Community Spins Out $18,000 For Children With Autism

For Immediate Release – February 9, 2010

Raffaela Bozzato, organizer of the second annual Spinning for Autism event will present a cheque for $18,000 to Shining Through on Friday, February 13, 2010 at 3:30 p.m. at its Woodbridge location, 7365 Martin Grove Road. Shining Through Clinical Director Shiri Bartman, Board Member Jess Abramson, and Raffaela Bozzato will be in attendance at the cheque presentation.

"Without the generous support of third party fundraisers like Spinning for Autism, we could not possibly continue to deliver such life altering results for children with autism and their families," explains Abramson. "We appreciate Raffaela's creative approach to fundraising and encourage other community and corporate groups to host their own fun, team-building events in support of this worthwhile cause."

Spinning for Autism has become one of Shining Through's largest third party fundraisers. In addition to our many dedicated "spinners", Shining Through thanks honoured guests Ward 2 Councillor Tony Carella, Ward 3 Councillor Bernie DiVona and Shining Through Board Chair Fred Santini for their attendance at the event.

Autism is recognized as the most common neurological disorder affecting children in Canada. An estimated 10,000 children are currently diagnosed with the disorder in Ontario.

Jess Abramson, Member of the Shinning Through Centre’s Board of Directors, is available for interviews.

For Media Inquiries Contact:
Meg Young, theadlibgroup
T: 416-447-9686
E: pr@theadlibgroup.com

From Patchwork to Schoolwork...Project LUCA raises over $100,000 for children with Autism using Quilts & Quilting

For Immediate Release - March 10, 2010

Woodbridge/North York, ON - On March 5, 2010, Shining Through Centre launched its new fundraising initiative, Project LUCA (Loving and Understanding Children with Autism), at its 11th Annual Fundraising Gala in Brampton, ON.

Designed to fundraise for and raise awareness about children with Autism in a unique way – using quilts and quilting – Project LUCA was warmly embraced by Gala guests, who donated over $100,000 to support its launch.

"Insofar as quilting is the act of individuals stitching small pieces together into a beautiful whole," says Project LUCA creator, Jess Abramson, "it is the perfect symbol (literal and physical) for families’ and communities’ approach to solving the puzzle of Autism."

Luca, age eight, is a student at Shining Through. Diagnosed with Autism at two, he enrolled in Shining Through just before turning four and has since learned to speak, read, type, perform independent care tasks and play with his brother. The most important change his family has observed is that Luca now seeks their affection.

Luca's family, like many families of children with Autism, is facing the loss of government funding for his education - funding that enables him to attend Shining Through, Ontario's foremost provider of intensive Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy. Without this funding, Luca will be forced to withdraw from the Centre.

"Our goal for Luca is the same as it's always been: to get him the best possible education and continue to improve his social skills," says Luca's father. "Without Shining Through, that goal will be far more difficult to attain."

Dedicated to helping Autistic children, like Luca, and their families access the best possible education, Project LUCA offers numerous avenues for participation, from participating in the "Friends of Project LUCA" Quiltathon to making a "Quilt n' Tie" Corporate Quilt to booking a "Stitch n' Learn" Educational Workshop for your classroom. Everyone from sewing rookies to quilting artisans is invited to participate in the project.

To learn more, donate or become a sponsor, please go to www.projectluca.com

About Project LUCA (Loving and Understanding Children with Autism):

Project LUCA (Loving and Understanding Children with Autism) is about bringing families and communities together around children with Autism. Project LUCA uses quilts and quilting as fundraising and educational tools in support of Autistic children and their families. For more information please visit www.projectluca.com

About Shining Through Centre:

The Shining Through Centre was founded in 2001 to provide an intensive and comprehensive educational program for children with Autism. With campuses located in Woodbridge and North York, the Shining Through Centre is regarded as the premier site in Ontario for support for children with Autism. The program is based on scientifically validated procedures of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), offered through one-on-one instruction for each child. For more information please visit www.shiningthrough.ca

Jess Abramson, creator of Project LUCA, is available for interviews.

For Media Inquiries contact:

Meg Young, theadlibgroup
T: 416-447-9686
F: 416-447-4034
E: pr@theadlibgroup.com

11th Annual Fundraising Gala Dinner

Event Date: Friday, March 5, 2010

 

Shining Through featured on Global TV

Global TV recently visited the Shining Through Centre Beecroft Campus.

Click here to view the feature on www.globaltoronto.com

 

Beecroft Campus Opening/year-end gathering

The Shining Through Centre for Children with Autism is proud to open a second centre called the Beecroft Campus in North York. The Beecroft Campus will provide the same intensive, comprehensive educational program to children and families with Autism that have benefited the Woodbridge Campus community.

