Our Supporters

The Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund is dedicated to improve access to mental health care for people living with mental illness.  Thanks to Bell’s kind support, we now have an on-site clinic that provides youth with access to clinicians, and provides coordination, follow-up and outreach in schools. 

The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation are philanthropic leaders through their strategic and generous community investments. We are truly grateful for their commitment to St. Stephen's Youth Arcade for over ten years. Over 15,000 youth have benefitted from their partnership.

The Echo Foundation supports organizations that improve the environment and the quality of life for people suffering from mental health issues. Their generous contribution to our harm reduction, mental health case management and supportive housing services helps our participants live their lives with dignity.

Help For Children/Hedge Funds Care supports organizations worldwide that provide effective and efficient child abuse prevention and treatment. Their generosity helps maintain our on-site walk-in clinic, treating youth who suffer from trauma. 

Passionate about community involvement, Investors Group is proud to support our Housing and Homeless program. In 2017, four Investors Group employees from joined our team of staff and Board Membes in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

Thank you Investors Group!

The Kensington Foundation’s generosity toward our drop-in’s Corner Community Health Clinic enables positive health outcomes for people who are homeless and marginally-housed. By supporting the Clinic, the Kensington Foundation continues to support innovative projects that improve health care in Toronto. 

Thank you Kensington Foundation!

An agency of the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Foundation supports more than 1,000 projects every year to build healthy and vibrant Ontario communities. The Foundation’s generous grant for our Cyber Self-Defence project helps us build an online resource to help young women prevent cyber violence and exploitation.

The P. and L. Odette Charitable Foundation generously supports our Housing and Homeless Services. We are truly grateful to the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to alleviate the suffering of Toronto’s most vulnerable citizens.

The President's Choice Children's Charity helps charities that are committed to the health and wellness of young Canadians. Their generosity helps fund our lunch and after-school snack program, helping to ensure that youth reach their full potential in life through proper nutrition.

Thank you President's Choice!

The Rotary Club of Toronto Charitable Foundation supports initiatives that focus on social development, life enrichment and community programming. This year, the Rotary Club of Toronto generously supported our free year-round transportation service to and from our Adult Day Program for isolated frail seniors. 

Through Shoppers LOVE. YOU, the Shoppers Drug Mart Life Foundation promotes women’s health by supporting organizations and intiatives across Canada. The Foundation’s generosity helps fund our perinatal program for newcomer women. The kindness of the Foundation enables pregnant women to learn about proper health and nutrition for themselves and their babies, caring for newborns, giving birth and finding medical professionals during and after pregnancy.

Thank you Shoppers Drug Mart for helping mothers-to-be to give their children a head start.

The Sprott Foundation helps our Corner Drop-in meet the urgent needs of the people in our community who are experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. Their generosity also enables our Housing & Homeless Service to focus resources on projects that promote long term solutions for individuals in need.

The Telus Greater Toronto Community Board supports innovative projects that focus on at-risk youth and address unique issues in the city. By supporting programs for underserved youth, Telus provides tools to help youth succeed and ensure a bright future. We are grateful to Telus for their contribution to our +Vibes music program for youth and support of our initiative to help educate young women about the dangers of cyberbullying, cyberstalking and internet luring.

The Tippet Foundation is a dedicated supporter of our Youth Services. The Foundation's generosity helps sustain our innovative youth-driven initiatives. Together, we help at-risk youth overcome a variety of socio-economic challenges.

The United Way Greater Toronto is a long-time supporter. Their generosity and desire to build strong communities helps move people from poverty to possibility. With their support, we improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the city: at-risk youth, frail seniors, isolated newcomers and people who are homeless and marginally-housed.

We are proud to be a United Way Greater Toronto Anchor Agency!

“In 1994, I arrived in Canada from Burundi. Like most newcomers, the first thing I desperately wanted was a job. The challenges were many, and the unemployment rate at the time was above 10%. I attended St. Stephen’s Employment Training Program, then headed by Randy Heasman, and I landed my first job immediately after completing the program. This eventually led to my career as a mediator with a provincial administrative tribunal. 

I remember that I was not alone in my fight to land a job, that St. Stephen’s staff were in my corner, offering encouragement and support. They were knowledgeable, caring and very much invested in our success. 

I know that what St. Stephen’s did for me, they continue to do for so many others. I now give back as a Board Member and monthly donor and will continue to do so. Today more than ever, there are so many people who need the kind of support that I received.”

