2013 Spring Update
&
Joys
Successes
kidsability.ca
New Beginnings
We bid a fond farewell to our CEO, Stephen Swatridge, and celebrate his countless achievements
in enhancing services and supports for children with special needs and their families.
Over his nearly three decades of service, Stephen
has navigated KidsAbility through new challenges,
obstacles and opportunities that inspired incredible
growth to benefit our community. We celebrate
Stephen’s contributions to KidsAbility and thank him
for helping to empower thousands of children to
realize their full potential.
As we wish Stephen all the best in his future
endeavours, it is with great excitement that we
announce the appointment of Linda Kenny as CEO
of KidsAbility Centre for Child Development.
nd
Ms. Kenny begins her new role on April 22 .
Ms. Kenny has been a strong advocate for children and
youth with special needs and their families for many
years. Most recently CEO of the Ontario Association of
Children’s Rehabilitation Services (OACRS), Ms. Kenny
is already very familiar with KidsAbility’s mission,
vision and organizational plans.
“Providing opportunities for every child to realize their
full potential is a passion for me. I look forward to
this new and exciting challenge with an organization
that has a phenomenal reputation for making a real
difference for countless children and their families,”
says Ms. Kenny.
A Message from Stephen
“In September, I announced my plans to leave my
role as CEO of KidsAbility at the end of March 2013.
This was a very difficult decision as my tenure with
KidsAbility has been in many ways a “dream job”.
However, the timing seemed right for me to pursue
other career opportunities and for KidsAbility to
renew its leadership for the future.
“I am proud of the innovation and advancements that
KidsAbility has made over the years in helping children
reach their full potential and supporting their families
in the journey. With new CEO leadership, KidsAbility is
poised for even better things in the future.
“As donors and supporters you’ve
given willingly of your gifts of time,
talents and treasures. You have
made a huge impact on the health,
well-being and futures of thousands
of children with special needs and
their families. I want to thank you
for sharing so generously with the
KidsAbility family.
“I hope our paths will continue
to cross as I embark on new
opportunities. Thank you.”
Enhanced Autism Services
at New Centre for Autism
This fall KidsAbility’s two existing Waterloo-based
Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) Autism
teams will move into a new Centre for Autism in
Kitchener. This new dedicated and thoughtfully
planned space will be an additional 6,300 square
feet of space above our current Kitchener site
located at the Family Centre on Hanson Drive.
One of the key factors in our vision for the new
Centre for Autism is the collaboration with
community partners. This new space will house
three community partners that support families,
children and young adults with Autism and other
special needs. Our community partners (Autism
Services Waterloo Region, Waterloo Region Family
Network and Facile) will have better capacity
to serve families and more opportunities for
collaboration will be realized under one roof.
According to Autism Speaks Canada, Autism affects
1 in 88 children and is the fastest-growing
developmental disability in the world. It is four
times more prevalent in boys than girls. Autism
Services Waterloo Region estimates that there are
over 500 families who have a family member with
a diagnosis of Autism living in the Region.
IBI therapy is an intense program that provides
focused instruction for 20-25 hours per week in
both one-on-one and in small group formats.
Children who receive IBI services at KidsAbility have
been diagnosed toward the severe end of the Autism
spectrum.
KidsAbility is proud to be a leader in our community
by supporting and enhancing the system of care for
children with special needs. Through this new space,
our families will have better access to resources in one
central location which will help them as they navigate
the complex journey that is Autism.
To learn more about this
exciting initiative and how you
can help, please contact:
Lisa Talbot,
Executive Director,
KidsAbility Foundation
519.886.8886 ext. 1201 or
[email protected]
Manulife has donated 2 LPGA Golf Packages
to Auction to the highest bidder!
Package 1
Manulife LPGA
Birdie Package - value $150
Package 2
Manulife LPGA
Eagle Package - value $1000
Tournament held - JULY 8 - 14 GREY SILO GOLF COURSE
www.manulifeclassic.ca
Go to: www.KidsAbility.ca/en/LPGA to bid.
Auction closes April 30th.
“How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment; we can start now,
start slowly changing the world.” Anne Frank
Paying it Forward: Paul’s Legacy
The 1950’s saw a polio epidemic that brought fear into the heart of every
parent in Waterloo Region. It was, and still is a disease with no known cure.
In 1954, 10-year-old Paul contracted the much-feared disease. Unlike many
children his age, Paul survived but polio left its mark leaving him with a
permanent limp and mobility challenges.
