[Start of recorded material 00:00:03]

Sarah Wood: Executive Director, Federated Health Charities

When someone makes a donation to Federated Health, it goes to exactly the organization that they want to support. Whether that’s one charity or they want to give to the 20 plus that we support, our processes are set up in a way where you get to decide. You say what causes you want to support, and our promise is that we make sure the funds get to their bank accounts.

Jonathan de la Cruz: Manager, Internal Communications, Ministry of Education

This campaign makes it really easy to make a donation. Just with a couple clicks online, I can make a donation off my payroll. If I wanted to do a top-up or an additional donation, I could just go on the website, put in my credit card information, and know that my dollars are making an impact on people’s lives.

Erin Donahue: Deputy Director, Strategic Programs, Business Solutions and Operations, Public Safety Division

In terms of volunteering more generally, it gives me that sense of I’m doing good, and I’m having an impact. You never really get to see the end result, but when you donate your time with Federated Health Charities, you know it’s going to a good cause, and that leaves you feeling satisfied and fulfilled at the end of the day, knowing that you yourself are making a difference each and every day that you volunteer.

Mike Da Silva: Senior Manager, Land Registry Services Branch, Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement

So, if you’re interested in volunteering in Federal Health, I really encourage you to do so, because you’ll find that it’s really rewarding. And you’ll notice that a lot of people who are involved in Federated Health in the campaign are back every single year because of what it means to them personally, but it also the reward that it also has for them as an individual.

Danielle James: Disability Determination Adjudicator, Ontario Public Service

I was just drawn to this idea that this was a place where people came together and enjoyed each other’s company, plus raised money for a really good cause.

Melanie Kisirye: Policy Coordinator, Assistant Deputy Minister – Health, Social, Education and Children’s Policy (Cabinet Office)

The Ontario Public Service has a large voice. There are over 60,000 public servants that work for the Ontario Public Service, and I believe that we continue to use our voices, and we continue to advocate constantly for Federated Health. It’s very important for each employee or every ministry to get involved so that there could be – see change eventually in a lot of the health systems.

Andres Laxamana: Director, Social Assistance Central Services Branch, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services

There’s a power to the individual, but it’s that much more powerful when you have a group or a community with one singular goal.

Latifa Benhaddi: Program Consultant, Cabinet Office

Be a hero and contribute because you can have this in your family, someone that has a disease can be close to you, and you can be proud to say that you can help those people just with $5 by pay cheque.

Jana Osbourne: Campaign Support Lead, Federated Health Charities

There is no reason not to volunteer for Federated Health. It is absolutely an opportunity for yourself to grow as an individual. It’s a really great opportunity to really get your name out there and do some good for the world.

Pauline Padmore: Communications Services Branch, Ministry of Finance

So, to those considering volunteering for Federated Health for the first time, I would say don’t even give it a second thought. Just say yes.

Linda Chihab: Assistant Deputy Minister, Child Welfare and Protection Division, Ontario Public Service

When I think of Federated Health, I think of making a difference. Participating in the campaign is a tangible way of making a difference and living the value of public service. If we all do our part in Federated Health, in supporting Federated Health, we can have a huge impact.

[End of recorded material 00:03:03]

[Start of recorded material 00:00:03]

Andres Laxamana: Director, Social Assistance Central Services Branch, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services

I wanted to volunteer for the Federated Health Charities because I do have a medical background, so I think it was a good area to focus on. Also, the fact that you have the option to be able to support those health charities that are most meaningful for you, and basically maybe have potentially impacted yourself or your family.

Damion Copeland: Senior Policy Advisor (Acting), Black Equity Branch, Treasury Board Secretariat

One of the things that stood out for Federated Health that makes it different is who doesn’t have a family member, whether it’s cancer or anything else, that are faced within the 20 plus charities. And then myself being a sickle cell trait individual and having close people to me who also have the full-blown disease, those were the reasons for me to get involved.

Linda Chihab: Assistant Deputy Minister, Child Welfare and Protection Division, Ontario Public Service

I was involved with Federated Health before I knew I was involved with Federated Health. I’ve had the benefit and the privilege of direct services. When I was young, my father had cancer, and at that time, we really needed a lot of support, and since that time I have been really passionate about my involvement and know that with the 21 Federated Health charities, that it touches all of our lives in many different ways.

Jonathan Lebi: Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks

My father has multiple sclerosis. It’s really impacted his life, and I see that. And when I saw Federated Health had the MS Society listed, it was a reminder that there are other ways to give back, and it’s really important to donate and to put my money out there when I can. There’s no amount too small, and there’s no amount too big. Give what you can. And so, that’s guided me and especially with Federated Health.

Wanda Minnings: Manager, Information and Strategic Communications, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services

I’ve always put my hand up to volunteer for a variety of things all throughout my life, and I was raised in a family of giving. And when I came into the Ontario Public Service and saw that there was an opportunity to give back, that’s what I did, and I haven’t stopped.

Jason Arandjelovic: Chief Administrative Officer & Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Colleges & Universities

I think I’ve been involved for the majority of my career being in the Ontario Public Service. Whether that’s donating to one of the charities on an annual basis, or volunteering in an existing activity that’s taking place and contribute in that capacity, knowing that I’m making a difference for the broader community across the OPS and also the people of Ontario.

Melissa Kittmer: Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement

The insights and experiences I’ve gained through participating in Federated Health is just really the collective experience working with other individuals in Ontario Public Service, and so it’s working as a team across ministries, across regions, towards a common goal, and that’s really to support the Federated Health campaign.

