It’s not yet December 21st, but it certainly feels like winter is here. I don’t think I’m alone in wanting to stay inside with my loved ones. And that’s a luxury that I’m grateful to have. Families have all kinds of traditions this time of year – skating at Nathan Phillips Square, The Nutcracker, Chinese food and a movie, Baileys in hot chocolate…and I’m proposing a new one to you.
This month we released our most recent Good to Give Guide: Resilient Toronto Edition. The guide is a detailed catalogue of local donation-ready organizations, projects and social enterprises. If you have the opportunity to spend time with friends and family over the holidays, bring our Good to Give Guide. We created this guide to use on your own, but also as a great conversation starter. We’ve categorized the organizations by the most pressing issues, that also provide us with the biggest opportunity to make an impact with philanthropy.
Here are some issue highlights:
Aging with Dignity
In many cases seniors live disconnected from community and supports, which can have damaging impacts on health and quality of life.
Housing Precarity
At the end of 2015, approximately 85,000 families and individuals were on the active waiting list for affordable housing in Toronto.
Social Inclusion
Discrimination happens too often in our society, from hate crimes to employment, and rental housing to civic engagement. Discrimination harms individuals but it also fragments our communities.
Child and Youth Poverty
Poverty creates a complex web: families with low incomes are often unable to afford healthy foods which results in poor nutrition, disrupting young people’s study and undermining educational opportunities.
Climate Justice
After generations of short-sighted choices, Toronto will need massive policy change, corporate action, and wholesale changes in human behaviour to curtail further changes. In 2013 Toronto sustained $1B in damages from extreme weather.
Access the Good to Give Guide here to find out what organizations are getting to the heart of these issues.
What stands out to you? Is there an issue that might resonate with friends and family?
It’s our hope that this will be helpful in guiding your generosity this season.
Glad tidings & good cheer!
Sharon