MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

As we reflect on 2021, including a Covid holiday season we did not think we would be repeating, we find the resolve to move forward with a renewed sense of purpose, resiliency, and determination. At the George Hull Centre, we remain committed to the mental health needs of children and their families as they navigate the pandemic and all the challenges it brings to their lives.

Staff have been working diligently on the priorities of our 3-year strategic plan. Our first year has wrapped up, and we look forward to sharing with you the progress made on our four strategic priorities:

Lower barriers to care
One client, one centre
Become a leading voice
Diversity that reflects our community

We continue to be bold, responsive, and trauma-informed in the care of our clients as we strive to help thousands of children, youth, and families with their most critical needs. As we head into 2022, we wish you and your family much happiness and health!

Kind regards,

Susan Chamberlain, MSW, RSW

Executive Director

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

George Hull Centre’s Early Abilities Speech and Language

Program Wins Platinum for Speech Therapy Services!

We are very proud to announce that George Hull's Early Abilities Speech and Language program is the Platinum Award winner for Speech Therapy Services in the Toronto Star Readers’ Choice Awards. Every year, the Toronto Star hosts an online nomination site for people to vote on their favourite businesses and/or professionals in their community. In the words of the TorStar representative, we “received a ton of votes”! Read More

Chetan's Annual Campaign

A Tremendous Success!

In 2016, Chetan Baweja joined We Are George, the Centre’s Young Professionals group, and quickly showed his talent and commitment as Chair of their Sponsorship Committee. Inspired by his dedication to the work and his passion for children’s mental health, Chetan was invited to become more deeply involved with George Hull as a Board Director.

Recognizing the immense need for support and encouraged by his fundraising success with We Are George, Chetan decided to launch an annual fundraising campaign amongst his peers in commercial real estate, and so was born what we affectionately refer to as “Chetan’s Annual Campaign”!

Building on the success of his 2020 campaign, Chetan set an ambitious goal of $60,000 for 2021. With the help of his BentalGreenOak colleagues Michael Fraidakis and Brad Caco, the pace never let up, with $10,000 donations from Centrecorp, Sun Life Financial, Cushman & Wakefield and Lucas Atkins (Colliers) paving the way! By the time Chetan was done, 47 firms and individuals had donated a total of $113,000 to the George Hull Centre! See all the donors.

Chetan, you are amazing! Our heartfelt thanks to you, Mike, Brad, and everyone who donated to the campaign. The past two years have been extremely difficult for many children and families. Your gifts will help support the critical programs and services that are so integral to helping those who need it most!

STAFF PROFILE - Maggie Clapperton, MSW

We would like to introduce Maggie Clapperton, one of our newest social workers who joined recently GHC on a full-time basis. We spoke with Maggie about her life and what brought her to GHC.

Maggie grew up in a small town north of Toronto where she was an avid gymnast. When she headed off to the University of Toronto to complete a degree in English, Maggie continued her passion for the sport as a coach of the Junior Blues team. Read more

EXTRAORDINARY CARING

We are humbled by the generosity of all our donors who supported GHC’s programs and services at a time when children and families have needed them more than ever before. We would like to recognize several donors whose gifts are especially “above and beyond.” Our heartfelt thanks to a very loyal friend of the Centre for their $180,000 gift and to Laura Syron and Keith McLaughlin for their $100,000 pledge, both to our Institute of Childhood Trauma and Attachment. We are grateful for Frances and Tim Price and their third $100,000 donation to support a clinician.

It was a joy to receive $30,000 from new donor Mawer Investment Management to support The Libby Ridgely Diversity and Mental Health Fund. Thank you for your support!

Very warm thanks to The Gordon and Donna Feeney Family Foundation, The Henry White Kinnear Foundation, Michelle Koerner Family Foundation and Michael and Sonja Koerner Charitable Foundation for their holiday gifts of $25,000. A big shout out to TD Securities Underwriting Hope Fund for their 15th year of support with a $15,000 grant, and to The Hope Foundation for supporting our Group Treatment Programs with a $10,000 grant. And many thanks to dear friend Hon. Margaret McCain for once again directing her son Michael’s $10,000 Christmas gift donation to George Hull.

We are deeply grateful for your generous support!

The Season of Giving

The spirit of giving this holiday season was as bright as a shining star! A big THANK YOU to all who generously supported our 2021 Holiday Appeal through Giving Tuesday and our annual mail campaign. Together you raised a record-breaking $101,475 to help children and families struggling with their mental health! A special shout out as well to the many new donors who supported us this giving season and to everyone who joined us in celebrating the International Day of Generosity on social media.

Family Gift Match creates warm memories!

Joy, gratitude, laughter, delight, and especially relief... these are just some of the heart-warming responses from families who have benefitted from the George Hull Centre’s Annual Family Gift Match Program.

This year, we matched over 90 families. For one such family, a single mother with three children who depends on the foodbank three times a week, the Family Gift Match allowed her to create a memorable Christmas for herself and children and to still tuck away a few gift cards to buy crafts and learning supplies throughout the year. Thank you to the many caring donors and community members whose generosity brightened so many lives over the holiday season.

Community Support

Skate for Mental Health

Thank you to Sandi De Camargo, a realtor with RE/MAX HALLMARK REALTY LTD. who kindly organized a December Great Skate for Mental Health fundraiser in support of GHC. Unfortunately, Covid restrictions meant postponing the event, but that did not stop her two young children, who took to an outdoor rink until the larger event can take place and raised $545! Thank you, De Camargo Family!

New Partnership

We're excited to let you know that we will be partnering with Allgood.market.

Launching in February 2022, Allgood.market is an online community marketplace for new and second-hand items with the proceeds of the sales donated back to charities like the George Hull Centre. This innovative new platform means you can raise funds in support of children's mental health programs while also achieving your new year's resolution to clear out those closets! Stay tuned for more information.

We Are George

We Are George is currently recruiting young professionals who are passionate about breaking down the stigma surrounding children’s mental health and who like to have fun, all while building their network! Committee members have a variety of professional backgrounds, each bringing different skills and talents. No prior experience working or volunteering in the mental health field is needed. If you or someone you know would be interested in joining, please contact wag@georgehull.on.ca or learn more here.

Tips and Resources

Need to talk? Free virtual mental health counselling is available on an immediate basis for children, youth, young adults and their families, and families with infants at the What’s Up Walk-In® Clinic. To be connected to a counsellor for a telephone or video session please call MHTO at 1-866-585-6486 or visit https://www.whatsupwalkin.ca/

Spark App is a new mobile app aimed at helping parents and children achieve greater resilience, connection, and adaptability. Neuroscience-backed activities help children challenge fears and anxieties, focus, and visualize success while building empathy and reinforcing the bonds between parent and child. Download the app here.

Do you have a child or know a youth struggling with a mental health issue? The George Hull Centre is here to help. Call to speak to our intake coordinator Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm at 416-622-8833 ext 258. If your matter is urgent, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.