Erin Donahue: Deputy Director, Strategic Programs, Business Solutions and Operations, Public Safety Division

We’re all so different at the end of the day. We have different jobs, different titles, different pressures and passions, different draws on our attention, but having that shared goal of volunteerism automatically connects us, so I’ve gained the opportunity to learn how to work with different individuals and be inclusive, while still having that shared sense of commonality.

Melanie Kisirye: Policy Coordinator, Assistant Deputy Minister – Health, Social, Education and Children’s Policy (Cabinet Office)

I think that it’s important to make time for Federated Health because a lot of people are suffering in silence right now. And so, because of their health issues, they aren’t able to advocate for themselves, is the reason why I wanted to make time for Federated Health.

Jonathan de la Cruz: Manager, Internal Communications, Ministry of Education

I’m going to quote a really good friend of mine who said that “If you can’t give money to your community, you give your time.” And for me, I’m very privileged to have capacity to give resources to community, and I’m thrilled that I have the opportunity to do that through Federated Health.

[End of recorded material 00:03:19]

[Start of recorded material 00:00:04]

Muluba Habanyama: Director of Communications and Programs, Ontario AIDS Network

The Ontario AIDS Network is a nonprofit, HIV organization in Ontario. We are a network of almost 50 AIDS service organizations in Ontario. We do capacity building, skills building for executive directors, middle managers, front line workers, and people with live HIV.

HIV has long since been around, but it is something that is still impacting and it is still an epidemic unfortunately in our communities. It is a virus that can be sexually transmitted, um, transmitted through substances, through drug use, and in some cases transmitted through birth. And impacts our communities by, one, of course, your immune system attacking your immune cells. Especially where we live in Ontario, where treatment is not universally covered. So people are actually getting sick with HIV that can lead to several other conditions that affect your immune system. And then of course HIV is something that is highly stigmatized and so, just living with HIV and having those social impacts it already affects our community and unfortunately, we do see that our communities are already disproportionally affected and so much more.

When I was two, I got very sick. The doctors had looked at everything and when I was two years old, they doctors decided to test myself, my sister and my mother for HIV. They called my mother and said we reviewed the tests – you’re HIV positive and your youngest daughter Muluba is also HIV positive. At about 5 or 6 years old is when I officially learned my status. I’d been you know, in the hospital, I had a feeding tube, they were probably not sure back then the medications weren’t the best, so I had ADT for a little bit, and at about 5 or 6 years old I was on several pills. I knew something was up. but wasn’t clear on it. And then my mother had disclosed to me, um, my status. I didn’t quite understand it and the way the doctors had explained it was you have good soldiers in your bodies which are your immune system, and HIV are bad soldiers in your body that are attacking your immune system and that’s why you are taking medication to rebuild. So, I still – I’m almost 32 years old and I still describe it to people that way.

You know, I would say HIV has become such a normal part of my routine now. I mean, I also worked at a not-for-profit AIDS service organization so I guess you could say HIV is a part of my life, but it doesn’t feel that vibrant in my life. But then, you know, coming to work is more so of an empowerment.

With  donor dollars, the Ontario AIDS Network has a program called Positive Leadership Development Institute – otherwise known as PLDI. And, that Institute is actually for people living with HIV, and it’s not this support group that you could find in other organizations. It’s actually an Institute where people living with HIV can build their skills, build their capacity, and actually learn and empower them to get involved within the sector, or even get involved in some sort of working capacity that they want to do. And so that is something that the donor dollars have fundamentally helped in actually sending people to these retreats, to these institutes, and have helped us to continue to run this institute.  I can say as somebody who did the PLDI in all three levels in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and now it comes full circle that I’m now a staff member at OAN.

Federated Health Charities helps the Ontario AIDS Network continue to run and support our Positive Leadership Development Institute. This is important because for every $1,000 that is sending a person to go and do the course in the Institute and so, it has been very, very important and we are very grateful for the dollars from Federated Health Charities.

[End of recorded material 00:03:31]

[Start of recorded material 00:00:03] 

Trish Barbato: President and CEO, Arthritis Society Canada 

Arthritis Society Canada has been around for almost 80 years, and we were created by an advocate who couldn’t believe that children with arthritis were getting no attention in the health system. So we really come from the roots of advocacy and that continues to be a really important pillar of our work is advocating for access to medication, access to joint replacement, access to specialists. We also provide funding. We’re the largest charitable funder of research around arthritis in Canada. Research is so important in arthritis because arthritis is so misunderstood. People think it’s an older person’s disease. It’s inevitable. It’s wear and tear.

None of that is true. People of every age can get arthritis. Six million Canadians have arthritis, which is more than all the other chronic diseases combined.

Zac Spinosa: Client, Arthritis Society Canada 

I was always a relatively athletic kid. I love sports. I love being active. Being outside was my favorite thing ever. And in 2012, I started experiencing very severe joint pain and rashes all over my body, hives that were covering my wrists, my arms, and I would scratch them so much that I would be bleeding, and it was just horrific and terrifying. And me being 15 years old, I had no idea what was happening to my body. When I got my diagnosis, I was terrified and like it was the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me. I felt like I lost all sense of control over my life because I couldn’t do anything that I wanted. I wasn’t able to play sports. You’re a kid. Other kids around you don’t understand the disease. One, it’s invisible, so like you can’t see what arthritis is. I was in the darkest place I’ve ever been, like I didn’t want to go outside. I lost all of my friends, and I was just destroyed by this diagnosis.