Rosemary Chan knows full well about the life-changing services we provide for people in the city: she sat on our Board of Directors from 2003 to 2010.

“St. Stephen’s has a very rich history of social service in the Kensington Market community. It was challenging back when I was on the Board, looking for funding, balancing the needs of a changing neighbourhood while providing vital services.

Today I am still committed to investing in services for youth. That’s why I give as a monthly donor. There is a tremendous need to alleviate the social and economic problems faced by vulnerable youth. St. Stephen’s plays an important role creating opportunities for the young people it serves. It advances social and economic justice and seeks a better quality of life for everyone.

It is a privilege to be a part of St. Stephen’s - I am tremendously proud of the organization’s achievements and am inspired by the stories of the people at St. Stephen’s. I always look forward to hear about the different ways in which St. Stephen’s successfully helps people in need.”

Since 2000, José Dores has been a staunch supporter of St. Stephen’s.

It wasn’t that we help more than 25,000 people each year, or offer programs that serve all age groups - children, youth, adults and seniors. It was that our services help people right on his doorstep.

“With all the merit that bigger charities like World Vision and Unicef have, I can see my contribution at work with my own eyes.”

The support that contribution brings is magnified by being a monthly Opportunity Fund donor. “It enables me to manage my monthly budget. And it’s helpful for St. Stephen’s to manage theirs by counting on a regular flow of funds throughout the year.”

“I used to live in the Kensington area so that’s how I first became aware of the organization.  My first real encounter with St. Stephen’s was 15 years ago when we enrolled our son at the King Edward Child Care Centre. We looked at many daycares and were impressed by St. Stephen’s and the overall offering.

A few years later, a friend of mine became aware that St. Stephen’s was looking for board members. Because of the positive experience I already had as a client, I was interested in the opportunity to contribute to the organization. My parents were always very charitable, so I think the notion of giving back as a means to do good was ingrained in me.

What I really love about St. Stephen’s is how entrepreneurial it is. As an entrepreneur myself, I think that their can-do attitude and willingness to try new things, keeps me engaged as a donor. As well, from being on the Board for eight years, I also know how important individual donations are in providing funds to augment the mostly program directed funds the agency receives. Organizations like St. Stephen’s play an invaluable role in helping to make Toronto a great place to live.”

Charles has more than 35 years of experience as a corporate communications executive across Canada. He has served as a volunteer and board member with various non-profit organizations, including the Canadian Diabetes Association in Calgary and Big Brothers in Vancouver. Today, Charles works as an actor and writer, and is the Chairman of the Baker Health Care Foundation, a Toronto senior’s residence.

Passionate about investing in the future of our city’s youth, Charles served on our Board of Directors from 2007 to 2015, most recently as our Board President, and continues to give generously as a monthly donor to our youth services program.

Ambassador for Change

Amana Manori inspires others to help our city’s most vulnerable people

As a donor and Board volunteer, Amana Manori fights for the causes that are dear to her heart.

In the past two years, Amana has raised over $10,000 by encouraging her friends and colleagues to help newcomer women and children adapt to life in Canada, and young women who suffer from the trauma of cyber violence. This year, Amana is raising money to help young people in our programs, a staggering 92% of whom have experienced some form of violence in their lives.

Thanks to donors like Amana, our services help at-risk youth avoid violent situations, and deal with the consequences when tragedy strikes. The generosity of Amana and others like her give vulnerable youth safe community spaces where they can access mental health services, learn conflict resolution skills, and gain positive peer networks and mentors.

Thank you to all our donor champions who inspire others to help the people we serve.

For Mark Smye, the opportunity to support people in need is apparent. “My wife Michelle and I have been very fortunate in our lives. We decided to give back to our communities, both as board members and donors.”

At St. Stephen’s, Mark has been on our Board of Directors since 2009. In addition to chairing the Fundraising and Marketing Committee, he has been a donor since 1998. “I was introduced to St. Stephen’s by my good friend, Liane Regendanz. The house is such a trail-blazer in the non-profit sector and I was impressed by the extensive reach of programs for the community it serves.

In addition to St. Stephen’s, Mark also supports the Heart & Stroke Foundation and Big Brothers and Sisters. An avid cyclist, Mark participates in Princess Margaret Hospital’s The Ride to Conquer Cancer.