From the desk of the Executive Director
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WINTER 2013
I am overwhelmed and profoundly grateful for the outpouring of support we received this past Christmas. At 1Up, we are learning to ask for help. It isn’t our easiest job! We are excellent at providing support, but not so practiced or comfortable, I think, in requesting it. We learn much from the parents who reach out to us for help to improve their lives. They teach us about courage. And you teach us also. You teach us about human kindness and responsibility to others, and you reinforce our faith that together we can create positive change in our community and a brighter future for children.
This is the impact of your support:
- 86 single parent families in need received Christmas hampers stuffed full of gift cards for groceries, toys for the little kids, gift cards for the teens, and a gift for mom or dad. 23 of these were emergency hampers for families in crisis. I wish that you could have seen the relief on the parents’ faces when they received their hampers.
- 19 isolated single moms and 39 children in our Moms and Mentors Program enjoyed a hot turkey lunch, fun making Christmas crafts and singing carols, and a special visit from Santa, complete with a gift for each child. And we raised $20,000 to address our budget shortfall in this important program!
1,600 single parents have the hope of a better future through your support – through free counselling and life skills and parenting programs that inform, inspire and empower!
Thank you to the many, many individuals, groups and businesses who stepped forward in response to this year’s Christmas appeal. Thank you also to our wonderful volunteers for giving of your hearts and time over and over again. I am humbled by your generosity, and proud and grateful to be a member of this community.
FALL 2012
I am grateful to report that 1Up’s School Supplies Campaign was able to supply every child in need with brand-new backpacks full of required school supplies! We reached our goal of $11,000 which enabled us to provide for 228 students. This is 71 more students than last year and we didn’t have to skimp or turn anyone away.
Along with individual donors and employee groups providing cash and school supplies, STAPLES lived up to their slogan, “That was easy” by inviting their customers to donate in return for a tax receipt. The three STAPLES locations collected a total of $7,426 with the media support of Jack FM, 98.5 Ocean, Almost Free Magazine and Indigo Graphics. A further $4,425 in donations was received in response to our newsletter story and mail appeal.
Most of the donations were used to purchase school supplies for this year but $2,200 was collected after school started. These funds were used to purchase 144 good quality backpacks and 12 zippered binders in preparation for next year. For the first time, single parent families will be able to collect their school supplies in July, alleviating the stress caused by waiting until the end of August.
This year, we also invited employee groups to pick a gender and grade and provide a fully packed backpack. This eliminated the need for 1Up staff and volunteers to spend our resources doing the packing and I think it was even more meaningful for the donors. We received 30 filled backpacks!
On behalf of the children that have benefited and the families that we have supported, the 1Up Team would like to say “Thank you” for supporting the School Supplies Campaign. 
Kaiko, 11, receives a backpack full of school supplies from 1Up’s Admin. Coordinator, Trevor, while Alisa, Kaiko’s mom looks on.
The Vancouver Island Baby Fair:
We were the partner charity selected to be the beneficiary of the 2011 Vancouver Island Baby Fair. Special thanks to Shirley Broback, the producer of the V.I.Baby Fair and to Vivian Kereki Photography for donating their expertise and time to host the Photo Contest, with all of the money raised donated to the Centre. Many thanks to everyone involved! We sure had a lot of fun...
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AUGUST 2011
Andrew Moyer and Monica Pozollo of Ottavio Italian Bakery & Delicatessen hosted an intimate Italian Family Dinner for 20 lucky guests. With Ottavio chef & General Manager, Derek Laframboise cooking alongside his friend Peter Zambri, from Zambri's Restaurant, they prepared an amazing six-course, family style dinner as a fundraiser for the Centre. The Ottavio Family Dinner raised $1,800 for 1Up. Thank you to everyone involved!
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