Trish Barbato: President and CEO, Arthritis Society Canada 

When we have arthritis, which is autoimmune in nature, then the joints are really starting to be destroyed and there’s a lot of pain associated with that. So it’s about pain, it’s about fatigue, it’s also about mobility issues. One of the things that people don’t know is that joint replacements,

almost all of them, are related to arthritis. So for example, 99 % of knee replacements are due to arthritis. It’s end stage arthritis and it’s the only alternative that people have is to get a full joint replacement.

Zac Spinosa: Client, Arthritis Society Canada 

This disease and the Arthritis Society has been the best thing to happen to me because it, now, it’s given me passion and a fire under me to do something about it. For me, arthritis, like it

hasn’t stopped impacting me, right, so although like I’m in like extremely less pain that I was at my worst and I’m currently in this chair I’m not looking at the end of the tunnel and seeing darkness. I see light now. It doesn’t change the fact that pain is like inevitable when it comes to this disease. Like it’s not going to ever just go away, but it just becomes a part of you, right, and it’s a reminder to enjoy the moments you have.

Trish Barbato: President and CEO, Arthritis Society Canada 

The relationship with Federated Health Charities is really unique because of that focus on health. And I think that is really remarkable for a charity like ours which is a bit of an underdog, misunderstood, many myths surrounding arthritis. It’s so wonderful to have focused donations that are health related. We’re so grateful for the donations that we receive, and we hope that this partnership continues for a long time. 

When you donate to Arthritis Society Canada, your dollars go to research, they go to advocacy, they go to programs like camps, knapsacks for kids, and they go to ensuring that we have information that is evidence -based and relevant to people who are newly diagnosed and living with the disease.

[End of recorded material 00:03:56]

Gordana Skrba:
The Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy is a not-for-profit charitable organisation dedicated to supporting people with cerebral palsy in Ontario.

Patricia G:
Raquel was nine months old when I got to find out that she had cerebral palsy. It was a very devastating diagnosis for my husband and I, not knowing what the future was going to be like for Raquel, and what cerebral palsy was at the time.

Shira W:
Cerebral palsy is a varying diagnosis, it’s not one-size-fits-all. Some people who can run around and you can barely see it, and then there’s people who use their wheelchairs fulltime and rely on someone for all aspects of daily living. I am one of those people.

Victor Gascon:
My partner and I adopted a young boy who had cerebral palsy at the age of seven. Because cerebral palsy has left him non-verbal, which it does for a lot of people, it puts him in a very vulnerable position. When staff are working with him, we need to trust that people are doing what they’re supposed to be doing, and that they’re not neglecting or abusing him.

Shira W:
When you turn eighteen and lose the support of our wonderful paediatric health system, you go into the standard hospitals, they don’t know what CP is.

Victor Gascon:
Organisations like the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy plays a major role in educating PSWs – personal support workers – how to prevent abuse.

Gordana Skrba:
We believe in supporting our members in a way that offers a variety of opportunities for full inclusion, and give them a choice to enjoy the freedom as to where they live, where they work.

Patricia G:
The charity has made a huge difference for my daughter. About a year ago, she had a surgery that enabled her to walk a little bit better. Because of that surgery, she’s able to do things that she wasn’t able to do before.

Shira W:
They helped me secure my own apartment and funding for my singing lessons.

Gordana Skrba:
The dollars that we receive from Federated Health Charities, OFCP uses to support our members through life-enriching activities, programs. Also provide funding assistance to assist them with the purchase of much-needed equipment.

Victor Gascon:
We get no federal money, we get no provincial money, like, we get no government money at all. All of our funding comes from donations.

Patricia G:
The funds are going to the right place. Activities that make such a huge difference, not only to the kid, but also to the families. To see a kid have fun and just being kids, is the most amazing gift that you can make to a parent and to a kid with special needs.

Raquel G:
Thank you for your donations, because I get to go swimming and gymnastics and baseball.

Gordana Skrba:
The funds that we receive from Federated Health Charities, we see as a gift of hope, that one day soon, we will be able to find a cure for cerebral palsy.

[Start of recorded material 00:00:03]

Laura Syron: President and CEO, Diabetes Canada

Diabetes Canada was founded in 1940 by one of the discoverers of insulin, Dr. Charles Best. It was founded right here in Ontario, actually, and then spread across the country. The organization has had the same vision for the whole time. It’s to create a world free of the effects of diabetes. Diabetes Canada was one of the first to become involved with Federated Health back in 1983 and we were thrilled to partner with Federated Health Charities because the only way diseases are going to be tackled is if we work on it together.

Elllie Fraser: Client, Diabetes Canada

Since I was diagnosed so young, my whole life has been living with type 1 diabetes. It’s hard to even imagine what life is like without diabetes and that’s likely going to be for the rest of my life because there’s no cure yet. And so when I think about how diabetes has affected my life, I think of all the challenges and the mental burden. But I think of also the amazing

community that I’ve made. Of all the support that I’ve gotten to experience through D-Camps, because those are things that I never would have experienced if it wasn’t for

having diabetes; if it wasn’t for Diabetes Canada.

