PRESIDENT AND CHAIR'S MESSAGE
It’s wonderful to celebrate our first full year as one entity, March of Dimes Canada (MODC), having operated as two since 2001 when Ontario March of Dimes created a federal subsidiary as a nationally registered charity. Similarly our non-profit housing subsidiary is now March of Dimes Canada Non-Profit Housing Corporation, and we also have March of Dimes Canada Foundation, which is not yet operational.
We welcomed our first out-of-Ontario director, Lynn Wagner from Halifax, to our national Board and inaugurated March of Dimes Committees in Halifax, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary. Our first satellite office was in Halifax, followed by Calgary and Vancouver, enabling MODC to expand across Canada. We recently received our first contract for service to Nunavut, providing assessments to people who have experienced a brain injury. We held our first fundraiser in Edmonton, bringing the total number of Rock for Dimes events to 13 across Canada, and we planned our first Calgary OpportuniTEAS with Hollywood star Kate Linder..
ModMobility® was launched last year, a new Toronto accessible bus service, funded in part by the Local Health Integration Network, serving groups of people with disabilities primarily for recreational purposes. We successfully integrated a small but significant agency into the MODC family and thank the Board of the Hospital for Special Needs Incorporated (HSNI) for placing their trust in us.
Three large bequests contributed to the launch of new initiatives; the Istvan and Barbara Haas Assistive Devices and Vehicle Retrofit Initiative, the Dr. Ed and Bobby Yielding Fund for Stroke Recovery and the Peter Collins Thunder Bay Reserve (for future projects). Additionally, the Board established a National Program Development and Evaluation Fund. Pennzoil also contributed to our Retrofit Program in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
At the end of the fiscal year of this report, the corporation is again in a very good financial position and will increase funds for national development, capital replacement and upgrades, research, and recreation services.
This report showcases many firsts and acknowledges the accomplishments of the many talented and dedicated staff and volunteers, whom we sincerely thank. Included are stories and statistics that depict who are our clients and how we deploy resources. Full financial statements are posted on our website, along with a host of information to enable the reader to find a service they need and to help donors and funders appreciate our full accountability. We welcome feedback and direct you to www.marchofdimes.ca