Paul never forgot how his life was shaped by the men who took time out of their
schedules each week. Members of the Rotary Club of Preston would drive him
to each of his therapy appointments at KidsAbility, which was then known as the
Ontario Society for Crippled Children. The fact that doctors, lawyers and respected
professionals would take time out of their busy schedules was never lost on Paul.
Thanks to local Rotarians, Paul felt like his life mattered and that he was important.
It was through his therapy at KidsAbility that Paul regained some of the mobility that
he had lost. He learned how to strengthen his muscles. It was through the constant
affirmation from Rotarians that Paul’s self-confidence continued to grow.
Throughout his life Paul enjoyed pursuing a career
as a videographer. He loved technology and amateur
radio. Never afraid of a new challenge, he could be
found working on his beloved Mustangs. Paul
was a successful entrepreneur and a caring
mentor to many in the tech-field. Like the
Rotarians did for him, Paul took people under
his wing and helped them to succeed.
Paul overcame so many obstacles and
challenges throughout his life never losing
his positive attitude. He embraced life to its
fullest. As he grew older, he began to suffer
from post-polio syndrome, the after effects
of his childhood disease. Still, it did not dampen his spirit and three-weeks
before losing his battle with cancer, Paul married the love of his life.
During his final weeks, Paul would often express to his sister, Blanche, his gratitude for the role that KidsAbility
and Rotarians played in his early years. It was this gratitude that led Paul to his final wish: to leave a Legacy.
Through a bequest in his will, Paul honoured the local Rotary Club and KidsAbility.
His generosity will mean that future generations of children will have the same
opportunities that Paul did. They too will be able to begin their journeys toward
brighter futures one step at a time at KidsAbility.
To learn more about how you can leave
your Legacy, please contact:
Gillian Flanagan
Development Officer & Legacy Giving
519.886.8886 ext. 1350
or [email protected]
Greatis
KidsAbility
Work
Accredited
with Exemplary
Standing!
Upcoming Events
Great
Work
We are proud to announce that
KidsAbility has been awarded the
highest level of achievement from
Accreditation Canada.
KidsAbility continues to demonstrate a commitment to
client safety and best practices in delivery of service; meticulous
attention to our facilities and infection prevention; as well as good
governance and leadership.
We are proud of the support from our partners in this process
that have helped us both leverage, and optimize, our allocation of
resources to better serve our clients and their families.
Congratulations to all staff and Board for your commitment to
excellence!
got
pennies? change
Kids
make
Delphine dropped off over 3,000 pennies after getting her neighbours
and family on board. Here she hands over the heavy load of pennies
to KidsAbility Foundation Communications Officer, Dayna Giorgio.
in Support of KidsAbility
Scotiabank Movie Morning
Friday, April 19 • 9:45am
“Rise of the Guardians” at Galaxy
Cinemas Conestoga Mall. Tickets are $8
each or $15 including pop and popcorn.
Tickets are available at KidsAbility
Foundation or any Scotiabank branch.
8th Annual Downtown
Mudpuppy Chase • Sunday, May 5
You are invited to participate in
Kitchener’s premier 3km, 5km and 10km
running event at Kitchener City Hall!
mudpuppychase.com
8th Annual Kids Can’t
Wait Radiothon
Friday, May 10 • 6:00am-6:00pm
kidsability.ca/en/radiothon
4th Annual Plasma Car Races
Friday, May 10 • 7:30am - 9:00am
Join in the fun for this winner-takes-all
race through Conestoga Mall.
Plasma cars will be provided.
Register your team today!
kidsability.ca/en/plasmacarrace
27th Annual Cambridge Times
Rotary Classic • Sunday, May 26
Lace up your runners to make a
difference. 10:00am • 2.5km and
10:30am • 5km. Register at
kidsability.ca/en/cambridgetimesrun
KidsAbility 1KM Fun Run/Walk
Sunday, June 2 • 10:30am - 12:30pm
However you roll...come roll with us!
Join us for this family-friendly walk with
all proceeds benefiting the therapy and
support services at KidsAbility in
Guelph-Wellington.
kidsability.ca/en/guelphfunrun
Drop off your pennies at KidsAbility and help us reach our goal of
collecting 1,000,000 pennies. We will announce how much we
have collected on May 10th at the Radiothon.
Will you make change?
Annual General Meeting
- KidsAbility & KidsAbility
Foundation
Monday, June 17 • 4:00pm
KidsAbility, Waterloo
Kids Can’t Wait Radiothon
Friday, May 10, 2013 Live from
& KidsAbility
Points for Kids
This program is an innovative approach to engage listeners ahead of the Radiothon through Rogers
Kitchener Radio Group’s loyalty program that boasts over 52,000 enrolled members!