Laura Syron: President and CEO, Diabetes Canada

So here at Diabetes Canada, one of the unique things we do, in addition to providing education and knowledge to patients is we actually help connect people who live with diabetes. And one of the most important ways we do that is we offer and have for over 50 years something called D -Camps or Diabetes Camp. And these are nine camps across the country, happen every summer. And the only campers there are kids who live with type 1 diabetes. What I often get told from parents is this is the one setting where my child comes

first and their diabetes comes second. And it’s just such a break. So these are very long -term impact and when we get donations from donors like Federated Health Charities, this helps us keep those camps going.

Elllie Fraser: Client, Diabetes Canada

Diabetes Canada has had a profound impact on my life. I really don’t think I would be the person I am today if it wasn’t for D-camps. I was a camper starting in 2004, I joined staff in 2012 until 2018 and I’m now co -chair of the Friends of Camp Miranda alumni committee. So I surround myself with people who have been profoundly impacted by what D-Camps and Diabetes Canada does for all of the formative years of my life for sure. Being able to spend time amongst other kids living with type 1 being able to mentor our kids with Type 1 Diabetes as a younger adult and then now being around so many people who really understand the importance of community is really phenomenal. It gave me a lot of confidence and really empowered me to do a lot of things in my life.

Laura Syron: President and CEO, Diabetes Canada

Ontario Public Service and Federated Health Charities have been just vital to the success of Diabetes Canada over the years. On a couple fronts, the first is this has been long -term sustainable funding and when you do things like research, you don’t know when the next breakthrough is going to come. It’s really important that Diabetes Canada continue to receive donations from groups like Federated Health because unfortunately Diabetes is not going away. This is a disease that more people are going to have and it’s more necessary than ever that we are able to provide education for people who get diagnosed. Advocacy so that as diabetes medications and devices get more expensive how can you make sure those that need them, and then changing that conversation so people who get diagnosed don’t feel stigmatized or blamed for their disease.

[End of recorded material 00:03:39]

[Start of recorded material 00:00:01]

Jason Lumb: Client, Kidney Foundation 

I was 45 years old when I suddenly became very sick. The doctors ran a bunch of tests on me, and they came back and told me my kidneys had failed. I was scared. I was sick. So I was unconscious for a lot of it.

Craig Lindsay: Director of Programs, Kidney Foundation 

Many people live with kidney disease their entire life. There is no cure. A transplant, for example, while an excellent treatment is not a cure. If you live with kidney disease, you need to find a way to live with it well for the rest of your life.

Jason Lumb: Client, Kidney Foundation 

In my case one of the biggest challenges I had when I was first diagnosed – the two years following while I was on dialysis and everything, I ended up having to go through 15 surgeries. It seemed like I was recovering from one surgery and getting ready for another surgery. So I went through a two-year period where it was just highs and lows and I was trying to get strong enough so I could do the next surgery, recover, get strong enough….it was just a circle.

Craig Lindsay: Director of Programs, Kidney Foundation 

Everything’s expensive and I think living well with kidney disease involves making dietary choices that lead to greater expenses. 

The Kidney Foundation is there when people struggle at the end of the month to make decisions between pay for medication, feeding their family, or putting gas in their car to get to dialysis. 

My hope is that working with Federated Health, all people will ever need from the Kidney Foundation is doing our Risk Assessment Tool, or knowing where to find us if they need us.

Jason Lumb: Client, Kidney Foundation 

Without the help of the Kidney Foundation, I wouldn’t have met a lot of wonderful people living with the same disease that I have. And, the support that I get from everybody with the Kidney Foundation.

Craig Lindsay: Director of Programs, Kidney Foundation 

The Ontario Public Service is really playing a key role putting important messaging before people who need to hear it. What’s unique about working with the Ontario Public Service is that the volunteers are enthusiastic; they’re passionate. It’s not something they feel they have to do, it’s something they want to do.

Jason Lumb: Client, Kidney Foundation 

There’s a saying that there’s strength in numbers and definitely with the Kidney Foundation and all the kidney patients that are involved with the Kidney Foundation, there certainly is strength in numbers.

Craig Lindsay: Director of Programs, Kidney Foundation 

I would say to those who currently support the Kidney Foundation, be confident that your dollars are having impact. They’re having impact today, and it’s having impact tomorrow. It’s supporting research that’s giving hope to those maybe who aren’t even diagnosed yet.

Jason Lumb: Client, Kidney Foundation 

To people who’ve already donated to this charity, I just want to say, ‘thank you’! Thank you for giving me the chance to grow as a person. Thank you for giving me my family. Thank you for giving me my life back.

[End of recorded material 00:02:48] 

Mary:
IAM is a charitable organisation and we support people with mental health challenges, as well as we work towards better solutions for better mental health. We take a different approach; we really start where people are at. So, if someone’s experiencing a mental health challenge or has some mental health needs, they don’t have to have a diagnosis to call us, because we are here to really help and support them wherever they are.

Having said that, we do work with a range of mental health issues, but we don’t like to refer to people regarding their diagnosis, we rather refer to people as to what they’re going through, and what are some of the mental health needs that they have.

Jesse:
I was diagnosed with schizophrenia in September of 1999 and it was very relieving for me to get a diagnosis, because then I knew what I was dealing with and I knew that there was some hope for me to move forward and deal with it. Oftentimes, mental health is connected with addictions and vice versa, and so I like to identify as being somebody with mental health and addictions issues.

