web ve'ahavta annual report 2019
TRANSCRIPT
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DEAR VE’AHAVTA COMMUNITY MEMBERS,It is never “business as usual” at Ve’ahavta. Our culture of continual improvement has made 2019 a year in which we focused on maximizing the impact of our programs and
increasing the number of people served. Managing our charity through business principles, while still maintaining the soulfulness of the organization, has enabled us to ensure that every donation to Ve’ahavta is used most effectively and our results speak for themselves. The dedication of our donors, volunteers, board and staff make this life changing work possible and we thank you for your compassion, generosity and commitment to tikkun olam- repairing the world. Together we are making a difference in the lives of those marginalized by poverty.
Ron Haber, Chair, Ve’ahavta Board
Cari Kozierok, Executive Director, Ve’ahavta
RES
PONSIBILITY
RESPECTINCLUSIV
ITY
EMPATHY
We believe that human connection
has the power to create change.
We are strengthened
by diverse perspectives and
experiences.
We honour every person’s unique qualities, contribution and potential.
We fulfill the moral imperative to care for all people.
OUR CORE VALUES
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THE PROBLEM OUR SOLUTION
Ve’ahavta creates a path to grow empathy, responsibility and agency among community members through volunteer opportunities, community education and events.
Meals served per night.
Volunteers report increased empathy, awareness of the issues and empowerment to make a difference.
Ve'ahavta's outreach programs fill a service gap by providing supports, services, and essential supplies like food, clothing, hygiene products, and harm reduction kits to individuals facing the many challenges related to homelessness.
300
Harm reduction kits handed out
in 6 months.
1500
The MYTORONTO, Meal Box, and Speakers Bureau programs give participants the opportunity to earn supplemental income and develop job-specific skills.
Ve’ahavta’s training program participants are provided with a stipend as well as the tools to work toward their employment, educational and personal goals.
Of our training program graduates
return to work, school or volunteering.
Supplemental income earned in
2019 by 64 participants.
$116,831
People experiencing homelessness in Toronto
on any given night, up 65% since 2016.1
Cost per person, per year, spent on shelter beds, social
assistance and hospitalizations.1
The total cost of homelessness to
Canadian society.1
~9000
No one person or agency can do this work alone. With our strategic agency partners, our mission-driven staff, and our tremendous community of supporters, Ve’ahavta is able to maximize impact by focusing on creating pathways to transformational and lasting change for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty.
Our programs complement the work of other agencies that address advocacy, housing, healthcare and vocational training. We both provide and receive referrals from partner agencies whose services include:
A strategic approach to a complex problem:
Healthcare agenciesHousing/ shelters
Job skills training Newcomer services Employment placement
Legal/ financial services
Believe that homeless individuals want to live on the
street or in shelters.4
39%Of Torontonians feel hopeless
and believe that there is nothing they can do to make a
difference.4
37%
Approximate amount a single individual secures
monthly through Ontario Works.2
Average monthly income needed to cover the cost
of living in Toronto.3
Unemployed & marginalized individuals report a desire to work but face employment
barriers: lack of skills, experience & networks.
$733
1. A. Fatola, Quantifying Homelessness in the City of Toronto, 2019
2. Toronto Employment and Social Services, 2018 3. Tencer, Daniel, HuffPost Canada, 2018
4. Dignity for All, 2017
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PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HOMELESSNESS TO MOVE FROM INSTABILITY TO SELF SUFFICIENCY
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Revenue ComparisonRevenue has been increasing over the past 3 years reflecting the rapid growth and change that the organization has undertaken. The growth is ongoing but the rate is slowing to a healthy 3% in 2020.
Revenue SourcesA concerted effort to diversify funding sources has led to an increase of funding from foundation grants, corporate partnerships, earned revenue and supporter led fundraising initiatives.
Expense AllocationsOur focus on cost savings and increased efficiencies in 2019 enabled the reduction of both adminstrative and fundraising costs and an increase in the allocation of funds to programs.
Program ExpendituresIn 2019 the largest area of growth was seen in our volunteer program. Mobilizing members of the community through volunteerism is central to our mission and in 2019 we continued to grow and professionalize our volunteer department and activities. The increased allocation of funds resulted in an 82% increase in the number of volunteers in the organization over the prior year.
ExpendituresWith the addition of new programs and growth in programmatic impact and output, expenses have risen year over year. The introduction of efficiencies in 2019 enabled a 66% increase in programming outputs with only a 4% increase in expenses. In 2020 our target is a 35% increase in output with a 1% increase in expense.
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2018 Actual 2019 Target 2019 Actual 2020 Target
Van Outreach clients served per year 20,441 23,086 22,571 29,300
Food Prep meals prepared per year 7,490 15,726 16,425 34,032
Work & Life Skills Graduates per year 20 37 29 39
Women’s Work & Life Skills Graduated per year 13 30 32 39
Unique Volunteers per year 987 1,500 1,793 2000
Creative Programming Contestants 111 128 101 120
KPI GOALS AND RESULTS 2019In 2019 we introduced a robust system of measurement and tracking of Key Performance Metrics across all areas of the organization. Targets were set and performance managed throughout the year.