For one day only, CHYM 96.7 and KIX 106.7 FM loyalty program members are invited to donate
10,000 Points. Their donated points will in-turn represent a $5.00 donation to the Radiothon up to a
maximum of $10,000.
Register for free as a CHYM 96.7 Platinum V.I.P
or KIX 106.7 Country Club member and donate
your points to support Kids Can’t Wait.
drop by and donate to
,
n
i
e
n
make
Tu
a di
kidsability.ca
Yes, I want to support the Kids Can’t Wait Radiothon
Name
Butterfly Sponsor
ff eren
ce!
Scan to
pledge
your
support!
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Founded and Supported by Rotarians Since 1957
Please make cheques
payable to:
KidsAbility Foundation
500 Hallmark Drive
Waterloo, ON N2K 3P5
519.886.8886 ext. 1293
Toll Free: 1.888.372.2259
kidsability.ca
KidsAbility Foundation respects your privacy. We do not rent, sell or trade our mailing lists. Periodically we may share information about
KidsAbility and KidsAbility Foundation by mail and email. This may include our annual report, event invitations, newsletters and updates
concerning KidsAbility and its needs. If at any time you wish to be removed from our list or require information about our privacy
procedures, simply contact us by phone at 519-886-8886 ext. 1201.
Honour someone special with
a Tribute Gift to KidsAbility
Tribute Gifts
Sydney Brown
Shirley Weber
Betty Wilson
Brent and Cathy Schiedel
Jung Yong Chung
Memorial Gifts
Jack Weber
Ian C. Ormston
Dr. Jim Hicks
Mary Ann Martin
Barbara Stumpf
Catherine Geffros
Andrew Tulecki
Ann Benson
Gerald Boehm
Brad Harvey Vogt
Priscilla Albright
Pansy Edmond
Hans Kaiser
Franz and Ursula Kaudewitz
Catherine Schmidt
LIBRO
GET
50
$
2 GIVE
Honouring a loved-one through a gift made to
KidsAbility is a thoughtful way to celebrate a
milestone or pay tribute to the life of someone
special. The following individuals have been
honoured through Tribute Gifts to KidsAbility.
Ian and Gladys Wynd
Bill Dietrich
Jaimee MacDonald
George Uhrig
Ted Hastings
Donna Gutscher
Klaus and Heather Jakob
Sonny and Linda Kumpf
Barry Humphrey
Joan Phillips
Beatrice Paleczny
Bill Allen
Shirley Tartaglia
Sydney Gerhardt
Carl Kuntz
Gerry Schell
Honey Boppre
Bernard Schell
Leona Biggs
Roger Roy
Marie Davidson
Kelly Ernest Hansen
Michael Frank Miller
Edna May Schnarr
William Cunningham
Mildred Holmes
Gabrielle Forbes
Lorna Jean Erwin Jarvis
John (Jack) McGaw
Richard (Rick) McCarthy
Betty Jones
Marie Lush
Pierce McLeod
Dorothy Farwell
Lois Kirkland
Mark Christie
Lorna Lindsay
William Hess
Reg Gale
Jim Neeb
Evan Zhang
Lisa MacColl
Rowan Wilson
Michael Theodosiou
*as of Aug 1/12 - Feb 28/13
Carol Goossen
Earl Carter
Jerome George
Brad Oesch
Bill Lackie
Richard Eby
Evelyn Markham
Donna and Daron Graves
Betty Wilson
Mae Lundy
Alison MacIntosh
Ritvars Bregzis
George Rothwell
Bob Weber
*as of Aug 1/12 - Feb 28/13
Join Libro during the month of April and $50 will be donated to KidsAbility.
Head into the branch nearest you for a short meeting, open an account
and they’ll send the $50.
Here's what you have to do:
1 Visit the branch nearest you.
2M
eet with a Libro Coach to open an account that fits your needs.
#sharefuture
There’s a Free KidsAbility App for That!
We live, work and play in a community that is
innovative and at the forefront of technology. As an
organization, we are committed to using technology
to enhance services for our children and families as
well as finding new ways to communicate with our
community! In partnership with local app developer,
iNotforProfit we were pleased to launch the KidsAbility app
in late December. The app is available for the BlackBerry
PlayBook, BlackBerry 10, Apple and Android devices.
Download it free today and stay connected on the go!