That has been a blessing and a curse, in that I have been through a lot, I’ve suffered a lot, and I continue to suffer. But I’ve gained a lot of skills, and I have a lot of experience that I can use to help other people with mental health and addictions issues. I came in, very broken, very scared, very paranoid, very out of place and I found a home in IAM and I’ve forged some really good relationships with people at IAM.

Mary:
It’s really important to continue to receive donations from Federated Health and be part of Federated Health, because for our organisation, it forms a big part of our charitable donations that we receive. And to be part of Federated Health, I would say it’s twofold, is one is to continue to be able to support the work that we do with the organisation and deal with mental health challenges.

But also, a big part of Federated Health, is that we’re able to also give back to the donors who come through Fed Health, by raising awareness and by being available for them to access all of the programs and services that we have.

But I would say being part of Fed Health has given us that opportunity to really reach a lot more people. And it’s really great to work with my colleagues. We learn from each other, we dialogue, were very supportive to each other, and we have a lot of fun with the campaign.

Jesse:
So, a big thank you to OPS and Federated Health for all the support you’ve given us at IAM and we would love to continue that into the future.

To those of you who are considering making a donation to Federated Health Charities, I strongly encourage it, as IAM is doing great work in the community and is an amazing resource and has great programs.

Karen:

Parkinson Canada is an organization that supports people living with Parkinson all across the country. We do so through various services and programs, all the while trying to find a cure through funding research.

Parkinson’s is a disease that is progressive, and it affects the brain. However, then it leads to other issues such as movement, cognition. Currently there are no treatments to delay or slow down the progression of the disease.

There are about 40,000 people who live with Parkinson’s here in Ontario. And Parkinson’s disease not only impacts the one person who lives with the disease, but the family. And so, it’s really important that Parkinson Canada provides the proper support, resources, to help in terms of living a better life for the person living with Parkinson’s and for caregivers.

Larry:

I was fully diagnosed in 2012, although my symptoms – I started experiencing symptoms as early as 2009, with a twitching in my right hand and a walking gait that was off. So, I battled for about two or three years, going to see health professionals until my diagnosis in 2012 formally with Parkinson’s.

The fear that I have is the fact that Parkinson’s is incurable. So, I’m worried and concerned about what my future life will be. I try and live my life in the present, but I can’t help but think about my future life. But I try and focus on the aspects that I can control and that is living a full life, exercising, living mindfully in the present.

But the fear of the unknown is something that is always at the back of my mind. But I’m hoping that a cure is coming. And thanks to the research and the funding by Parkinson Canada, there is that road to a cure that hopefully will be reached.

To all the individuals who support Parkinson Canada and donate, thank you. Those are two little words, but those two words mean a lot. The dollars that are contributed go towards research. We’ve got to find a cure. And your dollars go a long way towards that. But also, it’s important to support the person with Parkinson’s as well as the community.

I have Parkinson’s but the effect is felt by my family as well. And the support in Donors like you, to Parkinson Canada, help us in the community support.

Mary:

Federated Health Charities is an important group for us particularly, because we can build awareness to the community of public sector. It’s really important, not only to give, but also, it’s really important to understand what is Parkinson’s? And more importantly, how can we raise the voice of people living with Parkinson’s within our community?

[End of recorded material 00:02:52]

Kristine L:
I was told by a neurologist that he was pretty sure I had ALS. I think I went home and cried for days.

George A:
It’s a very debilitating disease and for her to come home and say that she had ALS, it was pretty devastating.

Tammy Moore:
When somebody is given the diagnosis of ALS, they’re given two to five years to live currently. For them, it will be progressive paralysis that they will be facing. So within their community, what they’re going to be finding is needing assistance with the journey as they navigate it.

Kristine L:
I can’t do any of the day-to-day things. I can still use a spoon, but that’s leaving. My husband, he does everything for me. He does all the laundry, the cleaning, the shopping, the cooking.

George A:
We both had to retire early from our jobs. You don’t see as many people as you once did, because you don’t get I and out as much as you used to do.

Kristine L:
Caretakers don’t get enough support. They suffer from this as much as we do.

Tammy Moore:
ALS Canada is directly responsible for people living with ALS here in Ontario, as well as for advocacy, and then for the national research program, so that there will be a future without ALS.

Kristine L:
I sort of looked up ALS Canada online, and then shortly thereafter I got a phone call from Sarah, and the gist of the conversation was that I wouldn’t go through this alone.
Having Sarah come to me was the best thing ever.

George A:
She’s always there to make things enjoyable in a sort of non-enjoyable world.

Tammy Moore:
We can only imagine as we’re navigating this devastating illness, that you will want somebody that’s been there, that will be able to help you, to be able to understand what’s coming next, to be able to be in your home and to be able to see what your next supports might be that you will require.

George A:
The disease that needs support, it needs it for the funding of the day-to-day aspect of dealing with the people who are suffering.

Tammy Moore:
Being part of Federated Health Charities is very important to ALS Canada. We are 100% donor-funded, and those dollars really help us to be able to assist people within the community.

Kristine L:
We would have had to buy all the equipment or maintenance and now that I’m on disability and George had to retire, we would be in big debt. I just think it’s the greatest organisation to help us across Canada.

Margaret:
Autism Ontario started as a grassroots organisation, because parents were no longer willing to accept the status quo, about not having research about autism, supports for their families and programs in place that could help their children to grow, learn and thrive. And since that time, the organisation has grown, so that we can create a better world for people on the autism spectrum, and for their families, so that they can become all that they can be.

