Dream Launcher Newsletter
Learn about the impact of your donations on the lives of our Ottawa children, youth and families.
January 2024
In this newsletter, we share the impact that your ongoing gift has made on the children, youth and families involved with child welfare. We feature stories and messages that come directly from our youth ambassadors as well as a message from an incredible front-line child protection worker.
Letter from Walter Noble, Executive Director, CAF Ottawa
You made a difference to over 2,000 kids in 2023!
Thank you to our monthly and annual Dream Launcher Community Donors. Your ongoing gift powers the Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa to reliably fund preventative programs and respond to emergency needs throughout the year. I’m truly grateful that you continue to support the children, youth and families who rely on The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa for support and services.
Which leads me to the purpose of this email. I want to share our accomplishments over the last year. The ‘Dream Launcher Impact Report 2023’ below summarizes the programs and initiatives that you support and further down this email, I have included our youth ambassador stories and latest media coverage.
Feature Article: “Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa helping youth transition out of foster care into independence,”
David DeRocco, January 15, CityNews Ottawa
The article provides insight on why youth continue to need help when leaving the child welfare system at 18 years of age. It provides an overview of the Government of Canada program that is in place to support youth who age out of foster care, and how the foundation needs to continue to help fill the gaps.
Feature Interview: Andrea Young, Youth Ambassador
During An Hour to Give with Sam Laprade, which aired last week, you’ll hear from our eloquent youth ambassador, Andrea Young. She shares how you and the Ottawa Dream Launcher Community helped her as she grew up in care; to keep playing soccer, and later obtain a degree in Criminal Justice from Nippissing University. Her resiliency is remarkable!
Kelly Raymond, Executive Director CAS Ottawa, (12:45) speaks to demystify some public assumptions on the work that they do in our community, and Erin Kennedy, Youth Services Supervisor, (25:05) shares the hard work that she and her team do to support youth across Ottawa in their transition out of care and into adulthood. Walter Noble, Executive Director CAF Ottawa, (37:23) explains how the foundation helps to support CAS Ottawa in all they do.
More stories were shared last year…
Last year, we sent you quarterly e-newsletters to keep you updated. Over the course of 2023, with gracious consent from our youth ambassadors, we managed to record the remarkable life stories of Kurt and Journee, former youth in foster care. They shared how the Youth Works Program and Dare to Dream Bursary helped them to successfully transition to purposeful young adulthood. (See their stories on the CAF Ottawa YouTube Channel)
Missed Kurt and Journee’s Stories?…
Stay informed about how your donations are being used and learn more about your impact on our Ottawa kids, by going to our Youtube Channel and Your Impact webpage:
You helped Launch over 2,000 Dreams this Year!
On behalf of the CAF Ottawa Team, the CAS Ottawa Team, and myself, we are all sincerely grateful for your continued help.
Sincerely,
Walter Noble
Executive Director
Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa
What’s next?…
Presented by
ANNUAL EVENTS
Salut!
Prepare your palates for an evening of wine, food, and good company.
CAFO Charity Golf Tournament
Grab your clubs and three closest friends and come out to our annual golf tournament.
World Trivia Night
You better start studying and bring your A-game for Canada’s largest live trivia contest.
Salut!
Prepare your palates for an evening of wine, food, and good company.
CAFO Charity Golf Tournament
Grab your clubs and three closest friends and come out to our annual golf tournament.
World Trivia Night
You better start studying and bring your A-game for Canada’s largest live trivia contest.