While the last year brought with it many challenges, 2021 is illuminating all that we have to be grateful for.

CDI continues to provide frontline counselling to children and youth, parenting support and innovative virtual programming as an essential service provider through the COVID-19 pandemic. We could not have accomplished this without the enormous efforts of so many—including each and every one of you.

Thank you for your continuous patronage and commitment to transforming the lives of children, youth and their families.

No one could have imagined the shockwave of COVID-19 felt by children and families already at their thresholds—a massive challenge that has emboldened CDI staff to rise up, adapt, and help families through it all.  

The fearlessness of CDI staff and ability to respond quickly and courageously to unprecedented change exemplifies an ongoing commitment to helping children, youth and families now facing increasing mental health issues. And for that, we are grateful.

CDI is proud to announce EY Canada as its 2020 Corporate Partner Award recipient, through the support it has provided through its EY Ripples program. EY Ripples is EY’s global corporate responsibility program, which aims to impact the lives of 1 billion people by 2030 by using the skills and knowledge of EY people to create ripples of social change. EY Canada Consulting Partner and Executive Sponsor for EY Ripples, Damian Eleftheriou, has especially played an instrumental role in supporting the development of the SNAP Implementation Tool (SNAPiT database), our live outcome data reporting for government and fidelity monitoring tool that will have the largest depository of implementation and mental health impact data on children.

“The EY Ripples volunteers, including Damian Eleftheriou, are true champions of children’s mental health,” said Margaret Walsh, Senior Manager, SNAP Research, Evaluation & Data Systems. “Their support of the SNAPiT data system has been absolutely invaluable in our efforts to bring the SNAP program across Canada to help even more children and families in critical need of mental health services. Damian’s determination and invaluable knowledge sharing has made such a huge social impact. He and the EY Ripples team continue to go above and beyond to truly make a sustainable, inclusive difference in children’s mental health,” added Walsh. 

Thank you, EY Canada, for your unwavering commitment through EY Ripples!

As we reflect on the resilient efforts of so many, and all that we’ve accomplished together, we are overwhelmed with gratitude as we recognize the support of Toronto-based real estate company Devron Developments. At the start of the pandemic, President Pouyan Safapour and his team felt compelled to support the spirits of Canadian children and youth in a meaningful way. This gave way to the inaugural A Big Picture charity art contest, which encourages young artists to submit their artwork for a chance to support their charity of choice with a substantial donation. Eileen Fisher, 12, took home the top prize in the Canada-wide art contest, donating her charity win to CDI and becoming our youngest new donor! Eileen’s donation, along with the third-place winner, went toward providing urgent mental health services for 350 children and families in response to COVID-19.

Devron Developments continues to pledge its support to children, youth and families struggling with mental health issues. The company recently began the Devron Holiday Fund to raise additional funds for CDI through its vendors in lieu of holiday gifts.

What an inspiring way to support children’s mental health!

The “Santa Claus” to CDI children and families, RBC employees have been supporting CDI through the annual RBC Assist-a-Family Program, delivering gifts of toys, books, warm clothes and activities to families for the past 11 years. This year, RBC employees quickly adapted to manoeuvre the challenges of social distancing by bringing our families what they needed in gift cards for the holiday season. We are grateful to RBC employees for raising $34,800—and counting—this year to support a total of 70 families in need with gift cards to Walmart, President’s Choice, Food Basics, Joe Fresh, Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall.

“Helping families who need it the most in the community changes lives and makes a positive impact,” says the lead of the RBC Assist-a-Family Program, Serena Orlow, Manager of Communications and Infrastructure Management at RBC. “People in the community continue to need help and support. That is why it was so important to us to continue this program."

Niki Snjaric and Meaghan Hadwyn are dedicated to supporting children’s mental health programs. As the proud founders of local publishing company Other Life Lessons, they produce books and virtual materials for children and caregivers that help families have honest discussions about challenging emotional topics such as resilience, postpartum depression and grief.  With every book sold online and at special events, a portion of proceeds is donated back to CDI. Every day, Niki and Meaghan make a choice to support CDI in a truly meaningful way—leading the charge of our CDI Ambassadors.
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