people secured employment opportunities they would not have otherwise attained,” said Adam Penney, Employment Facilitator for CLBA during the three-year OTF grant. “Others chose a different path, such as academic upgrading and volunteer opportunities.”
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NEW ACCESSIBLE VAN PURCHASED
Community Living Belleville and Area secures two grants for the purpose of providing accessible transportation to people supported
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BELLEVILLE, ON: September 28, 2018 – Community Living Belleville and Area is celebrating the purchase of a brand new accessible vehicle, which was delivered this week! It will provide accessible transportation to those supported through CLBA.
CLBA received two grants, which made the purchase of this van, as well as another non-accessible van, possible. Based on shared funding, Community Living Belleville and Area's Foundation provided one third of the cost to purchase the two vans, and the John M. Bernice Parrott Foundation Inc. provided two-thirds funding with a grant for $75,000.
A grant for one-third funding, provided by the CLBA Foundation, was largely possible thanks to the generous support of community donors and sponsors in the 35th Annual Mayors' Golf Tournament. This year's tournament broke CLBA's fundraising records in raising nearly $22,000!
The new accessible van CLBA purchased is a 2018 Dodge Ram Promaster. The van provides great flexibility with an auto floor track (smart floor) system, which allows moving wheelchair restraint systems and ambulatory seating in a number of different ways in order to best accommodate people's needs. The van includes five wheelchair securement devices plus up to six ambulatory seating options.
The non-accessible Dodge Grant Caravan has not yet been delivered to CLBA but was also purchased with these funds.
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@CLBelleville on Twitter
Another home celebrates a new van! These men can now be driven to enjoy leisure, work & volunteer in the community. Thanks John M. & Bernice Parrott Fund & CLBA Fund for the $. Thanks for supporting the 35th Mayors' Challenge, which funded much of the $ provided by the CLBA Fund! #CLBAInspiringPosibilities
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LAUNCHING COMMUNITY LIVING MONTH
Celebration & Banner Reveal at Bridge Street Bridge (Lower)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BELLEVILLE, ON: May 1, 2018 – City of Belleville Mayor Taso Christopher has declared May Community Living Month. In celebration, the Community Living Belleville and Area banner will be displayed over the Bridge Street (Lower) Bridge for the month of May. We invite you to join us on the bridge for an unveiling of the banner on May 1 at 11 a.m.
“Community Living Month is a very important month in the City of Belleville,” says City of Belleville Mayor Taso Christopher. “It’s a month that celebrates the hard work of staff and volunteers who support people with intellectual disabilities to live a full, valued and rewarding life. Organization such as Community Living Belleville and Area make our community the wonderful place that it is.”
Mayor Taso Christopher officially declares May Community Living month at a City of Belleville council meeting on Monday, April 23, at 4 p.m.
Mayor of the Month Councillor Jack Miller will be attending the banner unveiling on the Bridge Street Lower Bridge, May 1, at 11 a.m., where he will bring greetings and remarks on behalf of the City of Belleville. Community Living Belleville and Area Executive Director Christine Semark will follow with remarks from the agency.
“Community Living Belleville and Area has provided person-centred support to adults, youth and children with intellectual disabilities in the Belleville area for over 65 years now,” said Executive Director Christine Semark. “We’re pleased to have the ongoing support of the City of Belleville with all of the agency’s endeavors.”
Following the remarks Christine Semark will invite those in attendance to join Community Living Belleville and Area staff and supported individuals for light refreshments back at the administration office for CLBA, located at 91 Millennium Parkway.
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OUR MISSION: Community Living Belleville and Area exists to provide quality supports to people with intellectual disabilities and to facilitate their full inclusion in community life. Community Living Belleville and Area is also mandated to educate the larger community and to advocate wherever necessary on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
OUR VISION: Community Living Belleville and Area envisions a community where everyone belongs and all people are valued and respected as participating and contributing members.
ABOUT Community Living Belleville and Area: Community Living Belleville and Area envisions a community where everyone belongs and all people are valued and respected as participating and contributing members. The agency exists to provide quality supports to people with intellectual disabilities and to facilitate their full inclusion in community life. Community Living Belleville and Area is also mandated to educate the community and to advocate wherever necessary on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
Established in 1951, Community Living Belleville and Area is an accredited non-profit organization that provides a range of services and supports to people with intellectual disabilities. Guided by our corporate Mission and Vision, we are committed to promoting each person’s individual empowerment and success by guiding each of them with autonomy over his or her own life. CLBA enables people to participate in the life of the community, lead active and productive lives, and discover, celebrate and further develop capacities that lie within them.
For more information, find us on Twitter and Facebook.
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Media Contacts:
Darlene Dale
CLBA Executive Director
613-969-7407 ext. 26 ddale@clbelleville.ca