2020 Performance Target Increase Over 2019Through a cost and capacity analysis, we have identified growth potential in all programming areas. 2020 tar-gets will increase program outputs by an average of 35% with only an overall budgetary increase of only 1%.In 2020 we are introducing a robust digital marketing plan to better promote the VSA and BFW programs to potential participants and referral sources. Creative Programing is undergoing a complete program redesign in 2020 to increase from one to three sessions per year and movement to a digital platform with smartphones, contest app and e-commerce site.
2019 Performance Target Increase Over 2018In 2019 we achieved increased program outputs in almost 100% of programs compared with 2018. There was a 119% increase in the number of meals prepared for the outreach van.
2019 Performance Target % AchievedIn the majority of programs, performance targets were achieved or exceeded. Unique volunteers per year exceeded our goal by 20% and the number of BFW graduates passed our goal by 7%.
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PHILANTHROPY OPPORTUNITIESWhether it’s a five year old hosting a bake sale, a thirteen year old fundraising as part of their B’nai mitzvah, a professional making a personal donation or someone looking to leave us a gift in the future, giving to charity is accessible regardless of your age or financial means.
Ve’ahavta works with donors to meet their philanthropic goals. Here are some of the ways you can support the important work we do:
YOUR SUPPORT IN 2019The incredible support of our community in 2019 enabled us to expand our programs to deepen their impact on people affected by homelessness. These are a few of our accomplishments:
WHERE WE’RE HEADED IN 2020Ve’ahavta plans to continue growing steadily on a clear trajectory - informed by best practices, industry standards, participant evaluation and analysis. Your continued support is critical to our programs’ success. Here is a glimpse of where we’re headed:
Give as a Family
MJRH Outreach Van
MYTORONTO Program
Meal Box Program
Community Events
Training Programs
Engage Your Employees
Training Programs
Leave a Legacy
Meal Box Program
Make giving part of your family life through providing a reccurring monthly gift, hosting a small fundraiser, or participating in The Ve’ahavta Project’s peer-to-peer fundraising.
• Expanded to a larger vehicle to carry more supplies, volunteers and an additional outreach worker per shift
• Provided over 22,500 service visits to people experiencing homelessness
We are launching a new MYTORONTO photography app, a new way for participants to take, edit and submit photos on cellphones – provided by Ve’ahavta. By putting a cellphone in the hands of our participants, we open the lines of communication and can provide life-saving resources in real time.
Through the Meal Box program, we are taking the first steps towards building a social enterprise that can provide meals for people outside of our programs and create more paid work and training opportunities for our participants.
The Ve’ahavta Project and Passover Seder are both expanding to collectively engage over 1,000 people, offering more volunteer opportunities and ways to come together as a community.
Working with industry partners, both inside and out of the Jewish community, we are developing new ways to deliver our proven successful training programs to new audiences with different needs.
Lead your employees through volunteerism by becoming a corporate partner, donating essential in-kind goods and services, or supporting important projects by providing an event sponsorship.
• Achieved a 100% success rate, outstripping the industry benchmark by 32%
• Kept our cost per outcome 82% lower than industry standardsGraduated 61 people who have moved on to further education or the workforce
Contributing to our endowment fund through a donation, a bequest in your will or an insurance policy ensures that your gift will make a difference in perpetuity.
• Produced over 16,000 nutritious meals that were served by our outreach van
• Achieved positive outcomes including job placement by participants who earned over $20,000 during their training
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Thank you to all our Major Donors and the many members of the Jewish community for your generous support in 2019!