Click the link below to visit the SNAP photo page from this event:
SNAP photo page: Beecroft campus opening/year-end gathering

 

$10,000 Spinning for Autism fundraiser

Spinning For Autism was recently held over a 2 day span at the Al Palladini Community Centre. The two evening event was put on to raise much needed funds for the Shining Through Centre for Children with Autism in Woodbridge.

Click the link below to visit the SNAP photo page from this event:
SNAP photo page: Spinning for Autism Fundraiser

 

Shining Through Announces Expansion

At our last Annual General Meeting, in May of 2007, our Board President Fred Santini noted that the Shining Through Centre would be investigating opportunities for future expansion. I am very pleased to report that we are now completing negotiations to bring the Beecroft Learning Centre into the Shining Through family.

Click the link below to read David Clement's letter to parents about this expansion:
Shining Through Announces Expansion.pdf

New Staff Announcement

We are very pleased to announce that Christina Azzopardi will be joining our Shining Through family as our new Administrative Coordinator on January 7, 2008.

Christina has a solid background in non-profit front office admin support and project management - most recently with the Parkinson Society of Canada. In the now expanded Administrative Coordinator's position, Christina will be well suited to not only take over the duties of Dale Bolton but also to support my office with the new initiates and projects anticipated in 2008.

Please join me in welcoming Christina to our team.

Unity for Autism Funding Announcement

I am very pleased to report that we have been selected as one of the five recipients of the 2008 Unity for Autism grants. Our proposal to, and subsequent visit from, the Directors of the fund was well recieved. It is a credit to Shining Through to be recognized as a "Centre of Excellence". Our proposal was to fund 25 all-in-one touch screen computers. This is a device that is now becoming a standard as an assistive device for school boards. For more information on the Fund please visit their website at, www.unityforautism.ca, and click on 'grants'.

Many thanks to John DeBartolo for finding this great technology and to Pat Cesario for the great funding lead. Also many thanks to Anthony Bell of One Monitor for the technical support and advice. What a Team.

We can now build on this success as a model for future successful grant applications.

This is great news and a wonderful way to end the year.
Thanks,
David.

Children's Artwork Helps Raise Autism Awareness at Auction

We are very pleased to report that we have received a $25,000 donation from the TD Securities Employee Charity Auction. A few months ago, TD approached Shining Through Centre for five pieces of art produced by the very talented artists here at Shining Through. The pieces were framed and sold at auction raising $25,000. We certainly had high expectations that the "Woodbridge Collection" would be sought after by collectors but very pleasantly surprised at the high value of the winning bids.

Click the link below to read our media release about this success:
Children’s Artwork Helps Raise Autism Awareness At Auction.pdf

Click the link below to Vaughan Today’s front page article:
Autistic Youths’ Artwork Shines at Charity Auction.pdf

Visit from Swiss Autism Experts Generates TV Coverage for Shining Through

I am very pleased to report that the Media Alert generated some TV coverage. Rogers Cable 63 filmed the centre's visitors from Switzerland. They did interviews with Benedicte and with our Shiri Bartman. The piece was on their local evening news called First Local, which aired November 5th, 2007 at 6:00 and 6:30 pm.

Click the link below to see the video clip of Shining Through on First Local.
Shining Through Welcomes Swiss Autism Experts

Click the link below to read the Media Alert about this exciting visit:
Shining Through Welcomes Swiss Autism Experts.pdf

Shining Through on Rogers Cable

Our Clinical Director, Shiri Bartman, was invited to appear on a local Rogers Cable show called Insights on October 27th 2007. It was a one-hour phone-in panel discussion show on Autism. We are very excited about this great opportunity to promote the cause generally and Shining Through specifically.

St. Louis Bar and Grill Golf Tournament Raises $20,000 for Shining Through

Shining Through Centre has just received a $20,000 donation cheque from the amazing folks at St. Louis Bar and Grill from their golf tournament. The tournament, held this past June, involved 144 golfers, ranging from franchisees and their customer and staff to sales people that deal in food and beverage.

Click the link below to read more about St. Louis’ generous support of Shining Through:
St. Louis Golfers Raise $20,000.pdf

Shining Through is the Sheet Metal Workers Union’s Charity of Choice

We are very pleased to report that Local 285 of the Sheet Metal Workers Union selected Shining Through as its charity of choice this year. Their Theatre Night generated $6,000 for Shining Through. Many thanks to all the Local 285 organizers, theatregoers and supporters for their hard work and generosity. Congratulations to our John DeBartolo for building this great relationship.

New Staff Announcement

We are very pleased to announce that Taryn Walsh will be joining our first floor team as the new Supervising Instructor. Taryn has extensive experience in the field having worked intensively with children with Autism as the Lead Therapist at OVA in Geneva Switzerland.

Click the link below to learn more about our new Supervising Instructor, Taryn Walsh:
New Staff Announcement.pdf