In June 2011 we held a community

celebration for our 10th Anniversary

where patrons Dorothy & Bill Campbell

and Paul Williamson established the

Sharon Brooks fund for early learning

with the Brant Community Foundation.

Kids Can Fly was advancing our foot-

print in the community with an Ontario

Trillium Grant that allowed us to redo

our website and reach out more to

young families using social media.

Facebook and Twitter accounts were

implemented and managed by Jeanne

Smitiuch and Patti Berardi. We also

produced 4 early learning documenta-

ries for Rogers TV - Inspiring Young

Minds. They showcased local pro-

grams for young children while provid-

ing understanding of the importance of

literacy, early brain stimulation, keeping

kids active and supporting parents. We trained 16 new

Roots of Empathy instructors, 8 of which were ECE’s in

the full day kindergarten. We were nominated for the

YMCA Peace Medal for our work with Roots of Empa-

thy. We have now provided the program to over 9000

children in Brant! The Launch Pad continued to offer a

popular program for parents, we held our largest ever

ECE Banquet and our first Soup Sale for United Way.

We led a community planning table to fill a gap in sup-

port for women with postpartum depression and did a

lot of public education through

Rogers and the Expositor.

Our board grew from 12—14 and

the members continue to demon-

strate outstanding dedication to our

mission. Jeanne, Joe and Lisa

joined Sharon at the Imagination

Library conference in June which

has inspired us to grow this amaz-

ing program. DREAM MORE!

Kids Can Fly Going Strong!

2012 has been an amazing year for Kids

Can Fly! Our board, staff and volunteers

have gone above and beyond to expand

our programs and continue providing

exemplary services and support to chil-

dren, their caregivers and families. This

year, we focused on a few key areas and

achieved great success. We rebranded

our website and focused on social media

to connect with parents and expand our

public education. Imagination Library

grew and we were able to add many

more children. Kids Can Fly was instru-

mental in developing a task force on

Postpartum Depression and has worked

to support women suffering from PPD

and also played a key role in educating

the public and creating awareness

around the condition. Our board is a working board

and we continue to respond to the ever changing

needs of our community. I would like to take this

time to thank our staff, board and volunteers for

their contributions to Kids Can Fly. We set the bar

high and continue to show a great example of com-

mitment to our commu-

nity, children and fami-

lies! 2012-2013 will see a

continued focus on ex-

pansion in our Imagina-

tion Library, public edu-

cation and the continua-

tion of excellent pro-

gramming and services

like Roots of Empathy,

Parachute Program and

the Launch Pad.

Report from the Chair: Patti BerardiReport from the Chair: Patti Berardi

Tel 519 448 1713 Email info@kidscanfly.ca website www.kidscanfly.ca

Message from the

Executive Director

We finished off our tenth

anniversary year energized

and jumped into 2012 ready

to meet new goals. I am

very proud of the efforts we

have put into helping to fill

the gap of support for

women with post partum

depression and our fundrais-

ing success for Imagination

Library. I cannot say

enough about the hard work

and dedication that our

board

members put

into Kids Can

Fly. This is our

true strength!

Sharon Brooks RECE

Executive Director

Jane Flinders RECE

Launch Pad/Parachute

Board of DirectorsBoard of DirectorsBoard of Directors

ExecutiveExecutiveExecutive

Patti Berardi: Chair Patti Berardi: Chair

Patti Kunashko / Vice Chair Patti Kunashko / Vice Chair

Nora Leung/ Treasurer Nora Leung/ Treasurer

Jeanne Smitiuch Jeanne Smitiuch Past Chair Past Chair

MEMBERS MEMBERS

Lisa Collins

Mellissa Ferrao

Jennifer Kinneman

Tracy McMillan

Robin Matthews Osmond

Joe Persia

Zeta Phillipo

Sarah Roarke

Cathie Rice

Heather Wilson

Honorary Board Members

Jennifer Boughner

Jackie Delong

Jessica Godin

Penny McVicar

John Utley

Kids Can Fly–Early Child Development & Parent Support/ CHARITABLE # 884476904RR0001

Annual

Report

2011—2012

Staff

Thanks to the ongoing support of

Bill and Dorothy Campbell the

Launch Pad provided a caring and

welcoming program for families.