$100,000+DistributelShirley GranovskyShawn Kimel and Kate Schatzky$50,000+The Azrieli FoundationBarter NetworkWarren and Debbie KimelEvelyn Levine and Family$25,000+Nani and Austin BeutelThe Bukhman FamilyJodi and Jason ChapnikRobert and Ellen EisenbergThe Echo FoundationChristina Laing and Aaron GoldsteinThe Mayvon FoundationRioCanThe Robert Kerr FoundationMolly Shainfarber and Effi GoldWestdale Properties$18,000+Bell Let’s Talk Community FundThe Ganz Family FoundationGreat Gulf HomesLianne and Bruce LeboffThe Morris and Rosalind Goodman Family FoundationThe Nathan and Lily Silver Family FoundationThe Norman Black FoundationWynn Family Charitable Foundation
$10,000+Vera BarczaBlue SWAN FinancialCamp ManitouChitiz Pathak LLPEffort Trust – Weisz Family FoundationFrederick and Douglas Dickson
Memorial FoundationThe Freeman FamilyThe Goldberg Family FoundationThe Gerald Schwartz &
Heather Reisman FoundationThe Graff FamilyThe Harry E. Foster FoundationBill HollandMoti JungreisBarbro KimelLa-Prima InvestmentsThe Lawrence And Judith
Tanenbaum Family FoundationNorman Levine and Shelley HarrisDavid Levenson and Samantha KivesThe Love FoundationThe Mansell/Rifkind FamilyMazon CanadaMarilyn Minden, Marty Cutler and FamilyThe Miriam Alkin Memorial Fund FoundationOntario Realtors Care FoundationVictor and Naomi Pamensky
Portfolio Management CorporationRay Nissan Family FoundationGary Samuel and Paula ZivotDiane Spivak and Laurence Goldberg$5,000+Anthony and Marion AlbergaRobert Beliak and Tammy GliedDeborah Berlach and Ron CsillagThe Downing Street GroupAnita EksteinFirst Narayever CongregationHugh Furneaux and Penny FineGluskin SheffDavid Green and Daphne WagnerCarole Herman ZuckerJ. P. Bickell FoundationRachel Kimel and Michael
GreenwoodRyan KimelKlass CapitalThe Mariano Elia FoundationMetrosphere Light Corp.MintoMNP LLPPearTree CanadaThe Pollack/Hayward FamilyPeter PuccettiAnton and Ilana RabieRodenbury Investments Group
Mary Lou Smith and Andrew SimorReesa and Jay StrasserThe Sydney and Florence Cooper Charitable FoundationTurner Fleischer ArchitectsDov and Caroline ZevyGovernment Support Provided by:City of TorontoOntario Trillium FoundationProvince of OntarioIn-kind Support Provided by:The 519Discount Car and Truck RentalsFabriclandGeorge Brown CollegeGryfe’s Bagel BakeryHabitat ServicesHarkel Office FurnitureHush BlanketsInner City Family Health TeamIntercap ImpactRyerson University School of Image ArtsToronto Image WorksToronto Public LibraryYM Inc.
1. Ron Haber, Lisa Davis, Larry Zimmerman, Robert Beliak, Tammy Glied, Gary Samuel, Paula Zivot 2. Ron Haber, Cari Kozierok, Dan Chitiz 3. Molly Shainfarber and Effi Gold 4. Shawn Kimel, Kate Schatzky, Debbie Kimel, Warren Kimel 5. Sheldon Levine, Carol Levine, Evelyn Levine, Norman Levine, Shelley Harris 6. Amiel Blajchman, Lisa Miller Blajchman, and their children 7. Cari Kozierok, Mayor Dan Carter, Avrum Rosenzweig, Gary Samuel
The Ve’ahavta Endowment Fund is generously founded by Gerald Sheff and Shanitha Kachan
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Our Stellar 2020 Team: Cari KozierokExecutive Director
Avrum RosensweigFounder & Ambassador
ProgramsMarni HerskovitsDirector of Programs
Client Outreach ProgramsMara BehanManager of Client OutreachPrograms
Kelly BouchardOutreach Worker
David CooperOutreach Worker
Tinuade FabikunClient Outreach Programs Program Assistant
Ali NabieiPart Time Outreach Worker
Mukhtar NalayehOutreach Worker
Joel PearlMYTORONTO Program Coordinator
Mithusan PrabaharanOutreach Worker
Ben WardHarm Reduction Outreach Worker
Training ProgramsTrudi RutherfordManager of Training Programs
Dalia CicinieneVe’ahavta Skills Academy Case Manager
Shirley GillettBuilding Foundations for Women Trainer and Facilitator
Mimoza JakovaBuilding Foundations for Women Case Manager
Adaobi OnyeamaTraining Programs Administrative Assistant
Hannah YohannesVe’ahavta Skills Academy Program Co-ordinator
Volunteer ProgramsMaggie FisherManager of Volunteer Programs
Ruth HartVolunteer Services Co-ordinator
Finance & OperationsSolomon LevDirector of Finance and Operations
Yemi TajudeenFinance and Operations Administrative Assistant
DevelopmentBrandon LablongDirector of Development
Chaim BakerSenior Development Associate, Events and Corporate Partnerships
CommunicationsChad LebaronCommunications and Operations Administrative Assistant
Atara TanenDigital Media Associate
AdministrationRobyn SegallDirector of People and Culture
Carol BernsOffice and Fundraising Co-ordinator
Our 2020 Board of Directors: Ron HaberChair of the Board
Amalia Berg
Amiel Blajchman
Jonathan Brookman
Jodi Chapnik
Tom Chervinsky
Tammy Glied
Susan Kagan
Lianne Leboff
Norman Levine
Gary Samuel
Kate Schatzky
Benjamin Shinewald
Larry Zimmerman
THE PEOPLE AND CULTURE OF VE’AHAVTA We are as strong as our people, and our people are mighty strong! We believe that it is through the passion, collaboration, and dedication of each of our team members that we are able to make a tremendous impact and surpass our goals, year after year. By investing in the well-being and professional development of our employees we show them that we care, and in return, they give us their all. We are proud to have a workplace that holds true to its values and principles, where individuals thrive, and change is made possible.
Working for Ve’ahavta has been an incredible experience for me! I received many learning opportunities and expertise in various fields, developing my skills much further while fulfilling my role. On a personal note, Ve’ahavta provides me with an inclusive, warm and understanding workplace environment. This helped boost my confidence and instilled a productive work ethic that I’m sure will serve to help me in the future.
- H.A., Ve'ahavta Staff Member