Whoever lives in Ontario has experiences and connections to autistic people, and we have the opportunity to connect with them. And the nature of those folks is that they are each unique individuals, even their diagnosis is unique to them, much like a thumbprint. But we do know that social engagement is an area of unique challenge. And so, what we really are about is talking about individuals, how we can help and how we understand autism, and what it means for that family in their particular context.

David:
When I first discovered that I was on the autism spectrum, it was the year 1998. And for me, discovering that I had Asperger Syndrome was a revelation, I finally knew why I was anti-social throughout my childhood, and why I have such difficulty with social situations and social cues. That was a very difficult time, because I would often spend time with teachers or principals or other school staff, rather than socialise with those my own age. And that’s something that was pervasive and well, as for my personal growth and development, there I struggled the quite genuinely, because of the lack of support for people on the spectrum at the time.

Margaret:
We came to be involved with Federated Health Charities and we were so pleased to say this is a way to connect to Ontario Public servants, and then to connect that to our organisation was just a thrill. But many of the services that we provide count on every dime, we’re able to fundraise and that includes programs for adults in particular. And helping them to get jobs, helping them to be connected in the community, to have a person who has a listening ear, to get questions answered, and to say what’s out there. Those things we are not funded to do and we rely on donations like the ones we Federated Help Charities to help us to do that.

David:
Some of my struggles included finding suitable employment, and there were some experts that genuinely worked with me and helped me and to ensure that I would be able to function as part of a team. And I’m forever grateful for those experts and the invaluable advice, perspective and service that they provided me.

What I would like to say to those individuals, I would like to say. Thank you, thank you for supporting this valued, inspiring organisation, thank you for donating your hard-earned salaries to individuals seeking support from Autism Ontario, thank you for all that you are doing to raise awareness about the challenges people in the autism community face. And thank you most sincerely for your ongoing support, I’m deeply and humbly grateful for it.

To those individuals that are considering donating to Autism Ontario, please support this organisation. It’s through their services, their programs, their talented staff, that I’m the individual that you see before you today. And please, if you happen to know someone who is on the spectrum or someone who’s connected to the community, please make autism matter.

[Start of recorded material 00:00:03]

Kate Lee, Vice President, Research and Patient Programs, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada

Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is a national health charity. We’re on a relentless journey to help the over 322 ,000 Canadians living with these diseases. We were founded in 1974 by a group of parents whose children had these diseases. And imagine in 1974 how difficult it was to diagnose those diseases. Our promise is to find the cures and to improve the lives of everyone affected by these diseases. We do this through supporting research in Canada, as well as developing patient programs and support services to help everyone who reach out to us to support their journey.

Rebecca Voltan, Client, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada

I found out about my diagnosis in 1997. I was in grade seven at the time, 11 years old, and I would say that it made me feel very isolated and confused. I was a child. I’d never been sick before. I didn’t really understand the symptoms that I was experiencing, and I didn’t know how

to ask for help at the time, so it was also followed by a lot of doctor’s appointments and missing a lot of school, so it did definitely feel very reclusive compared to all my friends. Mentally, because I’ve dealt with it for so long and you’re constantly running to and from the bathroom, I have severe anxiety. I worry about what I’m going to eat, when I’m going to eat, and how it’s going to affect me. And sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s bad. It also, I think, takes a

really big strain on your family. And I think there’s some things that you then feel responsible for. So that’s been interesting navigating. And I don’t think people understand that there are so many other things that could be a side effect of having Crohn’s or Colitis.

Kate Lee, Vice President, Research and Patient Programs, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative Colitis are chronic autoimmune diseases. This means that when someone is diagnosed with the disease, they live with the disease. It is an inflammatory disease that attacks the digestive tract, meaning sores throughout the digestive tract. This leads to symptoms such as chronic pain. It’s episodic, so it’s not necessarily always there, but because it’s episodic, it’s unpredictable. When people are in a flare experience, they’re in severe pain. It also leads to unpredictable bowel movements, diarrhea, bloody stools. So Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis patients also experience anemia, chronic fatigue, and also mental health issues.

Rebecca Voltan, Client, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada

Crohn’s and Colitis Canada has made a difference in my life just to have a community to belong to. I think it’s really important to not feel isolated and I think with the foundation and with the apps and the ways that you can get connected, it definitely makes you feel like you have a community of people who understand what you’re going through on a daily basis.

Kate Lee, Vice President, Research and Patient Programs, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada

We’ve been a member of Federated Health Charities since 1998, and we are so grateful for this partnership. With this partnership, Federated Health Charities has donated over $2 .4 million to our organization. That is a tremendous amount of support. And without the generous donations of those who actually donate to the Federated Health Charities, we wouldn’t be receiving those funds. And those funds go directly towards all our mission activities, supporting our researchers to find the cures, supporting us in terms of developing programs to support those living with IBD. So these will be programs such as mental health support, finding services in their region. Anything that they come to us, we’re here for them. And it’s through generous donations from those who donate directly to Federated Health Charities that we’re able to do this.

Rebecca Voltan, Client, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada

Every dollar helps. Regardless, if you don’t think it’s going to make an impact, I think that, you know, it’s a start in the right direction and that you will be helping people, and they’ll appreciate it as much as I do. You make a difference in people’s worlds, and you probably don’t even know it on a daily basis and sometimes you think your money just goes away but it’s definitely helping people who need it.