Our numbers remained high and

attendance consistent. We had

moms, dads, caregivers, grand-

parents, foster parents and stu-

dents joining us. They came by

car, bus, taxi or walked. Other agencies referred or escorted cli-

ents for their first visit. The free taxi allowed access for anyone

who needed transportation and we remained one of the few pro-

grams to offer this wonderful service. We have built a reputation

in the community of offering a high quality and professional pro-

gram. One of our highlights is the music and circle time. In the

fall of 2011 we have an exceptional, male Laurier student on placement who built warm relationships with the children

and adults. Having a male role model is very special and we are pleased to have Laurier, Medix and Mohawk ECE stu-

dents learn through placements at our site. For the first time we were granted use of the gym several times a week for

active play. A grant from the Brant Community Foundation Youth Committee allowed us to purchased gross motor

items including balancing equipment , balls and riding toys. We also continued to support families when the need was

evident with clothing and toy donations. Another new additional was providing a healthy snack each day. This allowed

for discussion with parents on how to choose good foods on a budget, dealing with picky eaters and recipe exchanges.

Thanks to the Campbell's, Jane was also able to continue to provide music for each of the GBV classes through the

year. Jane Flinders continued to make the Launch Pad a favourite destination which is benefiting so many children and

parents. We owe much of it’s success to her. Nancy Corke and Lisa Collins provided strong skills as supply staff. Brant

Taxi made a donation of $1000. to Kids Can Fly as a gesture from our transportation supplier.

Funds grew as both Rotary Clubs continued

to support + we received a major Trillium

Grant, ($81000.) as well as a Stedman Grant,

Brant Community Foundation Grant, Leisa

Way’s contribution and a community donation

campaign. 350 kids were registered as of

March 2012 and a major expansion

announcement was coming in June.2012.

< Jeanne, Lisa, Sharon 2011 Conference Joe & Dolly >

We were inspired by

the Imagination Library

conference to GROW this

amazing program in Brant!

Lisa, Joe, Jeanne and Sharon

attended the HomeComin’ event in

Tennessee, June 2011 where Joe

made a presentation. The research

& great stories inspired us to embark

on a major fundraising campaign in

hopes that we can give every child

under 5 in Brant this proven literacy

opportunity. We set a goal to bring

DOLLY to Brant. DREAM MORE!

We completed our first

year of Imagination Library

and registered over 200

children with funding from

the Rotary Club of Brant-

ford—Sunrise. Their

pledge of $10000. a year

for 3 years is allowing us to

bring this fabulous literacy

program to children in

Brant. Forms were made

available at the Launch

Pad, through Public Health

nurses, Lansdowne staff .

Page 2 Kids Can Fly 110 German School Road RR 1 Paris On N3L 3E1

Financial Report from Nora Leung -Treasurer

Kids can Fly closed the 2011-2012 fiscal year with a healthy cash balance($80,122) in the bank and an ex-cess of ($23,255) revenue over expenditures. Revenue generated this past year allowed us to supply our com-munity with over $100,000 in free programs. A substantiate portion of our Coordinator's time was spent directly in active programming.

Charity funds are extremely tight for everyone in the current economic climate. We would like to extend a warm thank you to all our funders and volunteers for their generosity, continued support and trust in Kids Can Fly.

Copies of the fully audited financial statements can be

requested from our Executive Director at 519 448 1713

Financial Highlights

Total Revenue for the year ended March 31, 2012 $ 196,277

Total Expenses for the year ended March 31, 2012 $ 173,022

Program Revenue 87.4%

Direct Program Expenses 54.2%

Administration & Office 3.6%

Coordinator’s fees, including direct program work 19.4%

Respectfully Submitted,

Nora S Leung

Treasurer

made the difficult decision to

reduce the camp to one full

day so as not to disappoint

the registered children. The

board then reviewed our

priorities and decided that

more efforts should be put

towards Imagination Library

in the future since this is the

age group that we are man-

dated to support. We hope

that another group will pick

up the Book Camp project.

