How We Give Back

insp0335-11Looking for more personal meaning in her work beyond just the bottom line, founder of Women in Biz Network, Leigh Mitchell set out to help those in need through her own business activities. She quickly realized that not only could she make a difference with her business but others could also. Her stories of hope and the spirit of giving were contagious. This is when the Thrive Movement was introduced to her community. Studying the impact of socially responsible businesses, she found ways in which profitable businesses could find more engaged audiences when advocating the benefits of their purpose driven mission-based business practices.

  • WIBN established a Mentorship Program that operates to assist members in finding a mentor for 6 months at no additional cost. We also provide complimentary live online mentoring classes each month.
  • Throughout the year we donate Yearly Women in Biz Memberships to women who are rebuilding their lives after spending time in a shelter.  To apply for a membership through this program please contact Centre for Abuse Awareness .
  • WIBN supports HerVolution as an advisory board member
  • Leigh Mitchell, founder of Women in Biz Network is an Active for Life Role Model

About these organizations:

 

HerVolution logo-big

HerVolution is a non-profit organization working on access to innovative  education and employment services to girls and young women in STEM. hEr VOLUTION promotes increased government involvement and a change in the attitude towards gender from a young age.

What is STEM: commonly known as Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics

Our mission:

hEr VOLUTION encourages girls and young women to pursue STEM based careers and promotes stakeholder’s involvement in the support of STEM education in Canada.

Our vision: 

To raise awareness and value placed on STEM education for girls and young women in Canada.

Based in Toronto, Canada, hEr VOLUTION is the go to place for girls and young women from low income households and underprivileged communities throughout Canada to come to in order to provide them with innovative workshops and support around 21st Century Skills. From here we work hand in hand with local government to create opportunities for the next generation of women in STEM to further connect them with leaders in the industry for career support. We do this by listening to the needs of the community and the industry while giving all the resources back to the general public in a language that everyone understands.


Activeforlife

 Active for Life

OUR MISSION

Active for Life is a Canadian not-for-profit social enterprise founded by B2ten. We are a national initiative created to help parents give their children the right start in life through the development of physical literacy.

OUR STORY

Active for Life was born in a cottage in the Laurentian Mountains in the spring of 2010, where the leadership team of B2ten met to debrief after Canada’s success at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. They realized that winning medals is wonderful but if those medals aren’t inspiring kids to be active then what was their true value? The B2ten team soon determined that Canadian kids were less active and less involved in sport than ever before. The inactivity and sedentary behaviour were making Canadian children sick.

B2ten became dedicated to reversing this negative trend in kids’ health. They created Active for Life and gathered a team to inspire and offer solutions.

In AfL’s search for those solutions we talked to many experts and parents. The recognized leaders in the field of children’s sport and activity, like those at Canadian Sport for Life, told us that there was one simple thing that could turn the tide: physical literacy.

When we spoke to parents, we learned that while moms and dads were aware of the alarming statistics and the crisis in children’s health, they were overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do to make a difference in their kids’ lives.

We connected the pieces of the puzzle and reached the following conclusions:

  1. Physical literacy is one simple solution to help kids become more active, healthy, and successful for life.
  2. Parents need direction, education, and inspiration, but mostly they need practical solutions.
  3. Parents are the gatekeepers of their kids’ activities, and the enablers of life-long habits.

In 2012, few people beyond the sports and recreation sectors had heard of physical literacy, yet we were convinced it was a concept parents could grasp and care about.

We were right. Since we’ve been established the term physical literacy has evolved from obscure concept to mainstream topic.

Women whose lives have been affected by abuse need a fresh start. Many have never had careers or positive role models that can guide or help them to integrate into the workplace. The CCAA provides those mentoring relationships through a program called Delivering Hope Day. Through many volunteers, including successful career women who volunteer their time, Delivering Hope Day provides a practical physical makeover with hairstyle, makeup, and an outfit.

The Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness often receives large shipments of donated goods, including everything from children’s’ toys to housewares, furniture, computers, fashion, cosmetic and other generally useful items that are to be given to people affected by abuse. In essence, the CCAA has become a clearinghouse for donated goods that are itemized and stored in our large warehouses for distribution to other service agencies that call CCAA throughout the year requesting special and/or ongoing needs to be met.

As important as the outward physical boost that the women receive, Delivering Hope Day also provides group sessions on topics such as self-esteem, boundaries, writing a resume and other topics helpful to women who are working towards a new beginning, whether as a professional or simply one who needs a new lease on life.

Since its inception, Delivering Hope Day (formerly known as Women Mentoring Women) has also caught the attention of the fashion and beauty industry with corporations such as Haggar Canada, Danier Canada, Revlon and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

For more info on this program, contact denise@abusehurts.ca.

This program is brought to you by FedEx Canada.

How to apply for assistance.

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My name is Michelle, I was one of the women from one of the shelters who came for the makeover on Monday September 16th.

I would like to express my sincere thanks for the makeover. I was able to find a gorgeous outfit and leather jacket and purse, it was perfect timing as I had an interview for a job of a life time and I had nothing to wear.

I am a woman in recovery from alcoholism and sexual abuse, I am in a position to be able to pass on the gift of recovery, and I want to thank you for helping me.

I am filled with awe and gratitude for these wonderful gifts.
  
Sincerely,
Michelle

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My name is Tanya and I’m an addict/alcoholic. I’m a single mother and a survivor of child abuse and partner abuse. Our day at CCAA was completely amazing!

I was really nervous because… well, I’m a big girl. I was pleasantly surprised to find a leather jacket that fit me! It was wonderful to find clothes that fit a fuller figure. I almost cried with overwhelming gratitude.  Staff and volunteers at CCAA made me feel relaxed and for the first time in a while I laughed and felt fantastic about myself!

Christine cut and styled my hair so perfectly. I loved everything about today. It was so amazing to have a day where I get all the attention and pampering I felt like I didn’t have a care in the world!

My son will be 5 next month. The volunteers, to my surprise, let me pick out a toy for him which was a HUGE Tonka truck! He will love it!

It is wonderful that a place like CCAA exists, and believes in eradicating the cycle of abuse and truly make a difference for future generations. I’m blessed to know there is support for all who have suffered abuse.

Thank you for your continued support to Renascent and families all over the GTA.

I can never truly express how grateful I am to you all!

Tanya

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