[End of recorded material 00:04:01]

[Start of recorded material 00:00:04]

Brady Carballo-Hambleton: Senior Vice President, Ontario and Nunavut, Heart & Stroke

Heart & Stroke is a national, not for profit organization that exists to beat heart disease and stroke. And, since the 1950’s, we’ve invested in life-saving research, treatment, diagnosis, and care, and have been at the leading edge of breakthroughs that combat these diseases. We are one of Canada’s largest and most effective health charities. We have just over 300 staff working tirelessly day in and day out. And, we like to say that we’re the catalyst convenor, and that we are one of the most highly collaborative organizations. We don’t work alone. We work in collaboration with organizations, stakeholders, and like-minded organizations and  institutions to drive progress and change. Since our inception, we’ve invested over $1.7 billion dollars in research that drives breakthroughs and discoveries that have significantly improved the overall quality of life, the survivability and the outcomes for Canadians, coast to coast to coast.

Kathy Isaac, Client, Volunteer, Heart & Stroke

I am now almost 4 years post stroke, and so I’ve seen a lot of recovery and a lot of good stuff happen for me, but I still have some challenges, and one of the biggest challenges I face now is the invisible side of things where people look at me and think everything’s fine and everything’s okay. Asking for help was a big challenge early on. I had to learn to ask for help. But now, asking for help and not getting the help I need is incredibly frustrating and challenging. I don’t want to  explain myself to people all the time. I don’t want to tell people and continuously just have to talk about what happened to me and why I need support and help. I find that to be one of the most challenging things is to just kind of get people to accept the fact that I’m asking for help and I just need you to help me do something.

Heart & Stroke has made a huge difference in my life. Initially, in helping me get the resources that I needed to take the next step in my recovery journey. So when I initially had the stroke, I had three months out patient therapy. And when they dismissed me from that and graduated me, it was all congratulations and cheers, but I was in tears. I was like but i’m not done. I have so much more work to do. And at the hospital somebody handed me a Heart & Stroke flyer and kinda said check out these folks out and see what they can do. Things kind of took off from there. Heart & Stroke has been great at helping me get access to care, to resources and community groups to help me take the next step in my recovery journey.

Brady Carballo-Hambleton: Senior Vice President, Ontario and Nunavut, Heart & Stroke

Heart & Stroke has been associated with Federated Health Charities for several decades. In fact, we were the second national health charity to join, and we are proud to be one of 21 health charities that Federated Health Charities now supports.  Our partnership with Federated Health Charities is by far one of the most important in the province of Ontario. We benefit tremendously from employee giving through one-time donations, monthly donations, your annual lottery, as well as events. We’ve also benefitted greatly from the ability to share important public education and awareness campaigns with Federated Health Charity members, and that truly is a win-win partnership for us.

Kathy Isaac, Client, Volunteer, Heart & Stroke

If you’re thinking about contributing to Heart & Stroke and haven’t done it yet, first let me say that had the opportunity to work with a lot of people at Heart & Stroke and know quite a few people here. I truly believe that everyone at Heart & Stroke – the entire team – has a genuine desire to improve access to care and to resources for people who were affected by heart disease and stroke and their caregivers. This is a real organization doing really great work and there’s still a lot more work to do and this is where we get an opportunity to contribute, to help each other, to unify in reaching common goals. And so, if you’re still considering, still thinking about it this is a really great place to contribute. It will help you and your family and future generations going forward.

Brady Carballo-Hambleton: Senior Vice President, Ontario and Nunavut, Heart & Stroke

Ninety three percent (93%) of our work is funded by donor dollars. So, a massive amount of what we do on an annual basis relies heavily on contributions from donors. In 2024 alone, Heart & Stroke was able to fund over 1,000 research initiatives through individual grants, as well as a number of strategic projects focused on areas such as women’s heart and brain health, congenital heart disease, cardiac arrest and our new funding track of Black and Indigenous scholars.

[End of recorded material 00:04:19]

Jennifer Nebesky:

The Canadian Liver Foundation raises funds to bring research to life. And what that means is we support life-changing programs, fund research, advocate, and are the voice for the 1-in-4 living with liver disease across Canada.

There are over a hundred different diseases that affect the liver. The most common are non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, hepatitis A, B and C, and liver cancer.

Nem Maksimovic:

Liver disease is a silent killer. Liver disease affects 1-in-4 Canadians Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects close to eight million Canadians.it is considered the most common liver disease in Canada. Investing in the Canadian Liver Foundation helps us invest in liver health research. Liver health research is pivotal and extremely important to find a cure and hopefully better management techniques for all those living with liver disease in Canada.

Jennifer Nebesky:

We couldn’t do the critical work we do without Federated Health Charites. Since 1991 the organization has been supporting the Canadian Liver Foundation, and that money has helped to ensure that we provide the critical support programs that are necessary for Canadians and Ontarians living with liver disease.

Ontario Public Service employees have funded life-changing programs. They funded life-changing research, and it’s important to the Canadian Liver Foundation that we are also there for the Ontario Public Service employees and their families because they are the 1-in-4 that are being impacted by liver disease.

Nem Maksimovic:

Liver disease presents many fears. It affects the individual, their family members and their caregivers throughout their journeys with liver disease. To the donors of the Ontario Public Service, every dollar that goes towards the Canadian Liver Foundation helps save lives. This means additional resources and educational tools for all Canadians living with liver disease, peer support networks and educational webinars for those looking to connect with individuals living or experiencing their same condition, as well as investing in life-saving liver health research to hopefully find a cure or better management techniques for liver disease in Canada.