We held our final Book

Camp in August 2011. For

the first time we did not

receive our Ontario Arts

Funding and were not made

aware of this til late June.

As could not afford to run

the full camp without this

money ($6000.) the board

Page 3 Find us on Facebook and Twit ter www.kidscanf ly .ca

2011 ECE Banquet was the best attended yet! 197 people joined in the Tropical Themed

Fun and one won a West Jet vacation! This annual event helps us to raise recognition of

the important role of early childhood educators in nurturing our youngest children during

their formative years. The hard working community committee is below.

Above a Special Award was given to the Campbell's as Children’s Champions.

Book Camp

MOVIE MARATHON 2012

Our Move Marathon was

not as well attended due to

bad weather but we still

raised over $2400. Sarah

Roarke took over chairing

the MMM. KCF greatly ap-

preciates the support from

the Galaxy Cinema which

hosts this fun event each

winter. A format change for

2013 is planned.

SOUP SALE Kids Can Fly held

our first SOUP

SALE for the

United Way.

We raised $1150. due in part to the

support from Jason Gibson who allowed

us to buy the soup at his cost.

Above the cheque is presented to a UW

staff by Sharon Brooks and Chair Patti

Berardi. Our Executive Director was the United Way Agency Cabinet Rep in 2011

The 2012 event raised over $18000. We

are very grateful to Scotiabank, our ma-

jor sponsor and all of the others who do-

nated cash and in kind . Thanks to so

many dedicated volunteers who planned,

sought out sponsors, organized tickets,

decorated, dressed up, made & served

food, provided sound system, music,

books, took photos etc. Special thanks

to Rossini Lodge ,Jason Gibson PCS,

MRR, The Expositor, Brant Taxi, Spence

Printing and Jean Hawke. 400 children

and adults enjoyed another magic morn-

ing with a yummy breakfast and visits

from favourite storybook friends. Visits

by characters were also made to Nova

Vita and the children’s ward BGH.

Roots of Empathy

grew substantially

thanks in part to

funding from the Min-

istry of Education to

train ECE’s in full day

kindergarten pro-

grams. We were delighted to train 8 within our two boards in this pilot project. Feedback has been excellent.

The Teachers Credit Union and City Grants helped finance ROE in the 55 local schools. Research continues to be

secured noting the positives of this program and their long lasting impact. The year end baby celebration was a busy

gathering (above).

Post Partum Depression:

The serious gap in service in Brant

for woman suffering with this very

common condition (1 in 6) prompted

Kids Can Fly to secure interest from

many other service providers. A

community meeting was held in Jan

and a working group established.

Action items have included public

education for front line staff;

research

into what was actually available and creating

materials for doctors, service providers and

the public to facilitate finding support for

women; a spring marketing campaign along

with the plan to reinvent the Parachute

Program as a Transitioning to Parenthood

group. It would be for women experiencing

various challenges with infants which might

include PPD. Our ED joined the south west-

ern Ontario Coalition for PPD and funds

were sought through a City Grant, Best Start

Network and private donors to help support

this important work. Kids Can Fly is proud

to have taken the lead in this initiative. One of our Theme Tables

Cheque presentation from TCU

OurOurOur ownownown RootsRootsRoots ofofof EmpathyEmpathyEmpathy TinyTinyTiny Teachers.Teachers.Teachers.

The Kids Can Fly board was actively involved with ROE

this year as three of our families volunteered with

their babies. Heath (Jennifer Boughner-Barber), Caleb,

Zeta Phillipo– Dey) and Jude (Robin Matthews– Osmond. )

We could not provide this program without all of the dedi-

cated volunteers who instructor and share their babies.

To date over 9000 kids have participated in ROE in Brant!