Donner Canadian Foundation and The Fraser Institute Recognize Performance in the Non-Profit Sector
Contact:
Suzanne Walters, Director of Communications
The Fraser Institute, (604) 714-4582 Email: suzannew@fraserinstitute.caFor Immediate Release
TORONTO, ON, OCTOBER 29, 1999>>>The Honourable Hilary M. Weston, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, presented the Donner Canadian Foundation Awards for Excellence in the Delivery of Social Services at a Queen's Park reception today. The Donner Canadian Foundation, with the assistance of The Fraser Institute, established these annual awards to recognize efficiency and effectiveness among non-profit agencies at the community level.
"We had two hopes with these awards," says Patrick Luciani, Executive Director, Donner Canadian Foundation, "to recognize and encourage the spirit of initiative and independence, and to provide donors with assistance in their assessment of charities. It gives us great pleasure to recognize exceptional organizations that are accomplishing so much."
Chosen from among 382 applicants, awards totalling $55,000 are presented to agencies in seven categories: child care, crisis intervention and counselling, educational services, prevention and treatment of substance abuse, provision of basic necessities, services to the disabled, and services to seniors. Awards of $5,000 are presented to the top-performing agency in each of these categories. An additional award of $20,000 for overall performance is given to the agency receiving the highest score.
The $20,000 Donner Canadian Foundation Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Social Services was presented to St. Joseph's Villa, Dundas, Ontario, for overall excellence among the agencies. St. Joseph's Villa, established by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1879, is one of Canada's largest and most innovative long-term care facilities for seniors who cannot manage independent lifestyles.
"These awards honour a sector that isn't recognized often enough for its important contribution to society. Today we're recognizing and rewarding non-profit agencies for the importance of that contribution," says Jason Clemens of The Fraser Institute and the project's co-ordinator.
Donner Canadian Foundation Award for Excellence in the Delivery of Social Services ($20,000)
St. Joseph's Villa-Dundas, Ontario
Awards of $5,000 were made to each of these agencies:
Child Care Services
Youville Centre Ottawa-Carleton Inc. -Ottawa, Ontario
Crisis Intervention / Counselling
Sarnia-Lambton Rebound-Sarnia, Ontario
Educational Services
York Region Abuse Program-Newmarket, Ontario
Prevention & Treatment of Substance Abuse
Wood's Homes Program Eagle Moon Lodge-Calgary, Alberta
Provision of Basic Necessities
AIDS Vancouver-Vancouver, British Columbia
Services to the Disabled
Norfolk Association for Community Living-Simcoe, Ontario
Services to Seniors
St. Joseph's Villa-Dundas, Ontario
As administrator of the program, The Fraser Institute established the evaluation protocol, with the input from the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy, the Canadian Cancer Society (BC & Yukon Division), the Trillium Foundation, and Family Services Canada.
"The program establishes a source of objective performance data in a sector which is being challenged to quantify its contribution," says Clemens. "This data will help agencies focus their often limited resources on areas of improvement and ensure they are providing services effectively."
The Donner Canadian Foundation (DCF) was established in 1950 by William H. Donner and is one Canada's largest, and oldest, private foundations. The Donner Canadian Foundation is dedicated to supporting projects that emphasize self-reliance, individual initiative and independence.
Established in 1974, The Fraser Institute is an independent public policy organization based in Vancouver.
For further information contact:
Suzanne Walters, Director of Communications,
The Fraser Institute, (604) 714-4582,
Email suzannew@fraserinstitute.ca
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