Jennifer Nebesky:

The Federated Health Charities’ campaigns are different because they’ve provided the Canadian Liver Foundation with ongoing support, unrestricted revenue that allow us to build and develop programs that support Ontarians and Canadians alike, who are living with liver disease. We could not do this without Federated Health Charities and we are so grateful for that.

[End of recorded material 00:02:39]

Tania:

The MS Society of Canada, we work to support people – Canadians – who live with MS. MS is highly prevalent in Canada. We’ve got one of the highest rates in the entire world. About 77,000 Canadians live with MS and three times more likely to affect women than men. And it’s really does strike in those prime years of life – those years where we’re young, starting families, building our future.

So, the way that we support and of course we fund very important research into the cause, cure, treatments and just general understanding about the disease. But also provide very important programs and services for people living with the disease today.

Multiple Sclerosis is classified as an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. It can manifest itself in so many different ways. And that’s one of the most challenging pieces of MS. No doctor can tell you exactly what’s going to happen.

In the relapsing remitting form of the disease, sometimes there’s recovery. You start to get better and you don’t really know when that next attack will come. And the other form of the disease, progressive MS, it just continually gets worse over time.

So, it’s really – it’s – there’s a great deal of uncertainty and unpredictability with the disease. It can be life altering for anyone that lives with it.

Kaileigh:

I was diagnosed in 2013. And it was a long hard road to that diagnosis. It was like four years of many different things that I could or could not be and many trips to the ER. So, actually when I was diagnosed, it was a little bit of a relief, because it was an answer to a question that seemed unanswerable.

But it was also crazy scary at the same time. I was 23 years old and I had just started on a career that I absolutely loved. And I was working really, really hard and was worried that this was going to change my life. And I mean, it did. It was kind of the obliteration of expectation.

I spent a good three, four years keeping my diagnosis to myself predominantly and it was not a fun place to be. I was definitely in a little bit of denial, but also just afraid of what people would think. And I didn’t see that there was any – that there could be any power to that. Or, that this was actually something that could be positive.

And the MS Society really helped me find the positive and find the community that I needed to help support me. So, I think I would just – I just certainly wouldn’t be the person I am today, without having the support of the community that the MS Society introduced me to.

I would say to the Donors that it’s incredible what your donations are doing, absolutely. You’re supporting a cause and a community with your donations. But you’re also advocating for a community of people who need advocating for.

Tania:

Absolutely everything we do relies on Donor dollars, which is why we’re so grateful for campaigns like this. So, we’re so grateful for Donor dollars that allow us to do this important work. Every single piece of our work is made possible, only through donations.

[End of recorded material 00:03:22]

Lanre:

The Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario is a leading patient organization that’s dedicated to supporting patients and families affected by sickle cell disease. We support advocacy with the government, schools, workplace, healthcare system. We provide care providers and patient disease management education programs. We support health promotion, community awareness. We also help to provide scholarship for the young students who have sickle cell disease and in dire financial situations. So, in a nutshell, the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario is a support and advocacy organization for families affected by sickle cell disease.

As a small organization, the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario is currently 100% volunteer run. While that is good in principle, volunteers also have day jobs. And so it makes it very difficult for us to do many of the programs that are essential to supporting the families with sickle cell disease.

By being part of the Federated Health Charities and receiving donations we’ll be able to hire, even if it’s one or two staff members, to support our programs. We will be able to also put in place additional programs to support these families that do need us. They dearly need programs and support. And if we receive donations, we will be able to move forward with many of those programs that will improve the care that they do receive in order to ensure they have improved quality of life.

Lynella:

I didn’t find out. My parents did. I was three years old, living in South America, Guyana, and they find me being a colicky child so they explore avenues with what might be wrong. And I was tested positive for sickle cells anemia it was called back then. Now it’s called sickle cells disease. So they received the bad news. I was a child so I didn’t really feel the impact of it as a child, not knowing what it was then.

But in my adolescent years of life I’ve come to understand what it was, how it impact me, how it made me feel. So, being shunned out from a lot of things that normal kids would have done, it has made an impact that way in keeping me restricted to limited things that I could physically accomplished during an adolescent time in your life as a teenager.

This disease affects my life in many different ways. Having to spend most times in the ER in a hospital, long weeks, months, doctor visits, having a social life, keeping a steady job, being part of school system. It affects in every physical ability I do have, you know, sports and hanging out. You have to prepare yourself to have a bad day and start with a good day and end with a bad day. You have to just roll with, just cope, like coping with the disease.

Without the help of a charity, I would probably be just wondering if I was the only one still. You know, going in and out of life without the support, going in and out of crisis without someone to relate to, not having the education to follow up with the disease, not having the advocacy of a charity to help voice the concerns of the disease. So, it’s given me the support to come out and say, hey, my name is Lynella Welcome. I have sickle cells disease and I cannot do X, Y and Z, things that you could do. I have limitations to my physical self and what I accomplish in a day and how much of it I can do in one day.

Lanre:

So the Federated Health Charities are supporting the organization to get donations from the Ontario Public Services, the OPS. And these donations are helping to ensure that our programs continue to run and that we continue to support the families that dearly, dearly need our support. So, we’re very happy that sickle cell disease is getting donations through the Federated Health Charities to ensure that we continue to move forward in our mission. And our mission is simply to improve the lives of individuals living with sickle cell disease.

[End of recorded material 00:05:04]